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Germans called Zinc metal as ‘Caunterfeitum’ or ‘mock-silver’ because of its silvery white lustre..and ‘rishis’ of Vedic era recommend ‘Jasadabhasma’ a zinc based preparation, as the treatment of choice for diabetes. The importance of Zinc has been known to India since ancient times. Standard textbooks of Ayurveda, written by ‘rishis’ of Vedic era recommend ‘Jasadabhasma’ a zinc based preparation, as the treatment of choice for diabetes. Modern medicine also recognizes the curative properties of zinc.Long before being identified as an element, Zinc was used for making brass and for medicinal purposes. Metallic Zinc and Zinc Oxide were produced in India sometime between the 11th and 14th centuries and in China in the 17th century. Andreas Marggraf, a German chemist is credited with the discovery of pure metallic Zinc who isolated the element in 1746. In Europe, where the use of tin was well-known, Zinc was also regarded as inferior tin. Today, Zinc is the 4th most widely consumed metal in the world after iron, aluminium, and copper. Almost 58% of the zinc mined across the world is used for galvanizing, 14% for die-casting, 10% for alloys and brass making, 9% in chemicals, 6% in rolled zinc and 3% for other miscellaneous purposes. An adult human body contains about 2-3 grams of Zinc, needed for the body’s enzymes and immune system to function properly. Every cell requires Zinc to multiply. Zinc strengthens the immune system to prevent and effectively fight diarrheal diseases which are often life threatening for children in the developing countries. A few extra milligrams of Zinc everyday could save the life of 450,000 kids (Source: UNICEF). Zinc also helps in improving eyesight, preventing respiratory infections, treating acne, common cold, age-related chronic diseases, fertility and also has healing properties. Also, extensive usage in insect repellents, sun screens, paints, rubber, cosmetics, surgical tools, airplanes, appliances, pharmaceuticals, plastics, inks, soaps, batteries, textiles, electrical equipment etc. makes Zinc a future metal which is extensively used to cure human and infrastructural health.

Pollution, harsh weather, the sun’s UV rays, poor diet, stress and lack of exercise. All of these have a role to play in deteriorating your skin’s condition. A trace mineral essential to all forms of life, Zinc is especially important for clear skin because of its fundamental role in gene expression, cell growth and cell replication. Zinc’s presence in personal care products like sunscreens, bath soaps, baby lotion, makeup etc. helps reduce sunburn and premature aging of the skin. Used in a wide range of cosmetics and personal care products, Zinc in the form of Zinc Oxide, acts as a skin protectant from both UVA and UVB rays. It enhances the wound healing process, and meets the increased demand of cell proliferation that occur in the early phases of healing. Sunscreens containing Zinc and its soluble forms provide antioxidant protection to the skin. Zinc salt has been used as a cosmetic ingredient since it contains anti – microbial and astringent properties. By using skin toners with zinc helps tighten pores and absorb excess oil, which in turn helps to prevent the build-up of sebum, the reason behind acne.

‘Seborrheic dermatitis’ aka dandruff is a condition that we are well aware of. Shampoos containing Zinc help treat and prevent flaking of the scalp tremendously as per a study done by National Centre for Biotechnology Information. Also, extensively used in the form of mineral make up, Zinc and its compounds help prevent and protect the skin from burns and irritation because of which, it is universally used in ointments for relieving from sunburns, windburns and diaper rashes.

While Zinc was unknown in Europe until the end of 16th century, India had been producing Zinc at a large scale since the 12thcentury onwards. The mines in Rajasthan have given an evidence of zinc production since 6th century BC. Zinc was distinctly recognized as a metal under the designation of “Yasada” or “Jasada” (Yashad) in the medical dictionary written in the year 1374. Alchemists burned Zinc in air to form Zinc Oxide, also called, “philosopher’s wool” or “white snow”. The Charaka Samhita, which was written between 300 and 500 AD, mentions a metal which, when oxidized, produces pushpanjan, which was thought to be Zinc Oxide. Zinc was distinctly recognized as a metal under the designation of Yasada or Jasada (Yashad) in the medical lexicon (Dictionary) which was written in the year 1374. Smelting and extraction of impure zinc by reducing calamine with wool and other organic substances was accomplished in the 13th century in India. The Chinese did not learn of the technique until the 17th century.

The Zawar mines of Rajasthan (District Udaipur) are one of the oldest evidence of Zinc mines that date back to the 9th century. These mines have been active since the Mauryan period. While Zinc was unknown in Europe until the end of 16th century, it was being produced at a large scale in India since 12th century. The smelting of metallic zinc appears to have begun around the 12th century in India. Perhaps this is the reason that the name of Head Office of Hindustan Zinc at Udaipur, has been named ‘Yashad Bhawan’ – derived from “Jasada”…

An essential trace element, Zinc is imperatively required by the human body to act as a catalyst for the daily functioning of the body. Zinc deficiency today kills 1.5 million children every year. Lack of Zinc weakens the immune system and makes children vulnerable to infectious diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria. Zinc deficiency affects not only kids but adults too. According to studies done by International Zinc Association, 2 billion people are deficient in Zinc and 8,00,000 people are at risk of dying each year due to Zinc deficiency.

It all starts with the soil that grows the crops which the populace consumes. When the soils are deficient in Zinc, the grain concentrations of the crops grown in these soils are lower. Thus people eating crops that have been grown in Zinc – deficient soils receive less Zinc from their diets and are therefore at risk of Zinc deficiency. By consuming Zinc rich foods like seafood, beef, wheat germ, spinach, nuts etc., one can ensure a healthy immune system, proper building of proteins and smooth absorption of copper and iron in the body in the long run. Thus, by adding Zinc to the soils, to the foods (also called fortification) or even through consumption of oral tablets or multivitamin supplements, one can ensure no pathological and physiological consequences of zinc deficiency and a healthy working body.

Zinc is generally recognized as a metal that is heavily used for construction and galvanization purposes. Other than the industrial applications, Zinc plays a significant role towards dental hygiene. Bad breath or halitosis is caused when there are signs of tooth decays, which produces sulphur compounds that are reasons for foul odour. Mouthwash might mask the problem for some time, but won’t fix it. Brushing the teeth regularly is the remedy to remove the bacteria causing malodour.

Here is where Zinc steps in.

Zinc and chlorine dioxide when used in toothpastes help treat bad breath. Zinc stops the enzymes from breaking down the amino acid, that makes sulphur; while chlorine dioxide kills the already formed bacteria. This prevents tooth decay, gum disease, and gastroenteritis, which are all associated with bad breath.

Tomorrow morning when you go to brush your teeth…. Check…. ‘does your toothpaste contains Zinc?’

One of the major sectors that is set to change is the automobile sector. Globally there has been a discrepancy in using galvanized car bodies. Indian car manufacturers use about 3% galvanized steel for the cars manufactured and sold in the domestic market. However, the same Indian car manufacturers use over 70% galvanized steel for the same models they export to markets in Europe, Asia and Africa, produced from the same stamping and assembly facilities. The car companies are not presently using galvanized steel for the domestic market because like other countries, Indian consumers are not demanding it. Stephen Wilkinson, Executive Director of International Zinc Association says, “Car makers in Europe, North America, Korea and Japan have been using galvanised steel for body panels for decades. These car companies provide anti-corrosion and perforation warranties for a minimum of 10 years. But there is no such protection for most cars made for the Indian consumers. Here the customers are advised to pay for extra coatings to protect the body of the car after purchase. More than 60% of the cars in India have surface rust which reduces steel strength and the life of the car.” In China, more vehicles are sold each year than the U.S. and Japan combined, and they rarely use galvanized steels, according to the International Zinc Association. The annual passenger vehicle sales will rise to 24 million in 2020 in China, from 19 million last year, as per McKinsey & Co. forecasts and only about one thirds of locally-manufactured autos use galvanized panels to prevent corrosion and rusting. China’s drivers will increasingly demand rust-proof cars in future according to report. Only about a third of locally-manufactured autos use galvanized panels to prevent corrosion and rusting. That’s good news for the price of zinc, the anti-corrosion fighter that’s already this year’s top performer among base metals. Domestic automakers in China, where more vehicles are sold each year than the U.S. and Japan combined, rarely use galvanized steels. Switching to the material would require about 350,000 metric tons a year of additional zinc, the association estimated last year. A similar move in India would need an extra 150,000 tons annually.

Hindustan Zinc launched the new product – HZDA (Hindustan Zinc Die-Casting Alloy), in line with Prime Minister’s flagship program of Make in India. HZDA is expected to replace the imported zinc alloys and to cater to the needs of Auto and Steel Industry. After the success of CGG (Continuous Galvanizing Grade), Hindustan Zinc has expanded its portfolio of zinc alloys with the introduction of ‘HZDA’ during the inauguration day of International Galvanizing Conference 2016 on 20th October 2016 at Hotel Hyatt Regency, New Delhi in the presence of Chief Guest – Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Steel, Government of India, Hindustan Zinc CEO – Mr. Sunil Duggal, Executive Director of International Zinc Association – Mr. Stephen Wilkinson. Produced using primary zinc and pure aluminium, ‘HZDA’ will cater to the need of the die-casting sector for applications in automobile components, house hold appliances, sanitary-ware and defence. In line with Prime Minister’s flagship program of Make in India, HZDA is expected to replace the imported zinc alloys and to cater to the needs of Auto and Steel Industry. Hindustan Zinc is ready to meet 100% die-casting requirement in India.

Coastal salts (i.e. sodium, calcium and magnesium chlorides) can create a corrosive environment for any infrastructure across the world, the reason being humid and saline climate. The only remedy is to use galvanized steel (the zinc coated steel) that provides the much needed strength to the rebars. Using galvanised steel, Delhi’s Lotus Temple structure has been built to last for 1000s of years. Lord Krishna’s temple being built in Vrindawan has approached Hindustan Zinc for providing Zinc to build ever-lasting infrastructure. The youngest State of India, Telangana, while celebrating its 2nd anniversary, hoisted the tallest National Flag Mast that has a coating of zinc. India loses around 4-5% of GDP annually on account of corrosion losses. Western countries, which are far ahead of us in terms of infrastructure, mandate the use of Galvanizing for the steel structures used for bridges, highways, public utility, Airports, Metro Stations, Railways stations, etc. and that is how they are able to preserve long-lasting and robust structures. For instance, Athens Bridge Pennsylvania & Curtis Road Bridge Michigan are structures that utilize Galvanized Steel rebars and have a much longer life-span than the conventional bridges built with normal black steel rebar, as galvanized rebar can withstand chloride concentration at least four to five times higher than the black steel rebar and remains passivated at lower pH levels, substantially slowing the rate of corrosion. The fundamental says, once the steel starts corroding, the mass of the steel increases, leading to cracks in the structure, which could later become reasons for collapse. The coastal infrastructure within a range of 3000 sq feet is more prone to corrosions. According to the American Institute of Architects, it is essential to use hot dip galvanized steel, to make such coastal infrastructure decay resistant.

When NASA scientists needed a coating that could withstand the extreme temperatures of space travel, they turned to Zinc Oxide. Researchers were able to develop a Zinc-based coating capable of withstanding thermal cycling between 180˚C and -180˚C, and the bombardment of ultraviolet exposure equivalent to 19,000 sun hours. The Zinc-Oxide coating is now routinely used to protect components of spacecraft, which are some of the most technically advanced and complex machines ever made.

On Earth, corrosion of metal objects occurs due to the presence of moisture and oxygen in the atmosphere. Similarly, spacecrafts and satellites in the space and outer space are prone to corrosion because they are subjected to vacuum, exposure to ultraviolet light and X-rays and high-energy charged particles. As a protective coating for steel, Zinc has no equal. The steel and Zinc industries have worked together for many years to perfect galvanized coatings capable of protecting steel from corrosion in an array of environment, including space.

In fact, Zinc, the fourth most used metal, is not only indispensable on Earth but also in Space.

Steel has been used to make automobiles since the early 1900s but corrosion resistance features became standard in vehicles beginning in the early 1980s when Japanese cars gained entrance to the U.S. market. North American-made vehicles were having “real rust problems” that couldn’t be fought merely with heavier, and more expensive, paint. By the mid-1980s, one really had to galvanize the whole car if wanted to issue warranties. By 1987, what became standard was a 10-year perforation and five-year cosmetic warranty from all the North American, European and Japanese automakers for vehicles sold in the North American market. That really put the burden on the steelmakers to ask, how are we going to galvanize cars? The first process adopted was electrogalvanizing(EG). So large-volume electroplating lines were built and they processed 20 million tons of steel per year through early 1990s. However, the industry found this process expensive because of the amount of electricity required. At the time, EG was the only process approved for automotive quality. Everyone saw the Holy Grail was to hot dip galvanize automotive steels. It was already done for building panels and appliances. Getting that to be automotive quality was the key, and that happened by the mid-1990s. The annual consumption of zinc for autobodies today is roughly 120,000 metric tonnes. There is almost no galvanized steel on Chinese-made vehicles except for exports from China by Volkswagen AG, General Motors Co. and others. That’s 20 million cars in China not using galvanized steel. India, is a huge and growing market for passenger vehicles, but galvanized steel is not used in auto manufacturing. India’s emerging market economies could bring 600,000 metric tons of zinc consumption per year. The need is to formulate standards for corrosion protection.

The captive usage of solar energy is one of our core focus areas at Hindustan Zinc. Solar rooftop projects with a capacity of 200 KW have already been installed at each of our head offices, including the Udaipur and Chanderiya lead zinc smelter. We have commissioned 16 MW solar power projects during FY 16-17 comprising of a 12 MW project at Debari Zinc Smelter. Additionally, a solar project with a capacity of 4 MW has also been commissioned at Rajpura Dariba mine for captive consumption. Whilst the 12 MW project at Debari Zinc Smelters happens to be the largest solar energy project in the Udaipur district; the 4 MW project at Rajpura Dariba mine is the first of its kind in the Rajasmand district of Rajasthan. In the next phase, we have planned to commission a 100 MW solar power plant in near future. These efforts are geared to help Hindustan Zinc establish a firm footing in the field of solar energy generation for energy efficiency.

Alessandro Volta, in the year 1800, did not just invent batteries, he unfolded an evolution…

Before the development of electric generators and electrical grids, batteries provided the main source of electricity. In the year 1800, Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist and chemist stacked up plates of Zinc and Copper, separated by brine paper disks, which produced steady current for a considerable period of time. He experimented with various metals and found that Zinc and Silver gave the best results. Successive improvements in battery technology facilitated major electrical advances, from early scientific studies to the rise of portable computers, mobile phones, electric cars, and many other electrical devices. Zinc-Silver battery is a type of rechargeable battery with silver oxide, zinc oxide as electrodes and alkaline electrolyte. Zinc-Silver batteries have been mainly used in military equipment and various space ships and submarines because of their low self-discharge rate, high energy density and reliability. Zinc-Silver batteries have the potential EMF of about 1.5 V per cell. Although the efficiency varies according to the construction; they offer very good ampere-hour and watt-hour efficiency as compared to other types of rechargeable cells and batteries. They also offer very good capacity per weight as compared to other batteries. Their self- discharge rate is very low (About 5% per year) and their energy density can go as high as up to 150 watt/ Kilo Gram weight of cell. They can also withstand high current discharge and can also be operated in a diverse range of temperature. The lifetime of a Zinc-Silver battery under wet condition is about 1-2 years and under dry storage is about 5 years. The Zinc-Silver batteries make use of silver which is a high priced metal making the cost of a Zinc-Silver battery higher as compared to other batteries.

