Zinc Oxide Powder Uses

As per International Zinc Association, zinc oxide powder can be particularly helpful in increasing the capacity of our senses like smell, taste and sight, apart from providing a huge boost to our fertility and immunity as well.

What sets zinc apart is its ability to get recycled indefinitely, without any compromises on its functional and/or structural characteristics. This is also the reason why there are zinc oxide powder uses in a wide array of industrial and personal applications. Let's go through some of the commonly known zinc oxide powder uses as follows:

Zinc oxide powder uses in production of cigarette filters

Zinc oxide powder is actively used in production of cigarette filters. The cigarette filters consist of charcoal mixed with zinc oxide powder and iron oxide. The mixture helps in easy removal of hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide from the produced tobacco smoke, without altering its flavour.

Zinc oxide powder uses in ceramic industry

There are various zinc oxide powder uses in the ceramic industry, particularly in production of ceramic glaze and frit. The good thermal conductivity, high-temperature stability and high heat capacity of the zinc oxide powder, combined with its low coefficient of expansion makes it a very useful ingredient in preparation of ceramics.

Owing to its unique properties, zinc oxide impacts the optical properties and melting point of the ceramic formulations, enamels and glazes. It significantly improves the elasticity of glazes and helps in prevention of shivering and crazing. Adding zinc in tiny amounts also assists the production of brilliant and highly glossy surfaces. Its inclusion in moderate to high quantities leads to crystalline and matte surfaces.

Zinc oxide powder uses as a food additive

The zinc oxide powder is added to various food items such as breakfast cereals, in the form of a necessary zinc nutrient. Many prepackaged food items also have traces of zinc oxide powder in them, even if not added specifically for nutritional purposes.

Zinc oxide powder uses in production of paints

Another one of the various zinc oxide powder uses is in the production of paints that can create an anti-corrosive coat on metals. These paints work particularly well on galvanised iron as iron can't be protected easily owing to its high reactivity with the organic coatings (which often leads to brittleness and poor adhesion). Zinc oxide powder-based paints can maintain their adhesion and flexibility on such types of surfaces for many years.

Zinc oxide powder uses in the form of a pigment

The zinc white powder is often used in the form of a pigment in paints. It is more opaque compared to lithopone, and less opaque in comparison to titanium dioxide. It's also frequently used for paper coatings. In fact, the zinc oxide powder uses in the form of a pigment in all paintings dates back to the mid-18th century.

Zinc oxide powder uses in medicine

The popular calamine lotion is produced from calamine, which actually is zinc oxide powder mixed with 0.5% iron (III) oxide or Fe2O3. Mixing zinc oxide with eugenol leads to the creation of zinc oxide eugenol which is used as a prosthodontics and a restorative in dental science.

Zinc oxide is also extensively used in treatment of many skin-related conditions, and thus finds its way into various products like diaper rash creams, anti-dandruff shampoos, antiseptic ointments, calamine creams, barrier creams and baby powders.

The tapes that athletes use in the form of bandage to avoid any soft tissue damage during their daily workout routines is also made from zinc oxide and is popularly referred to as the 'zinc oxide tape'. Zinc oxide nanoparticles are actively incorporated in various sunburn-prevention lotions, creams and ointments too.