Zinc: The Essential Metal for Modern Applications
Appearance Zinc is a silvery-white metal with a slight blue tinge that tarnishes when exposed to air.
Uses Zinc's versatile properties make it invaluable in various industries:
- Galvanization: The primary use of zinc is to galvanize other metals, such as iron, to prevent rusting. Galvanized steel is essential for car bodies, street lamp posts, safety barriers, and suspension bridges.
- Die-Casting: Significant amounts of zinc are used to produce die-castings, which are crucial in the automotive, electrical, and hardware industries.
- Alloys: Zinc is a key component in alloys such as brass, nickel silver, and aluminum solder, enhancing their strength and durability.
- Zinc Oxide: Widely used in manufacturing, zinc oxide is found in paints, rubber, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, plastics, inks, soaps, batteries, textiles, and electrical equipment.
- Zinc Sulfide: This compound is used in luminous paints, fluorescent lights, and x-ray screens.
Biological Role Zinc is essential for all living organisms, playing a crucial role in over 20 metallo-enzymes. The average human body contains about 2.5 grams of zinc and requires an intake of approximately 15 milligrams per day. Foods rich in zinc include herring, beef, lamb, sunflower seeds, and cheese. While zinc is essential, excessive amounts can be carcinogenic. Inhaling freshly formed zinc(II) oxide can cause a disorder known as ‘oxide shakes’ or ‘zinc chills’.
Natural Abundance Zinc is primarily found in ores such as zinc blende (zinc sulfide) and calamine (zinc silicate). Major mining areas are located in China, Australia, and Peru. Commercially, zinc is obtained by concentrating and roasting the ore, then reducing it to zinc through heating with carbon or electrolysis. The world production of zinc exceeds 11 million tonnes annually.
Contact Us For more information or inquiries about our zinc products, please contact us:
Best Global Corporation Limited
At Best Global Corporation Limited, we are committed to providing high-quality zinc and exceptional customer service. Whether you need zinc for industrial, construction, or manufacturing applications, we are your trusted partner in metals.
|