For over a 100 years, Zinc has been a good source of energy. Zinc-carbon, Zinc-chloride, Zinc-air, Zinc-alkaline, Nickel-zinc and Zinc-Silver batteries are extensively used in small electronics like remote controls to aircraft and space applications (Zinc-Silver batteries). According to IZA, the advantages that Zinc has over other agents include – Excellent combination of physical and electrochemical properties, high specific energy and power density, recharge ability, zero emission, recyclable and sustainable.

Zinc was used in the wheels and the batteries of the Moon Buggy. The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) or Lunar Rover was a Zinc-Silver battery-powered four-wheeled rover used on the Moon in the last three missions of the American Apollo Program (15, 16, and 17) during 1971 and 1972. The wheels of the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) were designed and manufactured so as to suit the surface and the environment of the moon. Made by General Motors Defence Research Laboratories in Santa Barbara, California, FerencPavlics, the engineer, was given special recognition by NASA for developing the “resilient wheel” used tires made of Zinc-coated Steel Strands attached to the rim and discs of Aluminium. Power was provided by two 36-volt Zinc – Silver – Potassium Hydroxide non-rechargeable batteries, yielding a range of 57 miles (92 kms). These were used to power the drive and steering motors and also a 36-volt utility outlet mounted on the front of the LRV to power the TV camera. The three Lunar Roving Vehicles still remain on the Moon.

Zinc is an essential micronutrient in the body and a component of many complex structures in the body including enzymes and proteins. The link between Zinc and memory is well studied especially because Zinc deficiency can cause MEMORY LOSS. In fact, Zinc is the only metal to appear in all classes of enzymes. Zinc supplements have also been proven to speed up healing after an injury, stimulate the sense of smell and promote the activities of over 100 enzymes in the body.The human body usually contains 2 – 4 gm of Zinc at any time. The recommended daily intake value of Zinc is 8 mg/day for women and 11 mg/day for men. This quantity is widely distributed and mostly found in the brain, liver, kidney, muscle and bone but highly concentrated in the prostate and the eyes. The semen is another rich site of Zinc and the mineral is known to contribute to the growth of reproductive organs.  In the brain, Zinc is held in the glutamatergic pathway and its chief function is to control excitability. It contributes to learning.  However, high levels of Zinc in the brain can be neurotoxic. Therefore, the central nervous system closely regulates the amount of Zinc it holds. Once absorbed into the blood, Zinc is bound to the proteins, albumin and transferrin. Referring to the soil, the Zinc contents of plants depend on the amount of Zinc in the soils in which they are grown. Where the soil is rich in Zinc, the best plant dietary sources of Zinc include the seeds of alfalfa, sesame, sunflower, poppy, pumpkin, celery and mustard; wheat germ and bran; as well as beans, nuts, whole grains, blackcurrant and almonds.  Other sources of Zinc include supplements and fortified foods.

Topical Zinc preparations are used to protect against sunburn, windburn and diaper rash. Because Zinc ions have antimicrobial effects, Zinc Lactate is used in toothpastes and Zinc Pyrithione is an ingredient of shampoos. Although Zinc deficiency is largely uncommon in the developed world, it affects about 2 billion people worldwide. Signs of Zinc deficiency include impaired growth, impaired immune system, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, impotence, hair loss, soft tissue lesions and cognitive decline. Don’t be surprised, Zinc deficiency also affects your Memory – How !!! Over the years, it has been shown that some people with memory impairment do have Zinc deficiency.  In a study done on mice by researchers from Duke University Medical Centre and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the role of Zinc in the brain has been highlighted. Zinc is stored and released in the brain from nerve cells that are also responsible for releasing the neurotransmitter, glutamate. The released Zinc can act on glutamate receptors and other voltage-gated ion channels in the brain. It can also modulate synapses (a property known as synaptic plasticity). Both of these effects contribute significantly to learning and memory. Zinc deficiency affects short-term memory more than long-term memory.

Corrosion is a potential problem for any metal monument, especially in highly polluted or seaside atmospheres. Nevertheless, white-bronze monuments, which were meant to remain unpainted, survived remarkably well. Perhaps this is because the cast metal was relatively pure (more than 99% zinc) and the joining metal was also composed of zinc. Beginning in the 1870s, inexpensive monuments in American cemeteries began to be made of zinc. While many of these are in surprisingly good condition even today, others have begun to deteriorate after a century outdoors. Understanding how these monuments were made, what they were meant to look like, and what treatments are suitable for them provided a sound basis for preservation of this heritage. Companies in U.S. and Canada produced the most commonly found items using a unique methodology that included a sand-blasted finish to imitate the mat appearance of stone. Marketed as superior to stone in terms of durability, their products were referred to as “white bronze.” They included thousands of markers custom-made effigies of the dead, off-the-shelf statues of Faith, Hope, and Charity, and enormous Civil War memorials crowned by statues of soldiers. Using a more conventional technique, New York-based firms sold zinc statues of soldiers and firemen painted in imitation of bronze to veteran’s groups and municipal governments. The cast-iron fountains with classicizing zinc statues were occasionally placed in cemeteries, originally painted light colors in imitation of stone. By the early 20th century the companies in Chicago introduced copper-plated zinc for Roman Catholic cemeteries, which continued to be sold as late as the 1950s.

Zinc coating being used for an efficient solution for Marine and Offshore corrosion prevention and cathodic protection…The hull of a ship is the watertight body that is exposed to water. To protect the hulls, the ship builders put pieces of Zinc on these hulls. The Zinc components used on ships are called “Sacrificial Anodes”. Sacrificial Anodes are linked electrically to the ship’s hull. They are made of metals more reactive than the material used for the ship’s body and systems. As such, they shield the ship’s body and systems while the ship stays protected, giving rise to the name ‘Sacrificial Anodes’. Zinc is used because it has a higher voltage in the water so the current is more inclined to flow from it than from the propeller. To complete the electrical circuit, Zinc components are connected to the items they are intended to protect. Zinc is bolted right to the shaft or underwater housing.

Non-metal boats usually have a copper bonding wire inside, that connects all the underwater metal items together so they all share the protection from Zinc Anodes. Zinc Sacrificial Anodes are also used for subsea structures, pipelines, wind turbine foundations, wave and tidal generators, quay and harbour walls, jetties, dock gates, water storage tanks. Using Sacrificial Anodes gives a multitude of benefits like: capacity to last and provide effective Cathodic Protection for up to 25 years, no maintenance requirement, very high reliability, no hull penetrations, zero risk of interference and lower overall life cycle cost.

A modest increase in dietary zinc – equivalent to four milligrams per day – may reduce oxidative stress and wear and tear to DNA, a new study has claimed. Researchers from the UCSF Benioff Children Hospital Research Institute (CHORI) in the US show that extra zinc in the diet can have a profound, positive impact on cellular health that helps fight infections and diseases. This amount of zinc is equivalent to what bio-fortified crops like zinc rice and zinc wheat can add to the diet of vulnerable, nutrient deficient populations, researchers said. The study led by CHORI Senior Scientist Janet King and her team is the first to show that a modest increase in dietary zinc reduces oxidative stress and damage to DNA.  “We were pleasantly surprised to see that just a small increase in dietary zinc can have such a significant impact on how metabolism is carried out throughout the body. These results present a new strategy for measuring the impact of zinc on health and reinforce the evidence that food-based interventions can improve micronutrient deficiencies worldwide.” said King.  Zinc is ubiquitous in our body and facilitates many functions that are essential for preserving life. It plays a vital role in maintaining optimal childhood growth and in ensuring a healthy immune system. Zinc also helps limit inflammation and oxidative stress in our body, which are associated with the onset of chronic cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Around much of the world, many households eat polished white rice or highly refined wheat or maize flours, which provide energy but do not provide enough essential micronutrients such as zinc, the report says.

Zinc is an essential part of nearly 3,000 different proteins, and it impacts how these proteins regulate every cell in our body. In the absence of sufficient zinc, our ability to repair everyday wear and tear on our DNA is compromised.  In the randomised, controlled, six-week study the scientists measured the impact of zinc on human metabolism by counting DNA strand breaks. The researchers used the parameter of DNA damage to examine the influence of a moderate amount of zinc on healthy living. This was a novel approach, different from the commonly used method of looking at zinc in the blood or using stunting and morbidity for assessing zinc status. These results are relevant to the planning and evaluation of food-based solutions for mitigating the impact of hidden hunger and malnutrition. The report believes that bio-fortification can be a sustainable, long-term solution to zinc deficiency. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

While hot dip galvanizing coats iron and steel by immersion into molten Zinc bath, ‘Cold Galvanizing’ is the process of painting steel structures and exteriors with Zinc – rich paints. “Cold galvanizing” or Zinc painting is the application (by brush or spray) of Zinc dust mixed with organic or inorganic binders. Commonly containing 92-95% metallic Zinc in dry film, these Zinc-rich paints can be applied to structural steel and piping which are exposed to a wide range of corrosive atmospheric environments like refineries, power plants, bridges, buildings, mining equipment etc.

With a high percentage of Zinc in the dry film, these paints can synergistically combined with the corrosion inhibitive properties of metallic Zinc. The Zinc dust in paint is integrated with organic binders. These binders allow the Zinc particles to remain in contact with each other so the Zinc paint can provide cathodic protection. While Zinc protects structures from corrosion by hot-dip galvanizing or cold galvanizing, there is high intrinsic value in using both the techniques together, known as a duplex system.

When hot-dip galvanized steel is painted or powder coated by Zinc rich paints, the duplex coating provides a much more sophisticated manner of corrosion protection known as the synergistic effect. The exterior layer of paint or powder coating acts as an additional barrier and slows down the rate at which the Zinc is consumed – greatly extending the life of the galvanized steel. In return, the underlying galvanized coating acts as a noble primer eliminating the pinhole corrosion and peeling effect often seen on bare steel.  Once the exterior layer has been weathered down or damaged, the Zinc beneath is still available to provide cathodic and barrier protection. As a result of this synergistic effect, the substrate steel is afforded corrosion protection for 1.5 to 2.3 times the sum of the expected life of each system alone, the synergy between the two systems provides protection far superior to other systems.

After hot dip galvanizing, and cold galvanizing, let’s talk about electro galvanizing…Electro galvanizing is the process in which a layer of Zinc is bonded to steel in order to protect against corrosion. This process involves electroplating i.e. running a current of electricity through a saline Zinc solution with a Zinc anode and a steel conductor. Similar to sheet galvanizing, the operation is continuous and the coating thickness is minimal. Applied in a steel mill, the steel sheets or strips are fed through entry equipment into a series of washes and then rinses them into the Zinc plating bath. The corrosion protection offered by the electrodeposited Zinc layer is primarily due to the anodic potential dissolution of Zinc versus iron (the substrate in most cases). Zinc acts as a sacrificial anode for protecting the iron/steel. Zinc plating was developed and continues to evolve, to meet the most challenging corrosion protection, temperature and wear resistance requirements. The most common applications are for automobiles, appliance bodies and fasteners. The steel sheets can be coated by electro galvanizing one or both the sides. Due to their high corrosion resistance, electrogalvanized products are recommended for numerous applications especially in the automotive industry. Unlike hot dip galvanizing, electroplated Zinc provides – Lower thickness deposits to achieve comparable performance; Broader conversion coating availability for increased performance & colour options; and brighter, more aesthetically appealing deposits.

The answer is YES….. it turns out that Zinc plays a part in modulating the brain and body’s response to stress all along the way…Zinc has been found to be low in the serum of those suffering from depression. In fact, the lower the Zinc level, the more depressed a person is. Zinc deficiency can lead to symptoms of depression, difficulties with learning and memory, seizures, aggression, and violence. Low serotonin levels are also believed to be the cause of many cases of mild to severe depression which can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, apathy, fear, feelings of worthlessness, insomnia and fatigue. The enzymes containing Zinc are necessary for the synthesis of serotonin.

Since the 1920s Zinc has been known to play a credible role in mental health. Decades of research have found a link between taking Zinc supplements and improvement in the symptoms of schizophrenia, autism, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and other mental health problems. Around 300 enzymes in our bodies use Zinc to help make DNA, for protein synthesis, cell division, cell growth etc. Zinc is particularly found in a part of the brain called the hippocampus. In the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain central to memory and mood, antidepressants work by increasing the production of the nerve fertilizer BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) in the hippocampus, which helps in nerve recovery, adaptation, and repair. Zinc deficiency leads to decreased Zinc in the nerve synapse. The same mechanism might be responsible for seizures, migraines, dementia, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.

Under conditions of major stress, Zinc swiftly leaves the body in the form of urine, sweat, and saliva. A daily intake of Zinc is required to maintain a steady state of the body.

Ultimately all the Exploration started with a ROCK… someone found it and someone used it… and some built a civilization…

Mining Industry dates back to the dawn of civilization, and is often considered as an Ancient Industry. Indus Valley civilization showed the signs of copper, bronze, silver, gold but not iron..  Under the series of Ask for Zinc, we bring to you the innovations in the mining industry in various domains like exploration, ore deposit definition, extraction & processing, transport & communications, health, safety and mine reclamation.

INVERSION ALGORITHM – Innovations in Exploration

In mining, the first step is to discover an economically viable deposit with the help of a combination of activities collectively known as Exploration. For this, geologists search for mineral deposits in remote areas. Methods such as geological surface mapping and sampling, geophysical measurements and geochemical analysis are often applied at an early stage to pin out potential deposits.

Among these methods, geophysics is traditionally used to predict the position of a mineralized body by seeking out anomalies in the magnetic field, gravitational field or electrical conductivity etc. Inversion algorithms allow geophysical data to be used in an advanced way. It first establishes the geophysical properties of the rocks and then measures their geophysical signatures in the field, thus making it possible to generate 3D models of their potential mineralization and surrounding geological environment. Inversion algorithm enables resource explorers to extract more insight from geophysical data by converting geophysical measurements into 3D images of the subsurface that can be integrated with other surface and subsurface geologic observations.

Over the past decade, inversion algorithm has proved its effectiveness in exploring various ore deposits and major oil reserves around the world. The major examples being – iron ore and nickel belts of Western Australia – iron oxide-copper-gold in Africa, South America and Australia – copper deposits in Mongolia – nickel laterite in Colombia. Within the oil industry, inversion algorithm has reduced uncertainty when exploring the dense sedimentary section that surrounds the salt bodies in the Gulf of Mexico, and also offshore West Africa and South America where the geology is more complex and less predictable.

Who does not want to have a bungalow or flat facing sea.  Globally, everyone wants to stay in room in a hotel that is facing sea-view. The mesmerising nature has its own depth like ocean which cannot be measured. But not many know that the coastal environment causes severe damage to the building structure and envelope (i.e., exterior doors, windows, skylights, exterior wall coverings, soffits, roof systems, and attic vents). When steel reinforcement corrodes, the corrosion product occupies more than three times the volume of the original steel, exerting great disruptive tensile stress on the surrounding concrete, leading to further cracking, more weather access and further corrosion. In mild cases, rust staining occurs whereas in more serious cases severe spalling of concrete may occur and ultimately the concrete members may fail completely.

The corrosive effect of salt-laden, wind-driven moisture in coastal areas cannot be overstated. Salt-laden, moist air can corrode exposed metal surfaces and penetrate any opening in the building. Corrosion is most likely to attack metal connectors that are used to attach the parts of the structure to one another, such as floor joists to beams and connectors used in cross-bracing below the finished lowest floor. Galvanized connectors coated with Zinc at the rate of 0.9 ounce per square foot of surface area (designated G-90) can corrode in coastal environments at a rate of 0.1 to 0.3 millimetre/year. At this rate, the Zinc protection will be gone in 7 years. Alternatively, a G-185 coated connector, which provides twice as much protection as G-90, can corrode in less than 20 years.

