Zinc oxide, molecular formula is ZnO, white powder, non-toxic and tasteless, yellow at high temperature, and white again after cooling, soluble in acid, alkali, ammonium chloride and ammonia, insoluble in water and alcohol. Zinc oxide is extremely versatile, mainly used in the following major industries:
1. Ceramic industry: It is an important ceramic chemical flux raw material, widely used in architectural ceramics, wall and floor tile glazes, low-temperature porcelain glazes, and artistic ceramic glazes. Function and use in the glaze: Zinc oxide has a strong fluxing effect in the glaze, which can reduce the expansion coefficient of the glaze, improve the thermal stability of the product, increase the gloss and whiteness of the glaze, and improve the elasticity of the glaze. It can increase the brilliance of the glaze color while expanding the melting range (not suitable for black glaze containing chromium); zinc oxide is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
◆Used as a flux: when zinc oxide is used as a flux in low-temperature frit glaze, the general dosage is between 5% and 10%, and the general dosage in low-temperature raw glaze is about 5%.
◆ Used as opacifier: adding zinc oxide to the glaze can improve the opacification of the glaze. In the zinc-containing opal glaze, it can improve the whiteness and opacities of the glaze.
◆ Used as a crystallization agent: in the artistic glaze crystallization glaze, zinc oxide is an indispensable crystallization agent. When the molten glaze is rapidly cooled, it will form a large crystal pattern, which is very beautiful. The amount of zinc oxide in crystal glaze is up to 20-30%.
◆Used to make cobalt sky blue glaze: Zinc oxide is a very important flux in cobalt sky blue glaze. It can make cobalt oxide form a beautiful sky blue in the glaze.
2. Plastic industry:
◆ Mold organisms: can effectively prevent mold organisms from eroding plastics◆ Ultraviolet rays: prevent the erosion of plastics by ultraviolet rays
◆ Safety: safe and non-toxic
◆ Environmental protection: not polluted by sulfur-containing air
3. Rubber industry: Zinc oxide can improve the physical properties of vulcanized rubber, enhance the activity of accelerators, shorten vulcanization time, and improve rubber wear resistance and tensile mechanical properties. Secondly, it is used as a reinforcing agent and coloring agent for rubber. It can also be used as a vulcanizing agent for chloroprene rubber and a compound zinc oxide to increase thermal conductivity. It is a vulcanization accelerator and a good reinforcing agent for synthetic rubber, and has a coloring effect.
4. Paint and coating industry: Zinc oxide has good pigment properties, so it is widely used in the coating industry, especially anti-rust paint and primer. The amount of zinc oxide in the formulation can sometimes be as high as 30%. With the development of inorganic coatings and latex paints, the demand for zinc oxide will increase. Coloring power, hiding power, anti-corrosion, luminescence and other functions. It is often used to produce white paint and enamel. Zinc oxide is slightly alkaline and can react with trace free fatty acids to generate zinc soap, making the paint film flexible and firm, and preventing metal oxidation. In addition, it is also used as a raw material for the production of opalescent glass, zinc-white oil and watercolor paints, as well as cosmetics and various zinc salts.
5. Metal industry: zinc oxide reacts with phosphoric acid to produce zinc phosphate, which can be used for anti-corrosion and rust prevention on metal surfaces, that is, a zinc-iron-phosphate coating is formed on the metal surface as an anti-rust pigment.
6. Petroleum industry: Zinc oxide can be used as an additive in petroleum products. It is an indispensable compound additive in lubricating oil. It accounts for about 10-15% of the consumption of various additives. It has anti-oxidant, anti-corrosion and anti-wear multi-effect additives effect.
7. Glass industry: Adding zinc oxide to glass can increase transparency, brightness and resistance to tensile deformation, and reduce thermal expansion coefficient. It has a new role in optical glass, electrical glass and low-melting glass.
Editor: Wu Haiqin Review: Li Weiquan
