The main use of zinc is galvanising steel…but what other end uses does zinc have? While zinc is most commonly, around 60%, used as a protective coating for steel to prevent rusting, it has many other critical uses.

The
main end-use industry for zinc is construction, followed by transport and
infrastructure. While most of the use in these industries is from galvanised
steel consumption, there are other vital uses for zinc which cover a huge range
of industries and applications.

Zinc
Alloys
The
second-largest end use for zinc is to create alloys with other metals.
Brass
Brass
is the most common zinc alloy and is created by combining zinc and copper,
generally in a ratio of around 35% zinc to 65% copper. The addition of
zinc enhances the strength and pliability of the copper.
Brass has a wide
range of industrial and commercial uses, including engine components,
architectural features, piping and tubing, mechanical components such as gears
or locks where low friction is required, and firearms casings. It is also
widely used for commercial consumer products such as door handles, musical
instruments and jewellery.
Solders
Zinc
is also commonly alloyed with cadmium, lead and tin to create solders. Each
alloy has a different use, where application methods or end-result qualities
differ by necessity. A tin-zinc solder, for example, is used when a lower
soldering temperature is required, often on or near electronic parts, and has a
high tensile strength.
A zinc-cadmium solder, on the other hand, provides
higher-temperature, stronger and more corrosion-resistant joints and can be
used for soldering dissimilar metals together, it cannot however be used in
food or drinking water processing machinery, as cadmium is a health hazard.
Zinc
Batteries
Traditional
zinc-carbon batteries, used to power small portable devices, were the first
available commercial batteries in the 1880s. While these have been widely
phased out in favour of alkaline batteries, zinc chemistry batteries remain.
Zinc
when alloyed with other metals has major potential in energy storage
applications as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries. It improves upon
existing energy storage and battery technologies by allowing for energy storage
that is low-cost, safe, and long-duration.
Zinc-ion batteries can be used as an
alternative to lithium-ion batteries, with benefits due to their increased
safety and their stable supply chain. Zinc batteries are not flammable or
subject to thermal runaway or off-gassing.
Aside from alloyed zinc batteries, there are
numerous competitors in various stages of testing and
development for new rechargeable zinc batteries, one of
the main types
of which are zinc-air batteries. Zinc-air batteries are lightweight, compact,
and made of more sustainable, less flammable materials than other batteries.
However, they’re usually not rechargeable. Researchers have been working to
modify the existing non-rechargeable chemistry with a different input method by
using an electrolyte that contains water-resistant ions Zinc8 Energy Solutions
has developed an innovative battery technology that uses zinc and air as fuel.
Power is used to generate zinc particles in a Zinc Regenerator. Oxygen is released
into the atmosphere as a by-product. The zinc particles are then stored and
maintained in a potassium hydroxide electrolyte until required. Whenever power
is needed, the zinc particles are recombined with oxygen to generate
electricity. The zinc oxide by-product is returned to a storage tank for later
regeneration.
Zinc
Oxide
Zinc
oxide is the industrially most important zinc compound. Its applications are
wide-reaching. Zinc oxide has a high refractive index, high thermal conductivity,
binding, antibacterial and UV-protection properties.
Rubber
The
rubber industry accounted for around 41% of zinc oxide used in 2021. This was
predominately attributed to the growing production of tires. The tire industry
uses zinc to produce safe and durable tires. Zinc plays a critical and
irreplaceable role in manufacturing tires. Zinc oxide is used as a vulcanising
activator which turns soft, sticky rubber into stable, solid components
that allow a tire to carry the weight of a vehicle and to stop safely.
Ceramics
The
ceramics industry is the second-largest consumer of zinc oxide. The low
expansion coefficient of zinc oxide makes it ideal for ceramic manufacturing
since it improves ceramic elasticity. Other desirable properties include its
relatively high heat capacity, high-temperature stability and thermal
conductivity. In lesser amounts, zinc oxide gives a glossy appearance to
ceramics, while in greater amounts will show as a matte finish.
Pharmaceutical
The
human body contains around two to three grams of zinc. It is the second
most common trace metal naturally found in the body after iron. Zinc is an
essential trace element in the diet of all living organisms from bacteria to
humans. Either too little zinc or too much zinc can be harmful and cause health
problems.
Zinc
oxide is a proven sunscreen as it’s a broad-spectrum UV absorber that reduces
UV radiation in both the UVA and UVB range effectively. The amount of sun
protective factor (SPF) in sunscreen is based primarily on the percentage of
zinc oxide.
Zinc
oxide also promotes wound healing, reduces inflammation, and keeps wounds moist
and clean.
Dentistry
Zinc
oxide eugenol (ZOE) is one of the most popular materials used in
dentistry. It is commonly used as a dental cement, for dental liners and
bases and it is used in dental impressions.
Cosmetics
A
wide range of cosmetic products, such as foundation, lip products, mineral
make-up bases, face powder, hand creams, moisturizers, lotions, and ointments all
use zinc oxide as it helps cosmetics to adhere to the skin. It also has proven
to be both antibacterial and antifungal by destroying the cellular membranes of
single-celled organisms.
Agriculture
Zinc
is an essential micronutrient for both human and plant development. It has been
labelled as a ‘lifesaving commodity’ by the UN due to zinc fertilisers'
contribution to the realisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero
Hunger (SDG 2) by ensuring crops are productive and have the appropriate
nutrition to nourish the world’s population.
Crop productivity will be critical
to addressing the higher demand for food in the future. The use of zinc
oxide-based fertilisers can help crops to be resilient to drought, salinity,
and heat. A stable supply of zinc can also help crops reach higher productivity
and yield levels.