More galvanized protection (more ounces of Zinc per square foot of surface area to be protected) increases service life. Corrosion can also affect fasteners for siding and connectors for attaching exterior-mounted heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning units, electrical boxes, lighting fixtures, and any other item mounted on the exterior of the building.

Corrosion of reinforcing steel is one of the most important causes of deterioration of concrete structures in coastal environment. High permeability concrete, poor design detailing and construction defects such as inadequate depth of cover allow the ingress of salt and moisture into the concrete. High concentration of salt and moisture result in accelerated corrosion of reinforcing steel thereby significantly deteriorating the concrete structure.

Corrosion is commonly associated with deposition of sea salt in presence of moisture on steel and light metals. Chloride is the most significant corrosive species in the salt particles. Corrosion is influenced by the amount of salt on the metal surface and related to speed and direction of wind, distance of structure from the shore, elevation of the structures, degree of sheltering and frequency and amount of rain washing. Other factors that influence corrosion include time of wetness, relative humidity, metal surface temperature etc. Normal steel has poor resistance in coastal atmosphere and hence requires protection for durability.

So, moral of the story is… Do have a SEA facing bungalow or flat, SEE that the steel used is Galvanised…

Breaking through a lush grove of trees to connect the cities of Fairlawn and Patterson, New Jersey, the Bergen County bridge is one of several in the state to utilize hot-dip galvanized steel for corrosion protection.  A natural surface appearance was desired by both communities to help the gently arcing bridge complement and not supersede the surrounding vegetation.

This goal was achieved by incorporating a new truss design to replace the previous view-obscuring plate design, so the public could continue to enjoy the scenic view of the creek flowing through the trees.  In keeping with this natural emphasis, the soft, grey appearance of the zinc coating blends seamlessly into the surrounding environment.

Not only will the galvanized coating provide a pleasing aesthetic, it will also keep the appearance of the bridge unmarred by the unsightly effects of rust and corrosion.  The barrier and cathodic protection developed during the galvanizing process will keep the bridge both structurally sound and free of dripping or streaking rust stains.  All of the trusses, floor beams, flooring, diaphragms, supports, rail, and plates were hot-dip galvanized, ensuring the bridge will remain an attractive, functional addition to the two communities for generations to come.

Who can forget the year 2013 when humanity saw one of the worst natural disasters in the history of India. Due to cloudbursts in the state of Uttarakhand, the flash floods in river Ganga and landslides washed away thousands of lives.  The Kedarnathbridge at Sonprayag also washed out due to heavy floods. The death toll and destruction was so massive that it left the region devastated.

Subsequently, a Bailey Bridge (a portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge) was built by the Border Roads Organisation, limiting the traffic to one way and a maximum load of 12 tonnes at the most. But June 2015 saw more floods and this bridge was also washed away.

Since the Temple is 3500 feet above sea level and is situated in challenging topography, the construction of a stronger flawless bridge required more than 3 years to build. Further, since the bridge was to be built in such difficult conditions, it would have been impossible to regularly protect or maintain.

It was decided finally that the new bridge has to be made of galvanized steel to ensure that it does not collapse. But Galvanizing in this remote town was not easily available.

Thus, the galvanized bridge was shipped in containers from the USA, completed and became operational in an incredible 45 days. In the new bridge, all the panel chords, diagonals, verticals, raker, reinforcing chords along with all the structural beam members and flooring were hot dip galvanized.

Zinc is used in countless number of items in some form or another. Another benefit of Zinc is its usage in Soaps. Zinc helps treat various skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, ringworm, fungus etc…

Zinc in the form of ‘Zinc Pyrithione’ is majorly used in bathing soaps due to its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties along with its ability to cure skin diseases like seborrheic dermatitis (skin disorder that affects face, scalp and torso). Most notably, it has a suppressing effect on Malassezia Fungus (commonly considered the main culprit in various skin diseases). Its other medical applications include treatments of psoriasis, eczema, ringworm, fungus, athletes foot, dry skin, sensitive skin, atopic dermatitis, rashes, tinea, and vitiligo. It also helps fight many pathogens from the Streptococcus and Staphylococcus genera.

Along with soaps, Zinc Pyrithione is best known for its use in treating dandruff, thus making its use imperative in anti-dandruff shampoos. The American shampoo brand ‘Head & Shoulders’ actively uses and promotes Zinc Pyrithione as its major ingredient, introduced in the year 1961.

Cosmetics alone are not the only applications for Zinc Pyrithione. Due to its low solubility in water (8 ppm at neutral pH) and ability to protect against mildew and algae, Zinc Pyrithione is used in outdoor paints and proves to be an effective algaecide. Also, Zinc Pyrithione slows down the process of decomposition done by ultraviolet lights, thus providing years of protection even against direct sunlight. Zinc Pyrithione is also used as an antibacterial treatment for household sponges.

With so many multiple and diverse usages of Zinc, do we need to say more… we all have Zinc in our lives…

When India is looking ahead providing electricity in every village and progressively moving towards Smart Cities Project, Digital India and Make in India, the very basis of infrastructure, the power transmission, needs to be protected for many years…. And that is where Zinc will again prove to be a future metal.

When was the last time we saw a tall standing electrical pole and thanked him for providing electricity to our houses. Well, we all have grown seeing these poles and they do have memories of our childhood.  Little we knew that these poles are protected through hot-dip zinc galvanization and this is the reason they are standing tall from years after years, and have seen perhaps more age and weather conditions than us.

Since the advent of high voltage lines hot-dip galvanized steel has been used in the electric utility market.  Whether in a generation facilitysubstationlattice tower, or renewable energy components, galvanized steel has been a backbone of any country.

According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, close to 1 million steel distribution poles have been installed in the United States since 1998 and are being used by more than 600 U.S. electric utilities. India might be having more poles but how many galvanised is still to be assessed.

Since zinc is anodic to steel, the hot-dip galvanizing also acts as a sacrificial anode if the galvanized coating is physically damaged to some degree. If individual areas of underlying steel become exposed, the surrounding zinc will provide sacrificial cathodic protection (CP) to the unprotected sites by corroding preferentially. The zinc is consumed as it sacrifices itself to protect the bare steel.

Generally speaking, galvanized steel can last for many years in non-aggressive environments, and typically does an excellent job of protecting steel when the structure is located in moderately corrosive environments.

It is also true that the galvanizing on structures will corrode over time. The rate that the thickness of the zinc coating will diminish and the length of the remaining service life of the galvanizing—and the structure itself—are contingent on the active corrosivity of the environment. Several factors are associated with the corrosion rate of galvanized structures, such as the in-service atmospheric conditions to which the aboveground portion of the structure is exposed, and the soil environment where the structure’s foundation is buried.

When India is looking ahead providing electricity in every village and progressively moving towards Smart Cities Project, Digital India and Make in India, the very basis of infrastructure, the power transmission, needs to be protected for many years…. And that is where Zinc will again prove to be a future metal.

Zinc consumption is vital in human body because it helps build healthy cells, regulate hormones and absorb other nutrients. It also plays a key role for healthy hair, skin and nails.

Hair loss can be caused by various reasons such as hormones, genetics, poor diet, age, radiation or chemotherapy treatment, stress, infections, chemicals, rapid weight loss, or other diseases. But the most common cause of hair loss is poor nutrition.

Zinc is believed to play a crucial role in DNA and RNA production. This is required for the normal division of hair follicle cells, leading to healthier hair growth. Zinc also helps keep hormone levels balanced, which could be one of the reasons why it is effective in preventing hair loss.

Experts believe that Zinc deficiency can actually lead to deterioration of the protein structure that makes up the hair follicle. This weakening of follicles can in turn cause hair shedding and hair loss. There are even a few outlying studies in which people’s greyed, aged hair returned to its original colour when nourished with zinc-rich diets or hair growth supplements. As a bonus, zinc for hair growth may help eliminate dandruff on the scalp as well.

Food items like Oysters, Chickpeas, Nuts, Eggs, Sweet Potatoes and Spinach are rich in Zinc & other nutrients which promote secretion of sebum by hair follicles to protect hair from drying out. Topical zinc can be applied directly to the scalp to counteract the effects of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that interferes with the nutrition of the hair follicles, causing them to shrink.

Zinc deficiency is a global health problem. In spite of proven benefits of adequate Zinc nutrition, approximately 2 billion people still remain at the risk of Zinc deficiency.

Zinc is supplied to the body through a diversified diet including meats, nuts, eggs, spinach, fish, mushrooms etc. which are seen to be inaccessible to people in developing countries. Children are especially vulnerable to Zinc deficiency which weakens their immune system making them prone to diarrhoea and pneumonia which are most common causes of deathin developing countries. Surprisingly, India contributes to the largest child deaths in the world.  Zinc deficiency also leads to retarded growth & development and stunting with life-long impacts on health, productivity and income.

According to Food and Health Organization (FAO), one third of the world population lives in countries that have high risk of Zinc deficiency, India being one of them. The most vulnerable are infants, young children, pregnant and lactating women due to their elevated requirements for Zinc.

Affordable approaches to eliminate Zinc deficiency exist and need to be implemented urgently. Zinc can be added to mineral pre-mixes used in fortification programs and preventive Zinc supplementation to be given to children of less than 5 years age in high risk countries. Exclusive breastfeeding during first six months to a child is an excellent source of Zinc. Also, by applying agricultural and food processing technologies, the amount of absorbable Zinc can be increased in staple foods.

Point is we do understand that we need Zinc but how many of us actually demand it…

15 months rigorous job by 25 painters – 60,000 KGs of Paint – 1500 brushes – 5000 sanding disks – 1500 set of work clothes and USD 20 million each time – this is what it takes to keep the world’s most sought after Tower standing.

The Eiffel Tower is built of riveted wrought-iron, a material that only lasts if it is painted periodically. From the date Eiffel Tower was built, in 1889, the tower has been painted 18 times, once every 7 years. Painting the entire Tower takes 15 months to complete and a mammoth 60,000 kilograms of paint is used for the first coat that cost around $20 million each time – Rs. 130 Crore..

Amazed at the cost and complexity of the work involved in repainting the tower, where the painters must use hooks, ropes, safety nets and cannot begin painting each day until the morning dew has evaporated; a Dutch corrosion expert recently made a hypothetical calculation of cost savings had the Eiffel Tower been built on galvanized steel. If Eiffel Tower had been hot-dip galvanized and then painted, which is known as a duplex system, any damage to the paint coating will not lead to corrosion as the steel would continue to be protected by the Zinc, which underlies the paint.

Had the steel used to build the Eiffel Tower been galvanized before painting, only 7 maintenance operations would have been required since 1889, compared to the 18 that have taken place.. The first large-scale maintenance of a duplex system normally takes place after about 25 years.

What does all this mean in terms of cost?

Based on today’s wage and price levels, the duplex system – would have  further saved at least $10 million in maintenance costs, which is again 50% savings on maintenance.

Obvious question would be that did hot-dip galvanization exist when the Eiffel Tower was made. The answer is YES.

About 50 years before the Eiffel Tower was made, in 1836, Sorel in France took out the first of numerous patents for a process of coating steel by dipping it in molten zinc after first cleaning it. He provided the process with its name ‘galvanizing’. 1742 is the first recorded history of galvanizing which dates back to when P.J. Malouin, a French chemist, presented to the Royal Academy of Sciences several experiments involving coating iron with molten zinc.

Bandra Worli Sea Link is the first and the longest sea link bridge in India. It is an 8-lane cable-stayed bridge, spanning about 5600 meters in length and towering to a height of 126 meters. Executed at a cost of Rs. 16.5 billion, the material used in the construction project had to meet quality regulations and standards considering an average daily traffic of 37,500 vehicles.

Infrastructure like bridges are extremely vulnerable to corrosion due to their proximity to marine salts and moisture. The only corrosion prevention method for these structures is to provide a barrier coating by galvanization.

The quality and reliability of steel wire ropes was a crucial factor in the construction of the bridge since the steel wires are required to support the cable stay bridge. The bridge stands strong with support of high-strength galvanized steel cables, rigorously tested before being put to use.

Over Rs. 90 million is spent on illuminating the sea link. Construction of the sea link was not only worked on by aced groups from India, but groups from 11 other countries including Egypt, China, Canada, Switzerland, Britain, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia and Serbia who deliberated and decided to make this bridge stand tall for many years to come.

Another example of “we all have ZINC in our lives…

What is Osteoporosis : a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue, typically as a result of hormonal changes, or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D. More than 10 million cases per year (India). Though any age is vulnerable to Osteoporosis, but people above 40 are more prone to it.

We all have forever patronized Calcium for strong bone health in our bodies. With increased advertising for the nutrient, everyone focuses on Calcium and forgets about another essential element which helps in increasing bone density and boosting immunity.

Zinc (long ignored by mainstream medicine for bone health), is in fact a crucial element for proper absorption of Calcium and Vitamin D to get into cells where it works to build bones. Although Calcium is the mineral most associated with bone formation, Zinc is also found in the bones. Forming a small percentage of the bone, Zinc is needed to form Hydroxylapatite which is a naturally occurring crystalline Calcium complex. Hydroxylapatite crystals make up about half of the bones’ weight. Thus, Zinc is essential for proper mineralization of bones by contributing to its bone mass.

Calcium is not the only nutrient important for bone formation, many trace minerals such as Zinc, Copper, Manganese and Boron are also important. A deficiency in trace minerals predisposes osteoporosis. According to studies by National Centre for Biotechnology Information, Zinc helps in prevention of osteoporosis.

You may not think of Zinc as a vital nutrient for bones, yet without adequate Zinc, the bones cannot maintain themselves.

The Bahai or Lotus Temple in Delhi, completed in the year 1986, is a monumental structure shaped as the petals of the lotus flower. It was built by a renowned Canadian architect named FariborzSahba and took 10 years for planning the structure of the temple and implementing it.

The petals of the Lotus temple of Delhi are clad in white marble panels, and their structure has been reinforced with 300 tonnes of galvanized bars to avoid the risk of rust staining on the white concrete body. This also helped to maintain the pristine appearance of the monument and avoid cracking which is prevalent in Delhi because of the humid conditions of the city. Also, the reinforcement used in the white concrete shells, the binding wires and the connecting cables are entirely galvanized so as to prevent the long-term effects of rusting and to guarantee the life of the delicate shell structure of the petals.

Lotus temple is one of the best pieces of art of olden times, that has stood the test of time till today. The monument remains one of the major attractions and a prominent landmark which has won numerous architectural awards. Hundreds of millions of devotees from across the world have already visited Lotus temple and the structure is made to see many more millions in the coming hundreds of years.

When riding in an amusement park, the first thing that comes to mind is THRILL and the second – SAFETY.

Steel begins to corrode when it is exposed to the atmosphere and amusement parks have both, humidity and salinity. Often the corrosion is blatantly visible and is an eyesore to the surrounding areas. But at times corrosion is unknown and is only blamed after a mishap or a tragedy. Thus, it is crucial to protect steel structures like roller coasters, race tracks, carnival rides, sporting arenas, water parks etc. by providing them with a protective coating. Hot-dip galvanizing is the best choice of coating since it is vital to the overall performance, safety of the structure and durability.  Also, providing aesthetic appeal and maintenance-free performance, Hot-Dip Galvanization keeps the rides functioning comparatively with less service interruption.

World-class amusement parks like Universal Studios, New Jersey Pier, Vacances Val-Cartier (largest winter amusement park in North America), Grand Canyon Skywalk etc. all amusement park-ride manufacturers, around the world, use galvanized steel to protect their structures and foster safety.

