ZnO Price and Its Application as Functional Material

ZnO or zinc oxide is an inorganic compound. The form of this compound is a white powder but is not soluble in water. The price of ZnO price is quite affordable, sold per gram to kilogram. 

This compound is used as an additive for various products and materials, including food supplements, cosmetics, sunscreens, ointments, plastics, rubber, glass, ceramics, paints, lubricants, adhesives, pigments, bacteria, flame retardants, and semiconductors. Most ZnO is produced synthetically even though it is naturally a zincite mineral.

ZnO Price and Applications

The chemical properties of ZnO are white powder but are found as rare zincite minerals in nature. It usually contains a lot of manganese and produces yellow to red colors. The ZnO structure crystallizes in two forms, namely cubic zincblende and hexagonal wurtzite.

Zinc oxide is a semiconductor that has a wide band gap. In addition, it is a relatively soft material. The beneficial properties of ZnO include high electron mobility, strong light fluorescence at room temperature, wide band gap, and good transparency. This makes zinc oxide valuable for a variety of applications.

Ceramic Industry

In the composition of ceramic frits and glazes using a large amount of ZnO. Because the production of ceramics requires the properties of relatively high heat capacity, high-temperature stability, and thermal conductivity of zinc oxide combined with a relatively low coefficient of expansion.

Zinc oxide affects the optical properties of glazes, ceramic formulations, enamels, and melting points. In addition, ZnO functions as a secondary flux that reduces viscosity changes as a function of temperature with low expansion by increasing the elasticity of the glaze. Then helps prevent vibration and cracking.

Rubber Industry

The rubber industry also uses ZnO with stearic acid. This functions in the vulcanization of rubber sulfur. Additives of zinc oxide in the form of nanoparticles are useful as pigments in rubber and increase its resistance.

Medicine

Zinc oxide as a prosthetic and restorative material in dentistry when mixed with eugenol. So that zinc oxide eugenol will be formed.

In addition, it is used in toothpaste and mouthwash products as an antibacterial agent. It can even prevent tartar and plaque formation. While for skin care it is widely used to treat skin conditions such as contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, eczema to acne.

According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, zinc oxide is a safe substance as a food additive. ZnO is not toxic, but inhaling high concentrations of zinc oxide fumes is dangerous. If you inhale zinc oxide, for example when welding zinc-coated galvanized steel, it can cause metal fume fever or metal vapor fever.

The application of ZnO powder is mostly by utilizing the reactivity of oxide as a precursor to other zinc compounds. So many add it to various products and materials ranging from ceramics to food, and the price of ZnO is quite affordable.