[Chemical Knowledge]：The nature, use, upstream and downstream raw materials, storage methods of zinc powder, the use and application scope of zinc powder?

Zinc powder properties

Zinc powder is a silver-gray metal powder with high reactivity and flammability. Its particle size is usually between 1-100 microns. The smaller the particle size, the larger the specific surface area and the stronger the reactivity. Zinc powder has good electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity, but it is easily oxidized to form zinc oxide when in contact with air. Due to the chemically active nature of zinc, zinc powder will spontaneously ignite when exposed to air, especially in high temperature or high humidity environments. Therefore, the handling and storage of zinc powder requires special attention to fire and moisture resistance.

Zinc powder use

Zinc powder is widely used in various industrial fields, including anti-corrosion coatings, metallurgy, chemical industry, and battery manufacturing. The application of zinc powder in anticorrosive coatings is particularly important. It protects metal materials such as steel from corrosion by sacrificing anode. Zinc powder is used in the metallurgical industry to produce various zinc alloys and as a reducing agent. In the chemical industry, zinc powder is a raw material for the synthesis of a variety of organic and inorganic compounds. Zinc powder is also used in battery manufacturing, especially zinc-air batteries and alkaline batteries, as an electrode material to provide high energy density and stable electrochemical performance.

Upstream raw materials

The main upstream raw material of zinc powder is zinc ore, which mainly includes sphalerite (ZnS), smectite (ZnCO3) and zinc oxide (ZnO). Zinc ore through mining, beneficiation, roasting, leaching, purification and electrolysis process, produce pure zinc. Pure zinc is then melted, atomized or mechanically crushed to make zinc powder. The process of producing zinc powder consumes a lot of energy, mainly including electric energy and heat energy, and also requires the use of various chemical reagents and catalysts to ensure the purity and particle size distribution of zinc powder.

Downstream Products

Zinc powder has a wide range of downstream products, including anti-corrosion coatings, zinc-based alloys, batteries, electroplating solutions and chemical products. Anti-corrosion coating is one of the most important application fields of zinc powder, which is widely used in the anti-corrosion protection of bridges, ships, steel structures and other facilities. Zinc-based alloys are widely used in automotive, electronics, construction and other industries, with excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. The battery industry is also an important application area for zinc powder, especially in the manufacture of zinc-air batteries and alkaline batteries. Zinc powder is also used in the preparation of electroplating solutions to improve the uniformity and adhesion of electroplating layers. Zinc powder is used in the chemical industry to synthesize various zinc salts and zinc compounds, and is used as a catalyst and reactant in organic and inorganic chemical industries.

Storage method

Due to the high reactivity and flammability of zinc powder, its storage requires special attention to safety measures. Zinc powder should be stored in a dry, ventilated, fire-proof special warehouse to avoid contact with water, acid, alkali and other substances. Zinc powder should be sealed packaging to avoid exposure to air to prevent oxidation and spontaneous combustion. The warehouse storing zinc powder should be equipped with fire prevention equipment, such as fire extinguishers, sand boxes, etc., so as to extinguish the fire in time in an emergency. The warehouse shall set up warning signs, prohibit open fire and smoking, and avoid the proximity of fire and heat sources. Regularly check the storage status of zinc powder to ensure that the packaging is intact and the environment is dry and ventilated to eliminate potential safety hazards.

Market Prospects

The zinc powder market has broad prospects, mainly benefiting from the rapid development of anti-corrosion coatings and battery industries. With the increase of global infrastructure construction, the demand for anti-corrosion coatings continues to grow, which promotes the development of the zinc powder market. With the development of new energy technologies, the market demand for zinc-air batteries and other zinc-based batteries is also increasing due to their high energy density and environmental protection characteristics. Especially in the fields of electric vehicles, power tools and portable electronic devices, the demand for high-performance batteries continues to rise, further promoting the expansion of the zinc powder market.

Environmental protection and safety

Zinc powder may cause environmental pollution and safety hazards during production and use, so environmental protection and safety management are very important. In the production process, effective waste gas, waste water and waste residue treatment measures should be taken to reduce environmental pollution. During the transportation and storage of zinc powder, the safety regulations shall be strictly observed to prevent the occurrence of fire and explosion accidents. During the use of zinc powder, personal protection should be paid attention to avoid inhaling dust or contacting the skin, causing health problems.

technological innovation

With the progress of science and technology, zinc powder production and application technology innovation. Nano-zinc powder has been paid more and more attention because of its excellent performance. Nano-zinc powder has a larger specific surface area and higher reactivity, and shows more excellent performance in the field of anti-corrosion coatings, catalysts, batteries and so on. The development of new production process and equipment has improved the production efficiency and quality of zinc powder and reduced the production cost. The development of environmentally friendly zinc powder products, such as zinc powder for water-based anti-corrosion coatings and zinc powder for non-toxic batteries, conforms to the development trend of green environmental protection.

Summary

As an important industrial raw material, zinc powder has broad application prospects and market potential. Its unique properties and diverse uses make it play an important role in the fields of anti-corrosion coatings, metallurgy, chemical industry and batteries. With the continuous innovation of technology and the growth of market demand, the zinc powder industry will continue to develop and grow. In the process of its production and application, we must pay attention to environmental protection and safety issues to ensure sustainable development.