Though we started this initiative to explore usages of Zinc, but with every research on Zinc, our trust on this metal is only increasing. My curiosity has lead me to search for Zinc in everything I use or consume. It is not about identifying the health problems or corrosion issues, it’s about why certain health problems are preventable or early curable, and why, corrosion did not take place across number of buildings, bridges, electrical poles, automobiles and temples in so many decades.

We don’t use toothpaste anymore that does not have Zinc. While taking any multi-vitamin, antiseptic, oral care medicines, we make sure it has Zinc in it. It is a tonic for my skin, nutrition, strength to paints and for healthy hair. While buying any steel item, post verifying SS symbol, the next question is whether it has Zinc coating or not.

We have become spokespersons for Zinc. Our watches, mobiles and other equipments, using batteries, has to have only Zinc batteries.

The usage of Zinc in the Moon Buggy and for Space Crafts are only justification of the trust and respect this metal governs across various usages.

For once, I am continuously exploring properties and usages of Zinc, and not because I work for Hindustan Zinc.

Why this metal is the 4th most sought after metal is now understood. Why mankind searched for it in ancient times so rigorously is also known now. The only difference is, in

the ancient times the wisdom was more predominant than today, as today, the benefits of Zinc have been further identified and explored.

And now since I know, I ASK FOR ZINC..

Truly, Zinc is in our lives. So live with it, why without it.

Wondering, even after knowing so much, approximately 1/3rd of the world’s population lives in areas of high-risk of Zinc deficiency.

Some ignorances are not bliss..

Did you know that your mobile phone chargers contain zinc in the form of zinc alloys, which makes it strong, tough, durable and have a high impact strength. Zinc is the easiest metal to cast with high ductility, can easily be plated, is economical for small parts and promotes a long life. Specific Zinc alloy connectors are easy to plug and fit snug, corrosion & wear resistance, and do not get loose easily or fall off USB hub.

Zinc alloy based iPhones cables have Apple’s MFI certification (Made For iPhone/iPod/iPad certification) and give the unparalleled strength and long life that everyone looks for.

Today, Zinc alloy based cables form a huge market where they can be used in Apple and Android handsets alike.

And you thought Zinc is only used for infrastructure, medicines, toys, cosmetics, tyres, nutrients, fertilizers, automobiles, toothpaste, space-crafts, batteries, paints, bridges, electrical poles, temples, for hair, for eyes, for bones, for skin, for brain development, for memories ……….etc…. it is also used in Mobile Phones……

While Zinc is present in the human body in cells, bones, eyes etc., it is also naturally present in mouth in the saliva and the enamel of teeth. Zinc is formulated into oral health products to control plaque, reduce malodour, prevent growth of bacteria and inhibit calculus deposits that form on the teeth. Zinc helps prevent diseases that originate from the mouth like: oral ulceration, stomatitis, white tongue coating, mouth sores and burning mouth syndrome.

Zinc is also used when teeth are affected by cavities, in the form of fillings to restore a damaged tooth back to its normal function and shape. Using a mixture of Zinc and other elements, this filling lasts for more than 10 years, is less expensive and can withstand forces.

In the 1890s, a remedy was introduced which is still undertaken by many people all over the world to provide temporary treatment for decaying teeth. By combining Zinc Oxide powder with Clove Oil,  Zinc Oxide Eugenol is created which is used as cement material in dentistry. This well-known combination offers an instant relief for decaying teeth and is used as a temporary filling having anaesthetic and anti-bacterial properties.

Zinc supplements may halt the rapid growth of esophageal cancer cells, according to a study that could lead to new prevention and treatment strategies for the disease. Previous studies have shown that zinc is essential for maintaining human health and protects the oesophagus or food pipe from cancer. Researchers at the University of Texas, Arlington, U.S. discovered that zinc selectively halts the growth of cancer cells but not normal esophageal epithelial cells. “Zinc deficiency has been found in many cancer patients. Both clinical data and animal studies have shown that this mineral is very important for overall body health and for cancer prevention,” says Dr. Zui Pan, an associate professor of nursing at UTA. The study, published in the FASEB Journal, found that zinc is an important element in many proteins and many enzymes and its absence makes it impossible for cells to function. “Our study, for the first time to our knowledge, reveals that zinc impedes overactive calcium signals in cancer cells, which is absent in normal cells, and thus zinc selectively inhibits cancer cell growth,” says Dr. Pan. “It now appears that zinc and calcium can have a cross talk, meaning that they can be linked.”

An insufficient amount of zinc can lead to the development of cancer and other diseases, the researchers say. “That is why it is important to have a good diet,” Dr. Pan adds. Zinc enriched foods include spinach, flax seeds, beef, pumpkin seeds and seafood like shrimp and oysters.

Until now we know about the galvanized wonders – Bandra Worli Sea Link of Mumbai and Kedarnath Bridge of Uttarakhand, and now we present yet another masterpiece that was constructed as early as the year 1869.

Brooklyn Bridge of New York is one of the most famous and oldest bridges in the world. This Cable Stayed – Suspension Bridge took 14 years to construct and is the first suspended bridge which used hot dip galvanized cables. With a total cable length of 32,500 kilometers, the cable amazingly used over 6.8 million pounds (2300 tonnes) of steel wires. The cables were galvanized to ensure that the rain and salty water of the East River protected the bridge from rusting.

The decision to use hot-dip galvanized steel was extremely smart. Hot-dip galvanized steel reduced the need for both short and long-term maintenance, which tremendously saved expensive and time-consuming repairs.

Researchers in California have found a replacement to the Lithium-Ion batteries which are infamous for overheating, bursting into flames and even exploding. A safer, less expensive, smaller and lighter substitution has been explored.

Yes! Zinc-based batteries which are also rechargeable, store as much energy as Lithium-Ion batteries and could be used in smartphones, mild hybrid engines, electric vehicles, electric bicycles, and eventually power grid storage. The experts are aggressively exploring a scale-up of this technology and feel that the Zinc based batteries will be ready for the market by the end of 2019.

Even the U.S. Navy members are researching alternative technologies to Lithium-Ion batteries. Debra Rolison, Head of the Advanced Electrochemical Materials Section at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., says that the Navy is concerned for the safety of its soldiers. Zinc-based batteries do not pose the same fire risk linked with Lithium-Ion batteries, and can surpass them, making them “the go-to global battery for single-use applications,”. The Navy researchers are also exploring cathodes other than nickel to use with the Zinc anodes. “Silver-Zinc shows much greater power than that of Lithium-Ion” Rolison says. “It could be of extreme interest to the Navy for submersible applications”.

In today’s times of increasing working hours and chronic stress, Computer Vision Syndrome and Digital Eye Strain are a common issue. Headache, blurred vision, irritation, extra tearing, excessive blinking and even neck pain are symptoms of the same. In times like these, it is essential to take extra care of vision health.

Zinc, the essential trace mineral, or ‘helper molecule’, is vital for eye health. Zinc is highly concentrated in the eye, mostly in the retina and choroid, the vascular tissue layer under the retina. It plays a crucial role in bringing vitamin A from the liver to the retina in order to produce melanin, a protective pigment in the eyes. Zinc has been shown to protect against age-related macular degeneration, night blindness, cataract, damage to optic nerve, impaired vision, poor night vision and cloudy cataracts. A person with Zinc deficiency in their body is also at risk for alopecia (loss of hair from eyebrows and eyelashes), mental sluggishness and increased susceptibility to infection.

Experts recommend daily amount of Zinc consumption – 8 milligrams (mg) for women and 11 mg for men. Good food sources of Zinc include nuts, seafood, spinach, mushroom, milk, yoghurt, eggs, cocoa, black-eyed peas, tofu and wheat germ.

Diabetes might be one of the most talked about diseases across the world and especially in India, but awareness about the same can well be estimated by the fact that India today has more people with type-2 diabetes. The WHO also estimates that 80 per cent of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries and projects that such deaths will double between 2016 and 2030.

Interestingly, ZINC has long been an ingredient used in “older” insulins, such as Regular, NPH, and Lente. ZINC is also necessary for the formation of insulin in the pancreas’s beta cells. For these reasons, researchers have looked at the role of zinc supplementation in the prevention and treatment of Type 2 diabetes— but unfortunately, without success.

However, new light has been shed on the role of ZINC in diabetes. In this month’s issue of Diabetes Care, Finnish researchers followed 1,050 adults with Type 2 diabetes for seven years. During that time, 156 participants died from heart disease and 254 had fatal or nonfatal heart attacks. Blood ZINC levels were lower in people who died from heart disease compared to those who survived; also, ZINC levels were lower in those who had heart attacks. The authors of this study speculate that, possibly because ZINC has antioxidant properties, supplementation may be useful in warding off heart disease in people with Type 2 diabetes.

DIABETES has a harrowing background in India

The diabetes capital of the world with as many as 50 million people suffering from type-2 diabetes, India has a challenge to face. However, medical experts feel that timely detection and right management can go a long way in helping patients lead a normal life. Diabetes might be one of the most talked about diseases across the world and especially in India, but awareness about the same can well be estimated by the fact that India today has more people with type-2 diabetes (more than 50 million) than any other nation.

With the country having the highest number of diabetic patients in the world, the sugar disease is posing an enormous health problem to our country today. Often known as the diabetes capital of the world, India has been witnessing an alarming rise in incidence of diabetes according to the International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheet on diabetes, an estimated 3.4 million deaths are caused due to high blood sugar.

The WHO also estimates that 80 per cent of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries and projects that such deaths will double between 2016 and 2030. It has been further estimated that the global burden of type-2 diabetes is expected to increase to 438 million by 2030 from 285 million people (recorded in 2010). Similarly, for India this increase is estimated to be 58%, from 51 million people in 2010 to 87 million in 2030. But

debates, discussions and deliberations aside, the fundamental thing is to know what exactly is diabetes.

To put it simply, it is a medical condition that is caused due to insufficient production and secretion of insulin from the pancreas in case of Type-I diabetes and defective response of insulin Type-2 diabetes. Under normal body circumstances, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin lowers the blood glucose level. When the blood glucose elevates (for example, after eating food), insulin is released from the pancreas to normalise the glucose level. In patients with diabetes, the absence or insufficient production of insulin causes hyperglycaemia.

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, that is, it can be curbed at the initial level by introducing lifestyle changes and controlled after its incidence through medicines in early stages and administration of external insulin in advanced stages. But it would not be wrong to say that it cannot be cured completely and lasts a lifetime.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the world’s major diseases. It currently affects an estimated 143 million people worldwide and the number is growing rapidly. In India, about 5 per cent population suffers from diabetes. Medical health experts assert that regular check-ups and timely detection plays a vital role in controlling and managing the problem. Ironically, due to patient resistance and feeling of disbelief that ‘I can have diabetes too’, most patients tend to defer on detection and treatment that often leads to complications.

Practitioners feel that patient adherence to medication and lifestyle modifications play an important role in diabetes management and this can help them lead a normal life. Un-monitored prevalence of diabetes also results in increased risk of vascular complications like cardiovascular, renal, neural and visual disorders which are related to the duration of the disease.

Zinc plays an essential role in neurotransmitter function and helps maintain cognition. It is necessary in the metabolism of Melatonin which is a key hormone for healthy sleep. Zinc is one of the three minerals that have a sedative effect on the nervous system (the others are Calcium and Magnesium) and is also thought to help mental recovery post-stress.

A research study by Rondanelli et al in 2011 tested the effect of Zinc, Melatonin & Magnesium on patients with primary insomnia and found that the treatment had a beneficial effect on the quality of sleep. It is thought that whilst the Melatonin helped with sleep onset, it was Magnesium and Zinc that had a positive effect on the restorative value of sleep.

Consumption of Zinc helps to have less wake-ups in the night. It is an excellent & safe sleep aid; and also has a calming & antidepressant effect.

Along with helping to regulate sleep, Zinc has shown to improve the vividness of dreams. As explained over at Nutrition Central (one of the world’s largest nutrition supplement companies), “When researching the signs and symptoms of vitamin B6 and Zinc deficiency, Dr. Carl Pfeiffer, from the Brain Bio Center in New Jersey, found that an alarming proportion of deficient people couldn’t recall their dreams. After supplementing with B6 and Zinc, dream recall would return.”

Using Zinc for sleep is an excellent way to improve general sleeping ability. It regulates the sleep portion of the circadian rhythm. Melatonin is able to normalize the Zinc level in people who had a low level of Zinc in their body. Studies published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society have revealed that the combination of Zinc, Melatonin and Magnesium is highly recommended to help improve the quality of sleep of insomnia patients.

Zinc supplement, if taken at night will be beneficial for the body in multiple ways. Zinc is involved in the production of at least 300 enzymes, helps in hundreds of body processes, from producing DNA to repairing cells and boosting immune system. The mineral can help to sleep better at night, along with a host of additional benefits.

Another example of usage of ZINC… We all have Zinc in our lives…

Researchers from the University of Leicester discovered that Zinc plays a key role in regulating the way Calcium moves in the heart cells. Zinc is present in heart muscle and interacts with Calcium to affect heart function.

Zinc is the most common mineral in human body beside Iron. Zinc is actually found in every cell. Past research have shown patients with congestive heart failure often have profound Zinc deficiency. Zinc has potent antioxidant properties which help to neutralize free radicals that may accelerate aging & contribute to the development of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. In addition to essential metabolic functions, the level of Zinc in the body also affects the heart muscle. When oxidative stress occurs, it may be due to a shortage of Zinc, which can be determined by examining the heart muscle. Studies by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) show the relationship between the total amount of Zinc in the body and cardiac function. Zinc deficiency initially appears as symptoms on the skin, hair and fingernails, although it can progress to include reduced immune response and organ failure, including the heart. Heart palpitations have numerous causes, including many benign ones, but they may indicate early signs of heart failure.

Zinc appears to have protective effects in coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy. In such states, replenishing with Zinc has been shown to improve cardiac function and prevent further damage.

At an incredible 828 metres (2,716.5 feet) and more than 160 storeys, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building.

Engineers, designers, architects and skilled workers from more than 100 countries were involved in the making of the building. The construction took 22 million man-hours, where more than 12,000 dedicated personnel ensured the seamless progress of the building.

Burj Khalifa’s primary structure is made of reinforced concrete. The  construction used 330,000 m3 of concrete and 55,000 tonnes of galvanized steel rebar. A cathodic protection system is in place under the concrete to neutralize the groundwater and prevent corrosion. Due to the hot and humid outside conditions, an additional protective coating to the structure was required. Thus, the steel pipes used in the inner skeleton of the building were hot-dip galvanized along with the steel construction around the entrance to maximise protection.

The world’s tallest building is another testimony of the strength of Zinc … We all have Zinc in our lives

 

The Statue of Liberty is a sculpture on Liberty Island in New York City which symbolizes the United States of America to millions of people around the world. The 151 feet statue was a gift from France to the United States and was designed by French sculptor – FrédéricAuguste Bartholdi & built by Gustave Eiffel. It took over a decade to build (1875 to 1886) and over $250,000 which was a significant amount considering that it was the 19th century.

For more than 100 years, the Statue of Liberty welcomed seafarers to the shores with dignity, grace, health and vigour. But deep down, it was hurting. Standing in the humid and saline environment of New York Harbour, left the Statue of Liberty interiors vulnerable to massive corrosion. The regular maintenance checks in the 1980s revealed that galvanic corrosion had taken place between the outer Copper skin and the inner wrought Iron structure.

In 1982, it was announced that the statue was in need of considerable restoration.

A Zinc Silicate coating was used in the restoration that provided the Statue with superior corrosion resistance. Zinc Silicate coating was an inorganic water-based Zinc primer that was applied as a rust inhibitor. Also, according to the New York Historical Society, the Statue had developed a green hue by the year 1920. If the Statue had been covered with a Zinc & Copper alloy, this process would likely have taken much longer and stood the test of time.

