THE BENEFITS OF ZINC STRIP
Discover The Advantages Of Zinc
The versatility and advantageous properties of zinc make it a unique metal and adaptable to various traditional and modern day uses. Zinc is a non-ferrous metal (meaning it does not contain iron) and has many beneficial properties such as low density, unique conductivity, corrosion resistance and a non-magnetic nature. These properties make zinc strip ideal for several applications across a diverse range of industries. Zinc strip is an ideal choice for designing new products or re-engineering existing products to make them more cost-effective.
ARTAZN™ uses 99.995% pure high grade zinc to develop alloys through the precise and controlled addition of other metals. These alloys broaden the scope of applications for which zinc strip can be used, allowing ARTAZN™ to consistently meet customers’ requirements, expand their product capabilities and achieve cost-savings for its customers. We have an established family of zinc alloys with multiple features and benefits for a wide range of applications. If the application falls outside the scope of our current alloy family, our product development team can work with customers to develop new alloys for newer products.
Our zinc strip makes use of the properties mentioned below to improve and advance the functionalities of the products used in the different industries in which we operate such as Coinage, Cathodic Protection, Architectural, Building Products, Automotive and Specialty products.
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Properties of Zinc
- Self-Annealing: Unlike steel, zinc has the ability to self-anneal during successive forming operations.
- Electrical Properties: ARTAZN™ can modify the base metal conductivity of zinc through alloying over a wide range, <30% %IACS.
- Chemical Properties: Zinc possesses unique electro-chemical properties that enable it to function in galvanic cathodic protection and battery anode configurations.
- Joining and Soldering: Zinc can be easily soldered to itself and other materials. It can be joined by resistance welding and other assembly methods.
- Corrosion Resistant: Zinc is resistant to weathering and atmospheric corrosion. Exposure to the atmosphere causes the formation of a zinc carbonate film that provides long-term protection.
- Finishing: Being one of the most versatile and non-ferrous metal available, zinc can be plated, painted, lacquered, powder coated or covered with a base clear coat with excellent adhesion and durability.
- Shielding Properties: Zinc is an effective EMI/RFI shield.
- Non-Magnetic: Zinc is non-magnetic.
- Anti-Sparking: Zinc is non-sparking, making it the ideal choice for parts utilized in hazardous environments.
- Environmentally Safe: Zinc is an essential element of life naturally existing in the earth and in all living things.
- Cost-Effective: Zinc is an economical alternative to other metals such as copper and brass. Due to its lower density, zinc will produce more pieces per kilogram unit of weight in comparison to copper, brass, bronze, steel and other related materials
- Recyclable: Solid zinc strip is 100% recyclable. ARTAZN™ recycles zinc scrap produced throughout its various processes.
- Electro Magnetic Signature: Zinc and its applied alloys developed by ARTAZN™ have a unique and narrow electromagnetic signature range. This makes it an excellent choice of base material for coin fraud prevention.
- Deep Draw Property: Zinc has favorable properties for applications in deep draw designs and tube making.
- Malleability: Zinc and its alloys are malleable; a property that extends zinc strip applicability for metal sheets.
- Impact Resistance: Zinc has a higher impact resistance than brass or stainless steel making it ideal for exterior trim for automotive.
- Lubricity: Zinc is a self-lubricating metal making it beneficial for metal-on-metal applications such as leaf-spring inner-liners.
- Amphoteric Nature: Zinc oxide, a compound of zinc, can react with both an acid or a base, enabling it to be used for pharmaceutical applications and prevents it from negatively impacting the environment.
Possibilities of Zinc Strip
The versatility of solid zinc strip makes it ideal for a large variety of applications. The flexibility and formability of zinc strip make it readily adaptable to various traditional and modern uses that may require complex shapes and forms.
ZincSecure®, the latest coin product development from ARTAZN™, provides exceptional value by utilizing proven technologies. This non-magnetic material creates unique electromagnetic signatures (EMS) that offer security with significant cost savings.
Our cathodic protection systems utilize proven zinc technology to provide long-term solutions to corrosion issues for steel-reinforced concrete structures as well as concrete highway pavement subjected to premature failure from chloride-induced corrosion.
Zinc strip’s properties such as low melting point, low conductivity, impact resistance and self-lubrication are vital to the automotive industry. Zinc strip plays key roles on your car from extra styling to ensuring your car starts. All of today’s major manufacturers of automotive fuses incorporate solid zinc strip in their products.
Since zinc strip is corrosion resistant and a fungistat that allows thermal expansion, it is ideal to use in applications that require long-lasting durability. The ductility, malleability and soldering capabilities of zinc strip make it ideal for form and function as it can be manipulated into tight spaces and intricate forms.
Zinc strip has excellent formability allowing for creative architectural expression through the design of intricate shapes and forms. The longevity of zinc makes it a great choice for roofing, wall cladding, dormers and steeples. Zinc’s natural beauty enhances the interior design of structures when used as counter/bar tops, wall panels, facades and other decorative ornaments.
Zinc strip’s unique properties and characteristics make it key for many niche products that impact several industries. From helping the blind read to blocking damaging UV rays to electromagnetic shielding to the fasteners on your clothes, zinc strip can be found in several specialty areas. This wide range of diverse product mix can be attributed to zinc’s characteristics such as metal density, formability, durability, ductility and cost-effectiveness.
ARTAZN™’s product development team can engineer new zinc strip products utilizing the multiple beneficial attributes of zinc strip to expand your existing or new products’ horizons.
Fun Facts About Zinc
- 16 pennies laid edge to edge in a straight line is exactly one foot.
- Zinc is a member of the metal group, but is a vital nutrient in both plants and animals.
- Zinc is the 24th most common element in the planet’s crust.
- Approximately .0075% of the Earth’s crust is zinc.
- Zinc is usually found with other elements like copper.
- There are five naturally occurring stable isotopes in zinc.
- The most common stable isotope of zinc is Zn-64.
- Zn-64 has such a long half-life that its radioactive properties are virtually non-existent.
- Zinc has been in used since before 1000 BC.
- A statue made of 87% zinc found in Romania dates to prehistory.
- Writings before 400 BC mention a silvery metal used to make brass, most likely, zinc.
- Zinc was likely given its name by Paracelsus.
- The word is probably derived from the German zinke, and supposedly meant “tooth-like, pointed or jagged”.
- Andreas Sigismund Marggraf is credited for the discovery of zinc in metal form in 1746.
- Zinc is used in the production of brass.
- Of all the transition metals, zinc has the lowest melting point after cadmium and mercury.
- Zinc is considered a fairly strong reducing agent.
