ZINCHEM

Zinc dust is made by distilling primary or secondary Zinc in closed, horizontal furnaces. The vapour emitted from the Zinc is led into large condensers, which is condensed as dust. The particle size of Zinc dust is controlled by the rate of distillation and condensation.

Zinc dust has many uses, a few of which are outlined below.

• Chemical companies use it:
   - for the production of other chemicals for use
     within the textile and paper industries.

• Metallurgy companies use it:
   - as a protective pigment for Iron and Steel.
   - as a reducing agent in process metallurgy.
   - for the precipitation of noble metals from solution.
   - for Gold recovery.

• In protective coatings, it is used:
   - in primers for Galvanized Steel.
   - In the preparation of Zinc rich paints.

• In the plastics industry, Zinc dust is used:
   - to give hardness and low abrasion to the
     polyester resin moulds that are used in the
     making of plastic parts.
   - as a filler to increase impact strength, heat
     distortion temperature and thermal conductivity.

• It is used in lubricants to:
   - contribute to antigalling, antiseizing and sealing of
     speciality lubricants and sealants as a result of its
     ability to plate out on metal surfaces.

• Zinc dust is sold in various grades, including the following:
   - Super grade
   - Paint grade
   - Ultra fine
   - Micron 5
   - Mining Grade