Restoring the metallurgic integrity to Liberty took 6 years and costed $162 million. According to author Jonathan Waldman, “Rust is costlier than all other natural disasters combined, amounting in the US alone to $437 billion a year, which approaches to 3% of the nation’s GDP. By comparison, the damage done to property by hurricanes Katrina, Sandy and Andrew in 2012 was $128 billion, $50 billion and $44 billion, respectively.”

Another testimony of the strength of Zinc … We all have Zinc in our lives…

Ask for Silver

“Silver”, one of the most precious ancient metals that has roots in Zinc.

The mining of Silver began between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago in Anatolia, or what is now modern-day Turkey. As early as 700 B.C., early Mediterranean civilizations were using the brilliant white metal as currency. Over the next several centuries, the epicentre of Silver mining shifted from Greece to Spain to Germany to Eastern Europe.

In India, Hindustan Zinc is the only large producer of primary Silver, producing over 95% of Silver. Parkes process (patented in 1850), involves adding Zinc to Lead and melting the two together. When stirred, the molten Zinc reacts and forms compounds with any Silver and Gold present in the Lead. These Zinc compounds are lighter than the lead and, on cooling, form a crust that can be readily removed.

There have been many ways of extraction of Silver through smelting process. One of them has been the Parkes Process, a pyro metallurgical industrial process for removing Silver from Lead during the production of bullion. It is an example of liquid–liquid extraction. The process takes advantage of two liquid-state properties of Zinc – the First is that Zinc is immiscible with Lead and the Second that Silver is 3000 times more soluble in Zinc than it is in Lead. When Zinc is added to liquid Lead that contains Silver as a contaminant, the Silver preferentially migrates into the Zinc. Since Zinc is immiscible in Lead, it remains in a separate layer and is easily removed. The Zinc-Silver solution is then heated until the Zinc vaporizes, leaving nearly pure Silver. If Gold is present in the liquid Lead, it can also be removed and isolated by the same process.

Globally, 51% Silver is used for Industrial Fabrication… The highest usage of Silver, globally, is Industrial Fabrication (51%), followed by Coins and Bars (25%), Jewellery (19%) and Silverware (5%).

With the entire spotlight usually given to Gold, Silver gets side-lined and is considered as Gold’s poorer cousin.

Gold is considered to be more valuable primarily because it exists in precious quantities when compared to Silver. While majority of the Gold goes into hoarding – like jewellery, only a fraction of it is used in industrial production.

This is where, Silver dominates Gold !!!

Silver’s industrial role is much more than that of Gold and it is for this reason that a shortage of Silver has always had higher negative implications than there would be if there was a shortage of Gold. Silver will always continue to be in demand essentially because of its industrial usage. It has the highest electrical conductivity amongst all the metals, which is why it is used as an alloyed form for electrical contacts. Satellites, lasers, high tech weaponry, robotics, telecommunications need Silver. Conductors, contracts, switches and fuses need Silver too because of its non-corroding properties or overheating. The consumption of Silver in solar panels, brazing alloys, electrical contacts, batteries used in laptops and electric cars and circuits guarantees that Silver’s industrial demand will stay strong even when there is economic slowdown.

Indeed … this white Gold glitters more than Gold..!!! Silver!!! Hindustan Zinc produces over 95% of India’s primary Silver. With a capacity to produce 500 tonnes of Silver per annum, the Company is aiming to produce 1000 tonnes of primary silver in near future which would place India firmly on the map of global silver producers.

India is a silver deficit country that imports about 8000 tonnes of silver every year and expansion of silver production by Hindustan Zinc, would certainly help India decrease its silver import bill and encourage silver-ware industries.

Silver has been known since ancient time. It was one of the first five metals to be discovered. Mankind learned to separate silver from lead back in 3000 BC. Silver objects have been found dating back before 4000 BC. It is believed the element was discovered around 5000 BC.  Silver has been revered by the medical community since a long time. Hippocrates, “The Father of Medicine”, knew of its healing and anti-disease properties. In World War I, before the widespread use of antibiotics, it was imperative on the battlefield. Silver foil was wrapped around wounds to help them heal. Silver, a germicidal, kills bacteria and other lower organisms. Silver ions act as a catalyst by absorbing oxygen, which kills bacteria by interfering with their respiration. This antibiotic property, along with its non-toxicity, has given Silver an essential role in medicine for thousands of years. In medicine, Silver is incorporated into wound dressings to treat external infections and also used as an antibiotic coating in medical devices. It is also used in some medical applications, such as urinary catheters (where tentative evidence indicates it reduces catheter-related urinary tract infections) and in endotracheal breathing tubes (where evidence suggests it reduces ventilator-associated pneumonia). The Silver ion (Ag+) is bioactive and in sufficient concentration readily kills bacteria in vitro. Silver is also used in other medical instruments and is a key part of the technology behind X-rays. It has also been used in eye drops and in dental hygiene to cure and prevent infection. Silver Sulfadiazine is especially useful for burn victims because it kills bacteria while also allowing the skin to regrow. Silver ion treatments can heal bone infections and allow regeneration of damaged tissue. Today, the presence of antibiotic-resistant superbugs increases the demand for Silver in hospitals. Small amounts of Silver can coat hospital surfaces and medical equipment to prevent the spread of pathogens. Silver and Silver nanoparticles are also used as an antimicrobial in a variety of industrial, healthcare, and domestic applications.

The Power of Sun… Still, you cannot produce solar power without Silver… If we add the amount of solar energy that is absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere, land and oceans every year, we end up with approximately 3,850,000 EJ (exajoules or 10^18 joules). To put it in more understandable terms, this amount of energy is equivalent to:  2.7 million earthquakes of the same size as the Tohoku earthquake in Japan (2011) – 40 000 times the total energy consumption in the United States – 8 000 times the total consumption in the whole world – 40% of the energy that is required to heat the entire volume of water we have on Earth by 1°Celsius. Every square meter of our planet receives around 1,366 watts of direct solar radiation. In America, one solar panel system is installed every four minutes. NASA is currently working on a solar-powered aircraft. California is home to the largest solar power plant in the world, located in the Mojave Desert. It spans 1,000 acres. California also dominates the solar power market, with a market share of 44% in 2015. California, Arizona, and North Carolina are the top three US states for solar power, based on the amount of cumulative solar electric capacity installed. There are now nine states in the U.S. where 100% of new electrical energy comes from solar power. More than 200,000 Americans currently work in the solar power industry. That number is expected to climb to 420,000 by 2020. 40 tonnes of Silver is required to produce panels that would generate 1 GW of Solar Power.

With this industry (solar) virtually non-existent 10 years ago, Silver demand in the Solar industry is growing at a fast clip as an alternate form of Energy. Silver is a unique metal. It has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of all metals, and it’s the most reflective. These physical properties make it a highly valued industrial metal, especially when used in Solar cells. Silver is a primary ingredient in photovoltaic cells, and 90% of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells use Silver paste. When sunlight hits the silicon cell it generates electrons. The Silver used in the cell works as a conductor to collect these electrons in order to form a useful electric current. The Silver then transports the electricity out of the cell so it can be used. Further, the conductive nature of Silver enhances the reflection of the sunlight to improve the Energy that is collected. Therefore, if it wasn’t for Silver, Solar wouldn’t be as efficient in turning sunlight into Energy. India is currently 100% importer of Solar parts where Silver is used, the major countries from where it is being imported are China and Japan.

Taking forward the vision of our Prime Minister to produce 50 GW of Solar Energy, and producing Solar parts, Indian consumption of Silver will be all set to increase by about 2000 tonnes. This would also create large ancillary industries and ample employment opportunities. Silver growth is only likely to increase in India in the coming years since India is growing very aggressively in the areas of Make in India, Digital India and Solar Energy. As compared to the world, India has been slow towards utilization of Silver for industrial usage with mere 16%, as compared to global usage of 51%. Though we are growing in terms of utilization of Silver in Jewellery and Silver-ware, the real boost will come with Digital India and development of domestic Solar Energy market where Silver will be used. As it turns out, Solar Energy wouldn’t work the same way if it wasn’t for Silver.

Do we need to say Hindustan Zinc is the largest primary silver producer in the country and is all set to produce 1000 tonnes of silver in near future. Indeed … this White Gold glitters more than Gold..!!! Silver!!!

To the knowledge of all, the lines that we see on the rear windscreen of cars, that are used for defrosting and defogging, are made from Silver. Surprisingly, in the United States, an alloy can only be called Silver if it has at least 90% Pure Silver. It is believed that Silver was discovered around 5000 BC. Though, it is valued lesser than gold but in ancient Egypt, Silver was considered more valuable than gold. With melting point of 961°C and boiling point of 2162°C, Silver has the highest electrical conductivity and the highest light reflectance amongst all the metals known to mankind.

Electroplating is a process that uses electric current to reduce dissolved metal cations so that they form a thin coherent metal coating on an electrode. Electroplating is primarily used to change the surface properties of an object (e.g. abrasion and wear resistance, corrosion protection, lubricity, aesthetic qualities, etc.), but it is also used to build up thickness on undersized parts. Engine bearings rely on Silver. The strongest bearing is made from steel and is electroplated with Silver. Silver’s high melting point allows it to withstand the high temperature of engines and Silver’s lubricant-like features help reduce friction between a ball bearing and its housing. Due to Silver’s ability to absorb oxygen, Silver is being researched as a possible substitute for platinum to catalyse oxidation of matter collected in diesel engine filters. The other industrial applications of Silver electroplating include use on electrical parts and components like copper connectors and brass connectors. Used in conjunction with almost every common industry, Silver makes itself practically indispensable.

Germans called Zinc metal as ‘Caunterfeitum’ or ‘mock-silver’ because of its silvery white lustre..and ‘rishis’ of Vedic era recommend ‘Jasadabhasma’ a zinc based preparation, as the treatment of choice for diabetes. The importance of Zinc has been known to India since ancient times. Standard textbooks of Ayurveda, written by ‘rishis’ of Vedic era recommend ‘Jasadabhasma’ a zinc based preparation, as the treatment of choice for diabetes. Modern medicine also recognizes the curative properties of zinc.Long before being identified as an element, Zinc was used for making brass and for medicinal purposes. Metallic Zinc and Zinc Oxide were produced in India sometime between the 11th and 14th centuries and in China in the 17th century. Andreas Marggraf, a German chemist is credited with the discovery of pure metallic Zinc who isolated the element in 1746. In Europe, where the use of tin was well-known, Zinc was also regarded as inferior tin. Today, Zinc is the 4th most widely consumed metal in the world after iron, aluminium, and copper. Almost 58% of the zinc mined across the world is used for galvanizing, 14% for die-casting, 10% for alloys and brass making, 9% in chemicals, 6% in rolled zinc and 3% for other miscellaneous purposes. An adult human body contains about 2-3 grams of Zinc, needed for the body’s enzymes and immune system to function properly. Every cell requires Zinc to multiply. Zinc strengthens the immune system to prevent and effectively fight diarrheal diseases which are often life threatening for children in the developing countries. A few extra milligrams of Zinc everyday could save the life of 450,000 kids (Source: UNICEF). Zinc also helps in improving eyesight, preventing respiratory infections, treating acne, common cold, age-related chronic diseases, fertility and also has healing properties. Also, extensive usage in insect repellents, sun screens, paints, rubber, cosmetics, surgical tools, airplanes, appliances, pharmaceuticals, plastics, inks, soaps, batteries, textiles, electrical equipment etc. makes Zinc a future metal which is extensively used to cure human and infrastructural health.

Pollution, harsh weather, the sun’s UV rays, poor diet, stress and lack of exercise. All of these have a role to play in deteriorating your skin’s condition. A trace mineral essential to all forms of life, Zinc is especially important for clear skin because of its fundamental role in gene expression, cell growth and cell replication. Zinc’s presence in personal care products like sunscreens, bath soaps, baby lotion, makeup etc. helps reduce sunburn and premature aging of the skin. Used in a wide range of cosmetics and personal care products, Zinc in the form of Zinc Oxide, acts as a skin protectant from both UVA and UVB rays. It enhances the wound healing process, and meets the increased demand of cell proliferation that occur in the early phases of healing. Sunscreens containing Zinc and its soluble forms provide antioxidant protection to the skin. Zinc salt has been used as a cosmetic ingredient since it contains anti – microbial and astringent properties. By using skin toners with zinc helps tighten pores and absorb excess oil, which in turn helps to prevent the build-up of sebum, the reason behind acne.

‘Seborrheic dermatitis’ aka dandruff is a condition that we are well aware of. Shampoos containing Zinc help treat and prevent flaking of the scalp tremendously as per a study done by National Centre for Biotechnology Information. Also, extensively used in the form of mineral make up, Zinc and its compounds help prevent and protect the skin from burns and irritation because of which, it is universally used in ointments for relieving from sunburns, windburns and diaper rashes.

While Zinc was unknown in Europe until the end of 16th century, India had been producing Zinc at a large scale since the 12thcentury onwards. The mines in Rajasthan have given an evidence of zinc production since 6th century BC. Zinc was distinctly recognized as a metal under the designation of “Yasada” or “Jasada” (Yashad) in the medical dictionary written in the year 1374. Alchemists burned Zinc in air to form Zinc Oxide, also called, “philosopher’s wool” or “white snow”. The Charaka Samhita, which was written between 300 and 500 AD, mentions a metal which, when oxidized, produces pushpanjan, which was thought to be Zinc Oxide. Zinc was distinctly recognized as a metal under the designation of Yasada or Jasada (Yashad) in the medical lexicon (Dictionary) which was written in the year 1374. Smelting and extraction of impure zinc by reducing calamine with wool and other organic substances was accomplished in the 13th century in India. The Chinese did not learn of the technique until the 17th century.

The Zawar mines of Rajasthan (District Udaipur) are one of the oldest evidence of Zinc mines that date back to the 9th century. These mines have been active since the Mauryan period. While Zinc was unknown in Europe until the end of 16th century, it was being produced at a large scale in India since 12th century. The smelting of metallic zinc appears to have begun around the 12th century in India. Perhaps this is the reason that the name of Head Office of Hindustan Zinc at Udaipur, has been named ‘Yashad Bhawan’ – derived from “Jasada”…

An essential trace element, Zinc is imperatively required by the human body to act as a catalyst for the daily functioning of the body. Zinc deficiency today kills 1.5 million children every year. Lack of Zinc weakens the immune system and makes children vulnerable to infectious diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria. Zinc deficiency affects not only kids but adults too. According to studies done by International Zinc Association, 2 billion people are deficient in Zinc and 8,00,000 people are at risk of dying each year due to Zinc deficiency.

It all starts with the soil that grows the crops which the populace consumes. When the soils are deficient in Zinc, the grain concentrations of the crops grown in these soils are lower. Thus people eating crops that have been grown in Zinc – deficient soils receive less Zinc from their diets and are therefore at risk of Zinc deficiency. By consuming Zinc rich foods like seafood, beef, wheat germ, spinach, nuts etc., one can ensure a healthy immune system, proper building of proteins and smooth absorption of copper and iron in the body in the long run. Thus, by adding Zinc to the soils, to the foods (also called fortification) or even through consumption of oral tablets or multivitamin supplements, one can ensure no pathological and physiological consequences of zinc deficiency and a healthy working body.

Zinc is generally recognized as a metal that is heavily used for construction and galvanization purposes. Other than the industrial applications, Zinc plays a significant role towards dental hygiene. Bad breath or halitosis is caused when there are signs of tooth decays, which produces sulphur compounds that are reasons for foul odour. Mouthwash might mask the problem for some time, but won’t fix it. Brushing the teeth regularly is the remedy to remove the bacteria causing malodour.

