Zinc Oxide Uses

• Mingpai
• 2024-06-03 10:31:26

Zinc Oxide (ZnO), due to its unique physical and chemical properties, enjoys a broad spectrum of applications across numerous industries. Some of its principal uses include:

1. Medicine and Skincare:

• As a skin protectant, soothing irritations, itching, and providing mild antibacterial properties.
• A vital ingredient in sunscreens for its ability to effectively absorb UVA and UVB rays, offering sun protection.
• Taken orally as a supplement to replenish zinc levels, commonly found in multivitamins and mineral supplements.

2. Rubber Industry:

• Acts as a catalyst and reinforcing agent, expediting the vulcanization process and enhancing the strength, wear-resistance, and elasticity of rubber products.
• Serves as a whitening agent in white rubber, imparting excellent brightness and transparency.

3. Plastics Industry:

• Functions as a UV stabilizer, enhancing the weather resistance of plastics like polyethylene.
• Improves processing properties and physical attributes of plastics, prolonging their service life.

4. Paints and Pigments:

• Utilized as a white pigment in a variety of paints and coatings, providing coverage and weather resistance.
• Offers antifungal and bactericidal properties, useful in water-based paints for maintaining a clean coating surface.
• Enhances the conductivity and anti-static properties of coatings.

5. Electronic Materials:

• Manufacture of transparent conductive films used in touch screens and LCD displays.
• Employed in optoelectronic devices, such as components of solar cells.

6. Chemical Catalysts:

• Acts as a catalyst in chemical synthesis, including methanol production and certain organic reactions.

7. Food and Feed:

• Used as a food additive for fortification or as a processing aid.
• Incorporated into animal feed as a source of zinc supplementation.

8. Other Applications:

• Manufacture of flame retardants, ceramics, glass, and enamel additives.
• Constituent in battery production, like zinc-air batteries.
• Part of lightning arrestors, such as in zinc oxide surge protectors.
• Component in pyrotechnics and signal flares, exploiting its bright white flame upon combustion.

The versatility of zinc oxide renders it an indispensable raw material in everything from consumer goods to high-tech products. With technological advancements, new applications for zinc oxide continue to be explored, including in environmental materials, sensor technology, and nanotechnology sectors.