Zinc oxide has been known since ancient times, its use as a pigment is relatively recent. It was developed as a pigment in place of basic lead carbonate. The lead pigment was superseded because it turned black on atmospheric exposure.
Zinc dross is obtained from the recovery of zinc. The zinc types may be recovered from galvanized sheets, batteries, car components, galvanizing processes, etc. Zinc ashes are formed on the surface of molten zinc baths, and whilst primarily zinc oxide, particles of finely divided zinc will also adhere to the oxide. The various types of zinc are treated by processes to produce pure zinc metal.
Zinc oxide is an inorganic compound with the formula ZnO. ZnO is a white powder that is insoluble in water, and it is widely used as an additive in numerous materials and products including rubbers, plastics, ceramics, glass, cement, lubricants, paints, ointments, adhesives, sealants, pigments, foods, batteries, ferrites, fire retardants, and first-aid tapes.
Although it occurs naturally as the mineral zincite, most zinc oxide is produced synthetically. ZnO is a wide-bandgap semiconductor of the II-VI semiconductor group. The native doping of the semiconductor due to oxygen vacancies or zinc interstitials is n-type.
Zinc oxide, also known as zinc white, is a course white or grayish powder. The degree of whiteness is affected by the presence of impurities it carries. Through effective heat treatment or by other methods, a whole series of colors ranging from white through yellow, green & brown to red can be obtained.
Zinc oxide is used in the rubber, paint, ceramics, chemical textile and other industries. Accelerator activator, pigment, and reinforcing agent in rubber; ointment; pigment and mold growth inhibitor in paints; ceramics; floor tile; glass; zinc salts (zinc stearate etc.) feed additive; semiconductor in electronic devices; electronic ceramics, raw material to produce zinc phosphate as steel coating.
Zinc oxide finds use in metal protective coatings, paint pigmented with zinc dust and zinc oxide are the most successful coatings for use in galvanized surface. Zinc oxide is used in conjunction with red lead and/or zinc yellow for general purpose, primers for ferrous surfaces. In these priming paints, it aids in producing a tough, adherent film resistant to abrasion and chalking. Zinc oxide plays a great role in rubber vulcanization. It is one of the inorganic basic accelerators for speeding up the reaction between rubber and sulphur during vulcanization.
The zinc oxide market has over the recent years gathering marked momentum from growing morbidity of bacterial infections on public healthcare system. In several countries, outbreaks of pathogenic strains have bolstered the need for antibacterial ingredients, where zinc oxide is emerging as promising avenue. This is something to do with their higher activity against gram-positive bacteria than most nanoparticles.
Growing effect of such bacteria on the food safety, particularly ready-to-eat segment, has fuelled product research in the zinc oxide market. Growing prospect of zinc oxide in antimicrobial packaging is also likely to expand the potential biomedical applications. The global zinc oxide market was valued at over 1,400 kilotons in 2020, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 4% in volume over the forecast period (2021-2026).
The growing demand from various end-use industries, as well as increasing investments in research and development projects, are some of the key contributing factors pushing the growth of the Global Zinc Oxide Market.
Key Players
· Bharat Zinc Ltd.
· Ess Vee Alloys Pvt. Ltd.
· Hindustan Zinc Ltd.
· K A Wires Ltd.
· Lords Chemicals Ltd.
