Rubber Zinc Oxide

Zinc oxide for rubber is being used in an increasingly wide range of applications and is receiving higher and higher praise. To get the most out of it, we should follow the correct procedures during installation and operation. Let’s take a look at the physical properties of zinc oxide for rubber.

Rubber Zinc Oxide

   Zinc oxide for rubber is primarily used in the rubber and cable industries as a reinforcing agent and activator. It appears as a white powder or hexagonal crystalline structure. It is odorless, tasteless, and non-abrasive. When heated, it turns yellow but reverts to white upon cooling; it sublimates when heated to 1800°C. Its hiding power is half that of titanium dioxide and zinc sulfide. Its tinting strength is twice that of basic lead carbonate. Zinc oxide in rubber is soluble in acids, concentrated hydroxides, ammonia water, and ammonium salt solutions, but insoluble in water and ethanol. Zinc oxide is a well-known white pigment, commonly called zinc white. One of its advantages is that it does not turn black when exposed to H₂S gas, as ZnS is also white. When heated, ZnO gradually changes from white to pale yellow and then to lemon yellow; upon cooling, the yellow color fades. This property is utilized by incorporating it into paint or thermometers to produce color-changing paint or color-changing thermometers. Because ZnO has astringent properties and some antibacterial activity, it is often formulated into ointments for medical use; it can also serve as a catalyst. Zinc oxide is an important and widely used physical sunscreen agent that blocks ultraviolet (UV) radiation through absorption and scattering. As an n-type semiconductor, electrons in its valence band can absorb energy from UV radiation and undergo energy transitions—which is the mechanism by which it absorbs UV radiation.

   The above covers the physical properties of zinc oxide in rubber. You can select the appropriate method based on your specific operational requirements to avoid unnecessary losses caused by improper handling. If you have any other questions, please visit our website, where we regularly update our articles. We hope this information is helpful to you.