Here is where Zinc steps in.

Zinc and chlorine dioxide when used in toothpastes help treat bad breath. Zinc stops the enzymes from breaking down the amino acid, that makes sulphur; while chlorine dioxide kills the already formed bacteria. This prevents tooth decay, gum disease, and gastroenteritis, which are all associated with bad breath.

Tomorrow morning when you go to brush your teeth…. Check…. ‘does your toothpaste contains Zinc?’

One of the major sectors that is set to change is the automobile sector. Globally there has been a discrepancy in using galvanized car bodies. Indian car manufacturers use about 3% galvanized steel for the cars manufactured and sold in the domestic market. However, the same Indian car manufacturers use over 70% galvanized steel for the same models they export to markets in Europe, Asia and Africa, produced from the same stamping and assembly facilities. The car companies are not presently using galvanized steel for the domestic market because like other countries, Indian consumers are not demanding it. Stephen Wilkinson, Executive Director of International Zinc Association says, “Car makers in Europe, North America, Korea and Japan have been using galvanised steel for body panels for decades. These car companies provide anti-corrosion and perforation warranties for a minimum of 10 years. But there is no such protection for most cars made for the Indian consumers. Here the customers are advised to pay for extra coatings to protect the body of the car after purchase. More than 60% of the cars in India have surface rust which reduces steel strength and the life of the car.”

In China, more vehicles are sold each year than the U.S. and Japan combined, and they rarely use galvanized steels, according to the International Zinc Association. The annual passenger vehicle sales will rise to 24 million in 2020 in China, from 19 million last year, as per McKinsey & Co. forecasts and only about one thirds of locally-manufactured autos use galvanized panels to prevent corrosion and rusting. China’s drivers will increasingly demand rust-proof cars in future according to report. Only about a third of locally-manufactured autos use galvanized panels to prevent corrosion and rusting. That’s good news for the price of zinc, the anti-corrosion fighter that’s already this year’s top performer among base metals. Domestic automakers in China, where more vehicles are sold each year than the U.S. and Japan combined, rarely use galvanized steels. Switching to the material would require about 350,000 metric tons a year of additional zinc, the association estimated last year. A similar move in India would need an extra 150,000 tons annually.

Hindustan Zinc launched the new product – HZDA (Hindustan Zinc Die-Casting Alloy), in line with Prime Minister’s flagship program of Make in India. HZDA is expected to replace the imported zinc alloys and to cater to the needs of Auto and Steel Industry. After the success of CGG (Continuous Galvanizing Grade), Hindustan Zinc has expanded its portfolio of zinc alloys with the introduction of ‘HZDA’ during the inauguration day of International Galvanizing Conference 2016 on 20th October 2016 at Hotel Hyatt Regency, New Delhi in the presence of Chief Guest – Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Steel, Government of India, Hindustan Zinc CEO – Mr. Sunil Duggal, Executive Director of International Zinc Association – Mr. Stephen Wilkinson. Produced using primary zinc and pure aluminium, ‘HZDA’ will cater to the need of the die-casting sector for applications in automobile components, house hold appliances, sanitary-ware and defence. In line with Prime Minister’s flagship program of Make in India, HZDA is expected to replace the imported zinc alloys and to cater to the needs of Auto and Steel Industry. Hindustan Zinc is ready to meet 100% die-casting requirement in India.

Coastal salts (i.e. sodium, calcium and magnesium chlorides) can create a corrosive environment for any infrastructure across the world, the reason being humid and saline climate. The only remedy is to use galvanized steel (the zinc coated steel) that provides the much needed strength to the rebars. Using galvanised steel, Delhi’s Lotus Temple structure has been built to last for 1000s of years. Lord Krishna’s temple being built in Vrindawan has approached Hindustan Zinc for providing Zinc to build ever-lasting infrastructure. The youngest State of India, Telangana, while celebrating its 2nd anniversary, hoisted the tallest National Flag Mast that has a coating of zinc. India loses around 4-5% of GDP annually on account of corrosion losses. Western countries, which are far ahead of us in terms of infrastructure, mandate the use of Galvanizing for the steel structures used for bridges, highways, public utility, Airports, Metro Stations, Railways stations, etc. and that is how they are able to preserve long-lasting and robust structures. For instance, Athens Bridge Pennsylvania & Curtis Road Bridge Michigan are structures that utilize Galvanized Steel rebars and have a much longer life-span than the conventional bridges built with normal black steel rebar, as galvanized rebar can withstand chloride concentration at least four to five times higher than the black steel rebar and remains passivated at lower pH levels, substantially slowing the rate of corrosion. The fundamental says, once the steel starts corroding, the mass of the steel increases, leading to cracks in the structure, which could later become reasons for collapse. The coastal infrastructure within a range of 3000 sq feet is more prone to corrosions. According to the American Institute of Architects, it is essential to use hot dip galvanized steel, to make such coastal infrastructure decay resistant.

When NASA scientists needed a coating that could withstand the extreme temperatures of space travel, they turned to Zinc Oxide. Researchers were able to develop a Zinc-based coating capable of withstanding thermal cycling between 180˚C and -180˚C, and the bombardment of ultraviolet exposure equivalent to 19,000 sun hours. The Zinc-Oxide coating is now routinely used to protect components of spacecraft, which are some of the most technically advanced and complex machines ever made.

On Earth, corrosion of metal objects occurs due to the presence of moisture and oxygen in the atmosphere. Similarly, spacecrafts and satellites in the space and outer space are prone to corrosion because they are subjected to vacuum, exposure to ultraviolet light and X-rays and high-energy charged particles. As a protective coating for steel, Zinc has no equal. The steel and Zinc industries have worked together for many years to perfect galvanized coatings capable of protecting steel from corrosion in an array of environment, including space.

In fact, Zinc, the fourth most used metal, is not only indispensable on Earth but also in Space.

Steel has been used to make automobiles since the early 1900s but corrosion resistance features became standard in vehicles beginning in the early 1980s when Japanese cars gained entrance to the U.S. market. North American-made vehicles were having “real rust problems” that couldn’t be fought merely with heavier, and more expensive, paint. By the mid-1980s, one really had to galvanize the whole car if wanted to issue warranties. By 1987, what became standard was a 10-year perforation and five-year cosmetic warranty from all the North American, European and Japanese automakers for vehicles sold in the North American market. That really put the burden on the steelmakers to ask, how are we going to galvanize cars? The first process adopted was electrogalvanizing(EG). So large-volume electroplating lines were built and they processed 20 million tons of steel per year through early 1990s. However, the industry found this process expensive because of the amount of electricity required. At the time, EG was the only process approved for automotive quality. Everyone saw the Holy Grail was to hot dip galvanize automotive steels. It was already done for building panels and appliances. Getting that to be automotive quality was the key, and that happened by the mid-1990s. The annual consumption of zinc for autobodies today is roughly 120,000 metric tonnes. There is almost no galvanized steel on Chinese-made vehicles except for exports from China by Volkswagen AG, General Motors Co. and others. That’s 20 million cars in China not using galvanized steel. India, is a huge and growing market for passenger vehicles, but galvanized steel is not used in auto manufacturing. India’s emerging market economies could bring 600,000 metric tons of zinc consumption per year. The need is to formulate standards for corrosion protection.

The captive usage of solar energy is one of our core focus areas at Hindustan Zinc. Solar rooftop projects with a capacity of 200 KW have already been installed at each of our head offices, including the Udaipur and Chanderiya lead zinc smelter. We have commissioned 16 MW solar power projects during FY 16-17 comprising of a 12 MW project at Debari Zinc Smelter. Additionally, a solar project with a capacity of 4 MW has also been commissioned at Rajpura Dariba mine for captive consumption. Whilst the 12 MW project at Debari Zinc Smelters happens to be the largest solar energy project in the Udaipur district; the 4 MW project at Rajpura Dariba mine is the first of its kind in the Rajasmand district of Rajasthan. In the next phase, we have planned to commission a 100 MW solar power plant in near future. These efforts are geared to help Hindustan Zinc establish a firm footing in the field of solar energy generation for energy efficiency.

Alessandro Volta, in the year 1800, did not just invent batteries, he unfolded an evolution…

Before the development of electric generators and electrical grids, batteries provided the main source of electricity. In the year 1800, Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist and chemist stacked up plates of Zinc and Copper, separated by brine paper disks, which produced steady current for a considerable period of time. He experimented with various metals and found that Zinc and Silver gave the best results. Successive improvements in battery technology facilitated major electrical advances, from early scientific studies to the rise of portable computers, mobile phones, electric cars, and many other electrical devices. Zinc-Silver battery is a type of rechargeable battery with silver oxide, zinc oxide as electrodes and alkaline electrolyte. Zinc-Silver batteries have been mainly used in military equipment and various space ships and submarines because of their low self-discharge rate, high energy density and reliability. Zinc-Silver batteries have the potential EMF of about 1.5 V per cell. Although the efficiency varies according to the construction; they offer very good ampere-hour and watt-hour efficiency as compared to other types of rechargeable cells and batteries. They also offer very good capacity per weight as compared to other batteries. Their self- discharge rate is very low (About 5% per year) and their energy density can go as high as up to 150 watt/ Kilo Gram weight of cell. They can also withstand high current discharge and can also be operated in a diverse range of temperature. The lifetime of a Zinc-Silver battery under wet condition is about 1-2 years and under dry storage is about 5 years. The Zinc-Silver batteries make use of silver which is a high priced metal making the cost of a Zinc-Silver battery higher as compared to other batteries.

For over a 100 years, Zinc has been a good source of energy. Zinc-carbon, Zinc-chloride, Zinc-air, Zinc-alkaline, Nickel-zinc and Zinc-Silver batteries are extensively used in small electronics like remote controls to aircraft and space applications (Zinc-Silver batteries). According to IZA, the advantages that Zinc has over other agents include – Excellent combination of physical and electrochemical properties, high specific energy and power density, recharge ability, zero emission, recyclable and sustainable.

Zinc was used in the wheels and the batteries of the Moon Buggy. The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) or Lunar Rover was a Zinc-Silver battery-powered four-wheeled rover used on the Moon in the last three missions of the American Apollo Program (15, 16, and 17) during 1971 and 1972. The wheels of the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) were designed and manufactured so as to suit the surface and the environment of the moon. Made by General Motors Defence Research Laboratories in Santa Barbara, California, FerencPavlics, the engineer, was given special recognition by NASA for developing the “resilient wheel” used tires made of Zinc-coated Steel Strands attached to the rim and discs of Aluminium. Power was provided by two 36-volt Zinc – Silver – Potassium Hydroxide non-rechargeable batteries, yielding a range of 57 miles (92 kms). These were used to power the drive and steering motors and also a 36-volt utility outlet mounted on the front of the LRV to power the TV camera. The three Lunar Roving Vehicles still remain on the Moon.

Zinc is an essential micronutrient in the body and a component of many complex structures in the body including enzymes and proteins. The link between Zinc and memory is well studied especially because Zinc deficiency can cause MEMORY LOSS. In fact, Zinc is the only metal to appear in all classes of enzymes. Zinc supplements have also been proven to speed up healing after an injury, stimulate the sense of smell and promote the activities of over 100 enzymes in the body.The human body usually contains 2 – 4 gm of Zinc at any time. The recommended daily intake value of Zinc is 8 mg/day for women and 11 mg/day for men. This quantity is widely distributed and mostly found in the brain, liver, kidney, muscle and bone but highly concentrated in the prostate and the eyes. The semen is another rich site of Zinc and the mineral is known to contribute to the growth of reproductive organs.  In the brain, Zinc is held in the glutamatergic pathway and its chief function is to control excitability. It contributes to learning.  However, high levels of Zinc in the brain can be neurotoxic. Therefore, the central nervous system closely regulates the amount of Zinc it holds. Once absorbed into the blood, Zinc is bound to the proteins, albumin and transferrin. Referring to the soil, the Zinc contents of plants depend on the amount of Zinc in the soils in which they are grown. Where the soil is rich in Zinc, the best plant dietary sources of Zinc include the seeds of alfalfa, sesame, sunflower, poppy, pumpkin, celery and mustard; wheat germ and bran; as well as beans, nuts, whole grains, blackcurrant and almonds.  Other sources of Zinc include supplements and fortified foods.

Topical Zinc preparations are used to protect against sunburn, windburn and diaper rash. Because Zinc ions have antimicrobial effects, Zinc Lactate is used in toothpastes and Zinc Pyrithione is an ingredient of shampoos. Although Zinc deficiency is largely uncommon in the developed world, it affects about 2 billion people worldwide. Signs of Zinc deficiency include impaired growth, impaired immune system, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, impotence, hair loss, soft tissue lesions and cognitive decline. Don’t be surprised, Zinc deficiency also affects your Memory – How !!! Over the years, it has been shown that some people with memory impairment do have Zinc deficiency.  In a study done on mice by researchers from Duke University Medical Centre and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the role of Zinc in the brain has been highlighted. Zinc is stored and released in the brain from nerve cells that are also responsible for releasing the neurotransmitter, glutamate. The released Zinc can act on glutamate receptors and other voltage-gated ion channels in the brain. It can also modulate synapses (a property known as synaptic plasticity). Both of these effects contribute significantly to learning and memory. Zinc deficiency affects short-term memory more than long-term memory.

Corrosion is a potential problem for any metal monument, especially in highly polluted or seaside atmospheres. Nevertheless, white-bronze monuments, which were meant to remain unpainted, survived remarkably well. Perhaps this is because the cast metal was relatively pure (more than 99% zinc) and the joining metal was also composed of zinc. Beginning in the 1870s, inexpensive monuments in American cemeteries began to be made of zinc. While many of these are in surprisingly good condition even today, others have begun to deteriorate after a century outdoors. Understanding how these monuments were made, what they were meant to look like, and what treatments are suitable for them provided a sound basis for preservation of this heritage. Companies in U.S. and Canada produced the most commonly found items using a unique methodology that included a sand-blasted finish to imitate the mat appearance of stone. Marketed as superior to stone in terms of durability, their products were referred to as “white bronze.” They included thousands of markers custom-made effigies of the dead, off-the-shelf statues of Faith, Hope, and Charity, and enormous Civil War memorials crowned by statues of soldiers. Using a more conventional technique, New York-based firms sold zinc statues of soldiers and firemen painted in imitation of bronze to veteran’s groups and municipal governments. The cast-iron fountains with classicizing zinc statues were occasionally placed in cemeteries, originally painted light colors in imitation of stone. By the early 20th century the companies in Chicago introduced copper-plated zinc for Roman Catholic cemeteries, which continued to be sold as late as the 1950s.

Zinc coating being used for an efficient solution for Marine and Offshore corrosion prevention and cathodic protection…The hull of a ship is the watertight body that is exposed to water. To protect the hulls, the ship builders put pieces of Zinc on these hulls. The Zinc components used on ships are called “Sacrificial Anodes”. Sacrificial Anodes are linked electrically to the ship’s hull. They are made of metals more reactive than the material used for the ship’s body and systems. As such, they shield the ship’s body and systems while the ship stays protected, giving rise to the name ‘Sacrificial Anodes’. Zinc is used because it has a higher voltage in the water so the current is more inclined to flow from it than from the propeller. To complete the electrical circuit, Zinc components are connected to the items they are intended to protect. Zinc is bolted right to the shaft or underwater housing.

Non-metal boats usually have a copper bonding wire inside, that connects all the underwater metal items together so they all share the protection from Zinc Anodes. Zinc Sacrificial Anodes are also used for subsea structures, pipelines, wind turbine foundations, wave and tidal generators, quay and harbour walls, jetties, dock gates, water storage tanks. Using Sacrificial Anodes gives a multitude of benefits like: capacity to last and provide effective Cathodic Protection for up to 25 years, no maintenance requirement, very high reliability, no hull penetrations, zero risk of interference and lower overall life cycle cost.

