Zinc Oxide Applications
Zinc oxide applications are numerous. It is quite versatile as it has been used in a wide range of products. Zinc oxide is an inorganic compound which is also known as ZnO, a white powder that is water insoluble. It is present in the crust of the Earth as the mineral zincite. However, most zinc oxide used commercially is synthetic.
Most zinc oxide applications exploit the reactivity of the oxide as a precursor to other zinc compounds. Its high refractive index, high thermal conductivity, binding, antibacterial, and UV-protection properties have been beneficial for many science applications. At Citra CakraLogam, we have distributed zinc oxide to numerous industries as it is added to various materials and products.
Zinc Oxide Grades
Zinc oxide plays an essential role in a very wide range of applications. As the leading manufacturer of zinc oxide in Indonesia, Citra CakraLogam provides international standard quality, high purity, and zinc oxide grade products.
Sustaining the quality policy is our priority to ensure that the finished zinc oxide product not only complies with grade specifications, but also remains consistent in quality in terms of purity, consistency and uniformity.
We provide zinc oxide in various grades for catering distinct industry needs, please see the list below for detailed information:
Zinc oxide Grade UI-I
Chemicals, cosmetics, plastics, glass, and ceramics
Zinc oxide Grade UI-II
Tires and rubbers
Zinc oxide Grade UI-III
Paints, lubricant and greases
Zinc oxide Grade UI-IV
Agriculture and animal feeds
Various Zinc Oxide Applications
As mentioned earlier, zinc oxide has been used in a wide range of applications. It is classified into four different grades as it serves different needs for the industries. However, the major applications is divided into these 3 industries:
Agriculture
Zinc oxide rich minerals increase crop productivity and life. The rich nutrients of zinc are used for animal feeds as they form an integral part of the enzyme system of the body.
Rubber
More than half of the zinc oxide used is in the rubber industry. Along with stearic acid, it is used in the vulcanization of rubber to produce tires, shoe soles, and even hockey pucks.
Paint & Pigment
Zinc oxide is commonly found in the paint and pigment industry as it helps in providing anti-corrosive coating for different metals.
Aside from those major applications, zinc oxide has also been used in other product manufacturing, such as:
Personal Care Products
Zinc oxide is commonly found in medical ointments to treat skin irritations. It has anti-bacterial and deodorizing properties, which makes it perfect for medical applications. It can be found in products such as baby powder and creams to treat diaper rash and even dandruff.
Due to its reflective properties of UV radiation, zinc oxide is also used in sunscreens to reduce or prevent sunburn and premature skin aging. It is used as a bulking agent and a colorant in most of the over-the-counter drug products, sunscreen is included.
Zinc oxide applications can also be found in a wide range of cosmetics and personal care products, including mineral makeup, nail products, baby lotions, bath soaps, and foot powders.
Ceramic & Glass
Ceramic industry uses a significant amount of zinc oxide, in particular in ceramic glaze and frit compositions. Zinc oxide in small amounts improves the development of glossy and brilliant surfaces. However, in moderate to high amounts, it produces matte and crystalline surfaces.
Safety of Zinc Oxide
As its active involvement in food and cosmetic production, the safety of zinc oxide needs to be guaranteed. Therefore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has conducted extensive reviews of its safety and has stated that zinc oxide may be safely used in cosmetics and food.
FDA has also set the standard for the amount of zinc oxide that can be used in over-the-counter skin protectants and sunscreen drug products both at concentrations up to 25 percent.
Future Applications
Zinc oxide has become one of the most popular metal oxide nano-particles in biological applications in the past two decades, due to its excellent bio-compatibility, economic, and low toxicity. It has emerged a promising potential in bio-medicine, especially in the medical fields, such as anti-cancer and anti-bacterial fields.
The future for zinc oxide applications is certainly going to be growing. The potential advances for non-medicinal applications are worth exploring.
In more recent times, zinc oxide has transcended use in more industries, including electronics (semiconductors, laser diodes, LEDs, Li-on battery, and spintronics), concrete use, cigarette filters, and even breakfast cereals.
Expanding zinc oxide applications into these fields is certainly very promising and ones to keep an eye on in the not too distant future.
