Abstract: The hot-state experiments of galvanized steel scrap were conducted using pyrometallurgical dezincification method under protective atmosphere. The influence of temperature on dezincification was analyzed by characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X ray fluorescence (XRF). The transformation of zinc layer and substrate in protective atmosphere was investigated, and the dezincification mechanism was elucidated based on metal evaporation rate and diffusion rate. The results show that under protective atmosphere conditions, localized oxidation of galvanized steel scrap surfaces occurs at 850 ℃ due to residual oxygen, forming yellow ZnO. As temperature rises to 925 ℃, surface blistering is observed, and upon further heating to 1 000 ℃, the ZnO gradually diminishes until complete disappearance. The mass and thickness of galvanized steel scrap increase after 850 ℃ due to zinc oxidation, but show significant reduction at 950 ℃ when substantial zinc removal occurs. The surface zinc content decreases from 65.69% to 4.00%, achieving a dezincification rate of 93.9%. Within specific temperature ranges, dezincification efficiency is significantly enhanced with increasing temperature. When reaching zinc’s boiling point (907 ℃), rapid zinc vaporization ruptures the surface oxide film, causing continuous expansion of dezincification zones until complete surface zinc removal is accomplished. Considering both dezincification efficiency and industrial costs, the optimal dezincification temperature is determined to be 950 ℃.