Lead and zinc have a wide range of applications, widely used in electrical, mechanical, military, metallurgical, chemical, light, and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, lead metal has many uses in sectors such as nuclear industry and petroleum industry. More than 80% of the world's lead is used to produce lead-acid batteries.

Zinc is an important non-ferrous metal raw material, second only to copper and aluminum in the consumption of non-ferrous metals. Zinc metal has good rolling resistance, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, and can be used to make alloys with better physical and chemical properties with various metals. The main products produced by primary zinc enterprises include metallic zinc, zinc based alloys, and zinc oxide. These products have a wide range of uses, mainly in the following aspects:

1. Galvanization. Used as an anti-corrosion coating (such as galvanized sheet), it is widely used in industries such as automobiles, construction, ships, and light industry, accounting for approximately 46% of zinc usage.

Zinc has excellent resistance to atmospheric corrosion, so it is mainly used for surface coating of steel and steel structural components. After the surface of hot-dip galvanized alloy for electroplating is oxidized, a uniform and dense basic zinc carbonate ZnCO3Zn (OH) 2 oxide film protective layer will be formed, which also has the function of preventing mold growth. Due to the excellent resistance to atmospheric corrosion of zinc alloy sheets, Western countries have also begun to try using them directly as roof covering materials. Using them as roof panels can have a service life of up to 120-140 years and can be recycled, while using galvanized iron sheets as roof materials generally has a service life of 5-10 years.

2. Manufacturing copper alloy materials (such as brass). Used in the automotive manufacturing and machinery industry, accounting for approximately 15% of zinc usage.

Zinc has suitable mechanical properties. Zinc itself has low strength and hardness. After adding alloy elements such as aluminum and copper, its strength and hardness are greatly improved, especially with the emergence of zinc copper titanium alloys. Its comprehensive mechanical properties have approached or reached the level of aluminum alloys, brass, and gray cast iron, and its creep resistance has also been greatly improved. Therefore, zinc copper titanium alloys have been widely used in the production of small hardware.

3. Used for casting zinc alloys. Mainly used as die castings in industries such as automobiles and light industry, accounting for approximately 15% of zinc usage.

Many zinc alloys have excellent processing performance, with a pass processing rate of 60% -80%. Excellent medium pressure performance, capable of deep drawing and self-lubricating, prolonging the life of the mold. It can be welded by brazing, resistance welding, or arc welding (in helium gas). The surface can be electroplated or painted, and the cutting performance is good. Under certain conditions, it has superior superplastic performance.

In addition, zinc has good electromagnetic field resistance. The conductivity of zinc is 29% of standard electrical copper, and zinc sheet is a very effective shielding material in situations of radio frequency interference. Meanwhile, as zinc is non-magnetic, it is suitable as a material for instrument components, instrument casings, and coins. In addition, zinc itself and its collision with other metals will not cause sparks, making it suitable as underground explosion-proof equipment.

4. Used for manufacturing zinc oxide. Widely used in industries such as rubber, coatings, enamel, pharmaceuticals, printing, fibers, etc., accounting for approximately 11% of zinc usage.

5. Used for manufacturing dry batteries, appearing in the form of zinc cakes and zinc plates, accounting for approximately 13% of zinc usage.

Zinc has suitable chemical properties. Zinc can interact with NH4CI, releasing H+cations. Zinc manganese dioxide battery utilizes the characteristic of zinc, using zinc alloy as the outer shell of the battery, which serves as the container for the battery electrolyte and participates in the battery reaction to form the anode of the battery. In addition, its performance has also been widely applied in the pharmaceutical industry.

The world's lead consumption is mainly concentrated in the fields of lead-acid batteries, chemicals, lead plates and pipes, solder, and lead bullets. Among them, lead-acid batteries are the most important area of lead consumption. In 2009, the lead consumption of lead-acid batteries in the United States, Japan, and China reached 86%, 86%, and 81.4%, respectively. Due to environmental requirements, the consumption of lead in other fields is relatively low.

Article source: Changjiang Nonferrous Network

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