A modest increase in dietary zinc – equivalent to four milligrams per day – may reduce oxidative stress and wear and tear to DNA, a new study has claimed. Researchers from the UCSF Benioff Children Hospital Research Institute (CHORI) in the US show that extra zinc in the diet can have a profound, positive impact on cellular health that helps fight infections and diseases. This amount of zinc is equivalent to what bio-fortified crops like zinc rice and zinc wheat can add to the diet of vulnerable, nutrient deficient populations, researchers said. The study led by CHORI Senior Scientist Janet King and her team is the first to show that a modest increase in dietary zinc reduces oxidative stress and damage to DNA.  “We were pleasantly surprised to see that just a small increase in dietary zinc can have such a significant impact on how metabolism is carried out throughout the body. These results present a new strategy for measuring the impact of zinc on health and reinforce the evidence that food-based interventions can improve micronutrient deficiencies worldwide.” said King.  Zinc is ubiquitous in our body and facilitates many functions that are essential for preserving life. It plays a vital role in maintaining optimal childhood growth and in ensuring a healthy immune system. Zinc also helps limit inflammation and oxidative stress in our body, which are associated with the onset of chronic cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Around much of the world, many households eat polished white rice or highly refined wheat or maize flours, which provide energy but do not provide enough essential micronutrients such as zinc, the report says.

Zinc is an essential part of nearly 3,000 different proteins, and it impacts how these proteins regulate every cell in our body. In the absence of sufficient zinc, our ability to repair everyday wear and tear on our DNA is compromised.  In the randomised, controlled, six-week study the scientists measured the impact of zinc on human metabolism by counting DNA strand breaks. The researchers used the parameter of DNA damage to examine the influence of a moderate amount of zinc on healthy living. This was a novel approach, different from the commonly used method of looking at zinc in the blood or using stunting and morbidity for assessing zinc status. These results are relevant to the planning and evaluation of food-based solutions for mitigating the impact of hidden hunger and malnutrition. The report believes that bio-fortification can be a sustainable, long-term solution to zinc deficiency. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

While hot dip galvanizing coats iron and steel by immersion into molten Zinc bath, ‘Cold Galvanizing’ is the process of painting steel structures and exteriors with Zinc – rich paints. “Cold galvanizing” or Zinc painting is the application (by brush or spray) of Zinc dust mixed with organic or inorganic binders. Commonly containing 92-95% metallic Zinc in dry film, these Zinc-rich paints can be applied to structural steel and piping which are exposed to a wide range of corrosive atmospheric environments like refineries, power plants, bridges, buildings, mining equipment etc.

With a high percentage of Zinc in the dry film, these paints can synergistically combined with the corrosion inhibitive properties of metallic Zinc. The Zinc dust in paint is integrated with organic binders. These binders allow the Zinc particles to remain in contact with each other so the Zinc paint can provide cathodic protection. While Zinc protects structures from corrosion by hot-dip galvanizing or cold galvanizing, there is high intrinsic value in using both the techniques together, known as a duplex system.

When hot-dip galvanized steel is painted or powder coated by Zinc rich paints, the duplex coating provides a much more sophisticated manner of corrosion protection known as the synergistic effect. The exterior layer of paint or powder coating acts as an additional barrier and slows down the rate at which the Zinc is consumed – greatly extending the life of the galvanized steel. In return, the underlying galvanized coating acts as a noble primer eliminating the pinhole corrosion and peeling effect often seen on bare steel.  Once the exterior layer has been weathered down or damaged, the Zinc beneath is still available to provide cathodic and barrier protection. As a result of this synergistic effect, the substrate steel is afforded corrosion protection for 1.5 to 2.3 times the sum of the expected life of each system alone, the synergy between the two systems provides protection far superior to other systems.

After hot dip galvanizing, and cold galvanizing, let’s talk about electro galvanizing…Electro galvanizing is the process in which a layer of Zinc is bonded to steel in order to protect against corrosion. This process involves electroplating i.e. running a current of electricity through a saline Zinc solution with a Zinc anode and a steel conductor. Similar to sheet galvanizing, the operation is continuous and the coating thickness is minimal. Applied in a steel mill, the steel sheets or strips are fed through entry equipment into a series of washes and then rinses them into the Zinc plating bath. The corrosion protection offered by the electrodeposited Zinc layer is primarily due to the anodic potential dissolution of Zinc versus iron (the substrate in most cases). Zinc acts as a sacrificial anode for protecting the iron/steel. Zinc plating was developed and continues to evolve, to meet the most challenging corrosion protection, temperature and wear resistance requirements. The most common applications are for automobiles, appliance bodies and fasteners. The steel sheets can be coated by electro galvanizing one or both the sides. Due to their high corrosion resistance, electrogalvanized products are recommended for numerous applications especially in the automotive industry. Unlike hot dip galvanizing, electroplated Zinc provides – Lower thickness deposits to achieve comparable performance; Broader conversion coating availability for increased performance & colour options; and brighter, more aesthetically appealing deposits.

The answer is YES….. it turns out that Zinc plays a part in modulating the brain and body’s response to stress all along the way…Zinc has been found to be low in the serum of those suffering from depression. In fact, the lower the Zinc level, the more depressed a person is. Zinc deficiency can lead to symptoms of depression, difficulties with learning and memory, seizures, aggression, and violence. Low serotonin levels are also believed to be the cause of many cases of mild to severe depression which can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, apathy, fear, feelings of worthlessness, insomnia and fatigue. The enzymes containing Zinc are necessary for the synthesis of serotonin.

Since the 1920s Zinc has been known to play a credible role in mental health. Decades of research have found a link between taking Zinc supplements and improvement in the symptoms of schizophrenia, autism, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and other mental health problems. Around 300 enzymes in our bodies use Zinc to help make DNA, for protein synthesis, cell division, cell growth etc. Zinc is particularly found in a part of the brain called the hippocampus. In the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain central to memory and mood, antidepressants work by increasing the production of the nerve fertilizer BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) in the hippocampus, which helps in nerve recovery, adaptation, and repair. Zinc deficiency leads to decreased Zinc in the nerve synapse. The same mechanism might be responsible for seizures, migraines, dementia, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.

Under conditions of major stress, Zinc swiftly leaves the body in the form of urine, sweat, and saliva. A daily intake of Zinc is required to maintain a steady state of the body.

“Silver”, one of the most precious ancient metals that has roots in Zinc.

The mining of Silver began between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago in Anatolia, or what is now modern-day Turkey. As early as 700 B.C., early Mediterranean civilizations were using the brilliant white metal as currency. Over the next several centuries, the epicentre of Silver mining shifted from Greece to Spain to Germany to Eastern Europe.

In India, Hindustan Zinc is the only large producer of primary Silver, producing over 95% of Silver. Parkes process (patented in 1850), involves adding Zinc to Lead and melting the two together. When stirred, the molten Zinc reacts and forms compounds with any Silver and Gold present in the Lead. These Zinc compounds are lighter than the lead and, on cooling, form a crust that can be readily removed.

There have been many ways of extraction of Silver through smelting process. One of them has been the Parkes Process, a pyro metallurgical industrial process for removing Silver from Lead during the production of bullion. It is an example of liquid–liquid extraction. The process takes advantage of two liquid-state properties of Zinc – the First is that Zinc is immiscible with Lead and the Second that Silver is 3000 times more soluble in Zinc than it is in Lead. When Zinc is added to liquid Lead that contains Silver as a contaminant, the Silver preferentially migrates into the Zinc. Since Zinc is immiscible in Lead, it remains in a separate layer and is easily removed. The Zinc-Silver solution is then heated until the Zinc vaporizes, leaving nearly pure Silver. If Gold is present in the liquid Lead, it can also be removed and isolated by the same process.

Globally, 51% Silver is used for Industrial Fabrication… The highest usage of Silver, globally, is Industrial Fabrication (51%), followed by Coins and Bars (25%), Jewellery (19%) and Silverware (5%).

With the entire spotlight usually given to Gold, Silver gets side-lined and is considered as Gold’s poorer cousin.

Gold is considered to be more valuable primarily because it exists in precious quantities when compared to Silver. While majority of the Gold goes into hoarding – like jewellery, only a fraction of it is used in industrial production.

This is where, Silver dominates Gold !!!

Silver’s industrial role is much more than that of Gold and it is for this reason that a shortage of Silver has always had higher negative implications than there would be if there was a shortage of Gold. Silver will always continue to be in demand essentially because of its industrial usage. It has the highest electrical conductivity amongst all the metals, which is why it is used as an alloyed form for electrical contacts. Satellites, lasers, high tech weaponry, robotics, telecommunications need Silver. Conductors, contracts, switches and fuses need Silver too because of its non-corroding properties or overheating. The consumption of Silver in solar panels, brazing alloys, electrical contacts, batteries used in laptops and electric cars and circuits guarantees that Silver’s industrial demand will stay strong even when there is economic slowdown.

Indeed … this white Gold glitters more than Gold..!!! Silver!!! Hindustan Zinc produces over 95% of India’s primary Silver. With a capacity to produce 500 tonnes of Silver per annum, the Company is aiming to produce 1000 tonnes of primary silver in near future which would place India firmly on the map of global silver producers.

India is a silver deficit country that imports about 8000 tonnes of silver every year and expansion of silver production by Hindustan Zinc, would certainly help India decrease its silver import bill and encourage silver-ware industries.

Silver has been known since ancient time. It was one of the first five metals to be discovered. Mankind learned to separate silver from lead back in 3000 BC. Silver objects have been found dating back before 4000 BC. It is believed the element was discovered around 5000 BC.  Silver has been revered by the medical community since a long time. Hippocrates, “The Father of Medicine”, knew of its healing and anti-disease properties. In World War I, before the widespread use of antibiotics, it was imperative on the battlefield. Silver foil was wrapped around wounds to help them heal. Silver, a germicidal, kills bacteria and other lower organisms. Silver ions act as a catalyst by absorbing oxygen, which kills bacteria by interfering with their respiration. This antibiotic property, along with its non-toxicity, has given Silver an essential role in medicine for thousands of years. In medicine, Silver is incorporated into wound dressings to treat external infections and also used as an antibiotic coating in medical devices. It is also used in some medical applications, such as urinary catheters (where tentative evidence indicates it reduces catheter-related urinary tract infections) and in endotracheal breathing tubes (where evidence suggests it reduces ventilator-associated pneumonia). The Silver ion (Ag+) is bioactive and in sufficient concentration readily kills bacteria in vitro. Silver is also used in other medical instruments and is a key part of the technology behind X-rays. It has also been used in eye drops and in dental hygiene to cure and prevent infection. Silver Sulfadiazine is especially useful for burn victims because it kills bacteria while also allowing the skin to regrow. Silver ion treatments can heal bone infections and allow regeneration of damaged tissue. Today, the presence of antibiotic-resistant superbugs increases the demand for Silver in hospitals. Small amounts of Silver can coat hospital surfaces and medical equipment to prevent the spread of pathogens. Silver and Silver nanoparticles are also used as an antimicrobial in a variety of industrial, healthcare, and domestic applications.

The Power of Sun… Still, you cannot produce solar power without Silver… If we add the amount of solar energy that is absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere, land and oceans every year, we end up with approximately 3,850,000 EJ (exajoules or 10^18 joules). To put it in more understandable terms, this amount of energy is equivalent to:  2.7 million earthquakes of the same size as the Tohoku earthquake in Japan (2011) – 40 000 times the total energy consumption in the United States – 8 000 times the total consumption in the whole world – 40% of the energy that is required to heat the entire volume of water we have on Earth by 1°Celsius. Every square meter of our planet receives around 1,366 watts of direct solar radiation. In America, one solar panel system is installed every four minutes. NASA is currently working on a solar-powered aircraft. California is home to the largest solar power plant in the world, located in the Mojave Desert. It spans 1,000 acres. California also dominates the solar power market, with a market share of 44% in 2015. California, Arizona, and North Carolina are the top three US states for solar power, based on the amount of cumulative solar electric capacity installed. There are now nine states in the U.S. where 100% of new electrical energy comes from solar power. More than 200,000 Americans currently work in the solar power industry. That number is expected to climb to 420,000 by 2020. 40 tonnes of Silver is required to produce panels that would generate 1 GW of Solar Power.

With this industry (solar) virtually non-existent 10 years ago, Silver demand in the Solar industry is growing at a fast clip as an alternate form of Energy. Silver is a unique metal. It has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of all metals, and it’s the most reflective. These physical properties make it a highly valued industrial metal, especially when used in Solar cells. Silver is a primary ingredient in photovoltaic cells, and 90% of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells use Silver paste. When sunlight hits the silicon cell it generates electrons. The Silver used in the cell works as a conductor to collect these electrons in order to form a useful electric current. The Silver then transports the electricity out of the cell so it can be used. Further, the conductive nature of Silver enhances the reflection of the sunlight to improve the Energy that is collected. Therefore, if it wasn’t for Silver, Solar wouldn’t be as efficient in turning sunlight into Energy. India is currently 100% importer of Solar parts where Silver is used, the major countries from where it is being imported are China and Japan.

Taking forward the vision of our Prime Minister to produce 50 GW of Solar Energy, and producing Solar parts, Indian consumption of Silver will be all set to increase by about 2000 tonnes. This would also create large ancillary industries and ample employment opportunities. Silver growth is only likely to increase in India in the coming years since India is growing very aggressively in the areas of Make in India, Digital India and Solar Energy. As compared to the world, India has been slow towards utilization of Silver for industrial usage with mere 16%, as compared to global usage of 51%. Though we are growing in terms of utilization of Silver in Jewellery and Silver-ware, the real boost will come with Digital India and development of domestic Solar Energy market where Silver will be used. As it turns out, Solar Energy wouldn’t work the same way if it wasn’t for Silver.

Do we need to say Hindustan Zinc is the largest primary silver producer in the country and is all set to produce 1000 tonnes of silver in near future. Indeed … this White Gold glitters more than Gold..!!! Silver!!!

To the knowledge of all, the lines that we see on the rear windscreen of cars, that are used for defrosting and defogging, are made from Silver. Surprisingly, in the United States, an alloy can only be called Silver if it has at least 90% Pure Silver. It is believed that Silver was discovered around 5000 BC. Though, it is valued lesser than gold but in ancient Egypt, Silver was considered more valuable than gold. With melting point of 961°C and boiling point of 2162°C, Silver has the highest electrical conductivity and the highest light reflectance amongst all the metals known to mankind.

Electroplating is a process that uses electric current to reduce dissolved metal cations so that they form a thin coherent metal coating on an electrode. Electroplating is primarily used to change the surface properties of an object (e.g. abrasion and wear resistance, corrosion protection, lubricity, aesthetic qualities, etc.), but it is also used to build up thickness on undersized parts. Engine bearings rely on Silver. The strongest bearing is made from steel and is electroplated with Silver. Silver’s high melting point allows it to withstand the high temperature of engines and Silver’s lubricant-like features help reduce friction between a ball bearing and its housing. Due to Silver’s ability to absorb oxygen, Silver is being researched as a possible substitute for platinum to catalyse oxidation of matter collected in diesel engine filters. The other industrial applications of Silver electroplating include use on electrical parts and components like copper connectors and brass connectors. Used in conjunction with almost every common industry, Silver makes itself practically indispensable.

