Zinc: back on the scene after never really being absent

On your roof, in your sunscreen and in your fitness tracker. Zinc has an incredibly wide range of applications. The fact that the metal is 100 percent recyclable and safe plays a major role in this. ‘It even plays a role in combating malnutrition,’ says Ann Vos, Manager Safety, Health, Environment and Quality at Nyrstar in Balen.

Is zinc experiencing a revival today, or has it simply returned from never really being absent?

‘The fact that zinc is being increasingly used today is mainly because more innovations are emerging for which zinc offers important added value. Anyone who built a new house about twenty years ago often used cheaper materials that were coming onto the market at the time. Consider PVC roofing materials and downspouts. Today, in 2021, zinc has once again gained popularity in the construction sector. People are waking to the fact that zinc is completely recyclable. If you want to build a truly sustainable home, it’s better to choose a zinc roof, downpipe or gutter.’

In what other applications does zinc play a crucial role?

‘It’s very often used to strengthen steel. If you’re building a steel bridge, an extra layer of zinc offers very effective protection against corrosion. Steel which is galvanised (i.e. zinc-coated) lasts twelve times longer than steel that is not. Compare the cars of fifty years ago with those of today: while the first already started to rust after three years, you hardly see that problem today.’

'In the meantime, zinc is also increasingly used in all kinds of consumer products. Until a few years ago, the housing

of a washing machine, refrigerator or dishwasher was made of steel. Nowadays consumers expect these products to last longer, and zinc is also used in their production. Zinc is everywhere: in door hinges, handles, gear levers, mobile phones.’

What role does zinc play in the circular economy?

‘A steel bridge or a roof today not only lasts a hundred years, the zinc contained in it can also be totally recycled. If we talk about the circular economy, zinc certainly offers significant added value.’

‘New technology now also allows us to make thinner and at the same time much stronger alloys in zinc. This has opened up a completely new market for all kinds of small metal parts. Also a new car is much lighter today than a few decades ago, because the necessary zinc layer has become much thinner.’

Zinc was of great importance for the development of the first batteries, but was replaced by cadmium and lithium among others. Today, zinc is once again playing a larger role in battery technology. What has changed?

‘Sustainability is playing an important role in this. The lithium in a battery cannot be recycled today. The zinc from a zinc battery, on the other hand, can be reused. In addition, a zinc battery has a very long and constant lifespan. In the evolution of energy storage technologies, zinc can play a role where other batteries fall short.’

‘In addition, the risks of impact or damage are reduced when using zinc, and it can be safely exposed to air and water. The use of this metal also entails fewer risks than materials such as lead or lithium, making zinc much more useful for battery applications on the human body.'

'Think of wearable technology such as fitness trackers, hearing aids or heart monitors. The zinc industry is

currently making a lot of efforts to once again emphasise the added value of zinc in certain batteries and for certain applications

What may surprise many people: we also find zinc in healthcare and agriculture.

‘That’s true. Zinc has a number of skin-protecting properties and is an essential component of sunscreens and other skin creams. A completely different application is fertilisers: thanks to the addition of zinc, certain crops and plants produce a higher yield. In this way the metal indirectly contributes to the fight against malnutrition in many developing countries.’