Ultimately all the Exploration started with a ROCK… someone found it and someone used it… and some built a civilization…

Mining Industry dates back to the dawn of civilization, and is often considered as an Ancient Industry. Indus Valley civilization showed the signs of copper, bronze, silver, gold but not iron..  Under the series of Ask for Zinc, we bring to you the innovations in the mining industry in various domains like exploration, ore deposit definition, extraction & processing, transport & communications, health, safety and mine reclamation.

INVERSION ALGORITHM – Innovations in Exploration

In mining, the first step is to discover an economically viable deposit with the help of a combination of activities collectively known as Exploration. For this, geologists search for mineral deposits in remote areas. Methods such as geological surface mapping and sampling, geophysical measurements and geochemical analysis are often applied at an early stage to pin out potential deposits.

Among these methods, geophysics is traditionally used to predict the position of a mineralized body by seeking out anomalies in the magnetic field, gravitational field or electrical conductivity etc. Inversion algorithms allow geophysical data to be used in an advanced way. It first establishes the geophysical properties of the rocks and then measures their geophysical signatures in the field, thus making it possible to generate 3D models of their potential mineralization and surrounding geological environment. Inversion algorithm enables resource explorers to extract more insight from geophysical data by converting geophysical measurements into 3D images of the subsurface that can be integrated with other surface and subsurface geologic observations.

Over the past decade, inversion algorithm has proved its effectiveness in exploring various ore deposits and major oil reserves around the world. The major examples being – iron ore and nickel belts of Western Australia – iron oxide-copper-gold in Africa, South America and Australia – copper deposits in Mongolia – nickel laterite in Colombia. Within the oil industry, inversion algorithm has reduced uncertainty when exploring the dense sedimentary section that surrounds the salt bodies in the Gulf of Mexico, and also offshore West Africa and South America where the geology is more complex and less predictable.

Who does not want to have a bungalow or flat facing sea.  Globally, everyone wants to stay in room in a hotel that is facing sea-view. The mesmerising nature has its own depth like ocean which cannot be measured. But not many know that the coastal environment causes severe damage to the building structure and envelope (i.e., exterior doors, windows, skylights, exterior wall coverings, soffits, roof systems, and attic vents). When steel reinforcement corrodes, the corrosion product occupies more than three times the volume of the original steel, exerting great disruptive tensile stress on the surrounding concrete, leading to further cracking, more weather access and further corrosion. In mild cases, rust staining occurs whereas in more serious cases severe spalling of concrete may occur and ultimately the concrete members may fail completely.

The corrosive effect of salt-laden, wind-driven moisture in coastal areas cannot be overstated. Salt-laden, moist air can corrode exposed metal surfaces and penetrate any opening in the building. Corrosion is most likely to attack metal connectors that are used to attach the parts of the structure to one another, such as floor joists to beams and connectors used in cross-bracing below the finished lowest floor. Galvanized connectors coated with Zinc at the rate of 0.9 ounce per square foot of surface area (designated G-90) can corrode in coastal environments at a rate of 0.1 to 0.3 millimetre/year. At this rate, the Zinc protection will be gone in 7 years. Alternatively, a G-185 coated connector, which provides twice as much protection as G-90, can corrode in less than 20 years.

More galvanized protection (more ounces of Zinc per square foot of surface area to be protected) increases service life. Corrosion can also affect fasteners for siding and connectors for attaching exterior-mounted heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning units, electrical boxes, lighting fixtures, and any other item mounted on the exterior of the building.

Corrosion of reinforcing steel is one of the most important causes of deterioration of concrete structures in coastal environment. High permeability concrete, poor design detailing and construction defects such as inadequate depth of cover allow the ingress of salt and moisture into the concrete. High concentration of salt and moisture result in accelerated corrosion of reinforcing steel thereby significantly deteriorating the concrete structure.

Corrosion is commonly associated with deposition of sea salt in presence of moisture on steel and light metals. Chloride is the most significant corrosive species in the salt particles. Corrosion is influenced by the amount of salt on the metal surface and related to speed and direction of wind, distance of structure from the shore, elevation of the structures, degree of sheltering and frequency and amount of rain washing. Other factors that influence corrosion include time of wetness, relative humidity, metal surface temperature etc. Normal steel has poor resistance in coastal atmosphere and hence requires protection for durability.

So, moral of the story is… Do have a SEA facing bungalow or flat, SEE that the steel used is Galvanised…

Breaking through a lush grove of trees to connect the cities of Fairlawn and Patterson, New Jersey, the Bergen County bridge is one of several in the state to utilize hot-dip galvanized steel for corrosion protection.  A natural surface appearance was desired by both communities to help the gently arcing bridge complement and not supersede the surrounding vegetation.

This goal was achieved by incorporating a new truss design to replace the previous view-obscuring plate design, so the public could continue to enjoy the scenic view of the creek flowing through the trees.  In keeping with this natural emphasis, the soft, grey appearance of the zinc coating blends seamlessly into the surrounding environment.

Not only will the galvanized coating provide a pleasing aesthetic, it will also keep the appearance of the bridge unmarred by the unsightly effects of rust and corrosion.  The barrier and cathodic protection developed during the galvanizing process will keep the bridge both structurally sound and free of dripping or streaking rust stains.  All of the trusses, floor beams, flooring, diaphragms, supports, rail, and plates were hot-dip galvanized, ensuring the bridge will remain an attractive, functional addition to the two communities for generations to come.

Who can forget the year 2013 when humanity saw one of the worst natural disasters in the history of India. Due to cloudbursts in the state of Uttarakhand, the flash floods in river Ganga and landslides washed away thousands of lives.  The Kedarnathbridge at Sonprayag also washed out due to heavy floods. The death toll and destruction was so massive that it left the region devastated.

Subsequently, a Bailey Bridge (a portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge) was built by the Border Roads Organisation, limiting the traffic to one way and a maximum load of 12 tonnes at the most. But June 2015 saw more floods and this bridge was also washed away.

Since the Temple is 3500 feet above sea level and is situated in challenging topography, the construction of a stronger flawless bridge required more than 3 years to build. Further, since the bridge was to be built in such difficult conditions, it would have been impossible to regularly protect or maintain.

It was decided finally that the new bridge has to be made of galvanized steel to ensure that it does not collapse. But Galvanizing in this remote town was not easily available.

Thus, the galvanized bridge was shipped in containers from the USA, completed and became operational in an incredible 45 days. In the new bridge, all the panel chords, diagonals, verticals, raker, reinforcing chords along with all the structural beam members and flooring were hot dip galvanized.

Zinc is used in countless number of items in some form or another. Another benefit of Zinc is its usage in Soaps. Zinc helps treat various skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, ringworm, fungus etc…

Zinc in the form of ‘Zinc Pyrithione’ is majorly used in bathing soaps due to its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties along with its ability to cure skin diseases like seborrheic dermatitis (skin disorder that affects face, scalp and torso). Most notably, it has a suppressing effect on Malassezia Fungus (commonly considered the main culprit in various skin diseases). Its other medical applications include treatments of psoriasis, eczema, ringworm, fungus, athletes foot, dry skin, sensitive skin, atopic dermatitis, rashes, tinea, and vitiligo. It also helps fight many pathogens from the Streptococcus and Staphylococcus genera.

Along with soaps, Zinc Pyrithione is best known for its use in treating dandruff, thus making its use imperative in anti-dandruff shampoos. The American shampoo brand ‘Head & Shoulders’ actively uses and promotes Zinc Pyrithione as its major ingredient, introduced in the year 1961.

Cosmetics alone are not the only applications for Zinc Pyrithione. Due to its low solubility in water (8 ppm at neutral pH) and ability to protect against mildew and algae, Zinc Pyrithione is used in outdoor paints and proves to be an effective algaecide. Also, Zinc Pyrithione slows down the process of decomposition done by ultraviolet lights, thus providing years of protection even against direct sunlight. Zinc Pyrithione is also used as an antibacterial treatment for household sponges.

With so many multiple and diverse usages of Zinc, do we need to say more… we all have Zinc in our lives…

When India is looking ahead providing electricity in every village and progressively moving towards Smart Cities Project, Digital India and Make in India, the very basis of infrastructure, the power transmission, needs to be protected for many years…. And that is where Zinc will again prove to be a future metal.

When was the last time we saw a tall standing electrical pole and thanked him for providing electricity to our houses. Well, we all have grown seeing these poles and they do have memories of our childhood.  Little we knew that these poles are protected through hot-dip zinc galvanization and this is the reason they are standing tall from years after years, and have seen perhaps more age and weather conditions than us.

Since the advent of high voltage lines hot-dip galvanized steel has been used in the electric utility market.  Whether in a generation facilitysubstationlattice tower, or renewable energy components, galvanized steel has been a backbone of any country.

According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, close to 1 million steel distribution poles have been installed in the United States since 1998 and are being used by more than 600 U.S. electric utilities. India might be having more poles but how many galvanised is still to be assessed.

Since zinc is anodic to steel, the hot-dip galvanizing also acts as a sacrificial anode if the galvanized coating is physically damaged to some degree. If individual areas of underlying steel become exposed, the surrounding zinc will provide sacrificial cathodic protection (CP) to the unprotected sites by corroding preferentially. The zinc is consumed as it sacrifices itself to protect the bare steel.

Generally speaking, galvanized steel can last for many years in non-aggressive environments, and typically does an excellent job of protecting steel when the structure is located in moderately corrosive environments.

It is also true that the galvanizing on structures will corrode over time. The rate that the thickness of the zinc coating will diminish and the length of the remaining service life of the galvanizing—and the structure itself—are contingent on the active corrosivity of the environment. Several factors are associated with the corrosion rate of galvanized structures, such as the in-service atmospheric conditions to which the aboveground portion of the structure is exposed, and the soil environment where the structure’s foundation is buried.

When India is looking ahead providing electricity in every village and progressively moving towards Smart Cities Project, Digital India and Make in India, the very basis of infrastructure, the power transmission, needs to be protected for many years…. And that is where Zinc will again prove to be a future metal.

Zinc consumption is vital in human body because it helps build healthy cells, regulate hormones and absorb other nutrients. It also plays a key role for healthy hair, skin and nails.

Hair loss can be caused by various reasons such as hormones, genetics, poor diet, age, radiation or chemotherapy treatment, stress, infections, chemicals, rapid weight loss, or other diseases. But the most common cause of hair loss is poor nutrition.

Zinc is believed to play a crucial role in DNA and RNA production. This is required for the normal division of hair follicle cells, leading to healthier hair growth. Zinc also helps keep hormone levels balanced, which could be one of the reasons why it is effective in preventing hair loss.

Experts believe that Zinc deficiency can actually lead to deterioration of the protein structure that makes up the hair follicle. This weakening of follicles can in turn cause hair shedding and hair loss. There are even a few outlying studies in which people’s greyed, aged hair returned to its original colour when nourished with zinc-rich diets or hair growth supplements. As a bonus, zinc for hair growth may help eliminate dandruff on the scalp as well.

Food items like Oysters, Chickpeas, Nuts, Eggs, Sweet Potatoes and Spinach are rich in Zinc & other nutrients which promote secretion of sebum by hair follicles to protect hair from drying out. Topical zinc can be applied directly to the scalp to counteract the effects of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that interferes with the nutrition of the hair follicles, causing them to shrink.

Zinc deficiency is a global health problem. In spite of proven benefits of adequate Zinc nutrition, approximately 2 billion people still remain at the risk of Zinc deficiency.

Zinc is supplied to the body through a diversified diet including meats, nuts, eggs, spinach, fish, mushrooms etc. which are seen to be inaccessible to people in developing countries. Children are especially vulnerable to Zinc deficiency which weakens their immune system making them prone to diarrhoea and pneumonia which are most common causes of deathin developing countries. Surprisingly, India contributes to the largest child deaths in the world.  Zinc deficiency also leads to retarded growth & development and stunting with life-long impacts on health, productivity and income.

According to Food and Health Organization (FAO), one third of the world population lives in countries that have high risk of Zinc deficiency, India being one of them. The most vulnerable are infants, young children, pregnant and lactating women due to their elevated requirements for Zinc.

Affordable approaches to eliminate Zinc deficiency exist and need to be implemented urgently. Zinc can be added to mineral pre-mixes used in fortification programs and preventive Zinc supplementation to be given to children of less than 5 years age in high risk countries. Exclusive breastfeeding during first six months to a child is an excellent source of Zinc. Also, by applying agricultural and food processing technologies, the amount of absorbable Zinc can be increased in staple foods.

Point is we do understand that we need Zinc but how many of us actually demand it…

15 months rigorous job by 25 painters – 60,000 KGs of Paint – 1500 brushes – 5000 sanding disks – 1500 set of work clothes and USD 20 million each time – this is what it takes to keep the world’s most sought after Tower standing.

The Eiffel Tower is built of riveted wrought-iron, a material that only lasts if it is painted periodically. From the date Eiffel Tower was built, in 1889, the tower has been painted 18 times, once every 7 years. Painting the entire Tower takes 15 months to complete and a mammoth 60,000 kilograms of paint is used for the first coat that cost around $20 million each time – Rs. 130 Crore..

Amazed at the cost and complexity of the work involved in repainting the tower, where the painters must use hooks, ropes, safety nets and cannot begin painting each day until the morning dew has evaporated; a Dutch corrosion expert recently made a hypothetical calculation of cost savings had the Eiffel Tower been built on galvanized steel. If Eiffel Tower had been hot-dip galvanized and then painted, which is known as a duplex system, any damage to the paint coating will not lead to corrosion as the steel would continue to be protected by the Zinc, which underlies the paint.

Had the steel used to build the Eiffel Tower been galvanized before painting, only 7 maintenance operations would have been required since 1889, compared to the 18 that have taken place.. The first large-scale maintenance of a duplex system normally takes place after about 25 years.

What does all this mean in terms of cost?

Based on today’s wage and price levels, the duplex system – would have  further saved at least $10 million in maintenance costs, which is again 50% savings on maintenance.

Obvious question would be that did hot-dip galvanization exist when the Eiffel Tower was made. The answer is YES.

About 50 years before the Eiffel Tower was made, in 1836, Sorel in France took out the first of numerous patents for a process of coating steel by dipping it in molten zinc after first cleaning it. He provided the process with its name ‘galvanizing’. 1742 is the first recorded history of galvanizing which dates back to when P.J. Malouin, a French chemist, presented to the Royal Academy of Sciences several experiments involving coating iron with molten zinc.

Bandra Worli Sea Link is the first and the longest sea link bridge in India. It is an 8-lane cable-stayed bridge, spanning about 5600 meters in length and towering to a height of 126 meters. Executed at a cost of Rs. 16.5 billion, the material used in the construction project had to meet quality regulations and standards considering an average daily traffic of 37,500 vehicles.

Infrastructure like bridges are extremely vulnerable to corrosion due to their proximity to marine salts and moisture. The only corrosion prevention method for these structures is to provide a barrier coating by galvanization.

The quality and reliability of steel wire ropes was a crucial factor in the construction of the bridge since the steel wires are required to support the cable stay bridge. The bridge stands strong with support of high-strength galvanized steel cables, rigorously tested before being put to use.

Over Rs. 90 million is spent on illuminating the sea link. Construction of the sea link was not only worked on by aced groups from India, but groups from 11 other countries including Egypt, China, Canada, Switzerland, Britain, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia and Serbia who deliberated and decided to make this bridge stand tall for many years to come.

Another example of “we all have ZINC in our lives…

What is Osteoporosis : a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue, typically as a result of hormonal changes, or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D. More than 10 million cases per year (India). Though any age is vulnerable to Osteoporosis, but people above 40 are more prone to it.

We all have forever patronized Calcium for strong bone health in our bodies. With increased advertising for the nutrient, everyone focuses on Calcium and forgets about another essential element which helps in increasing bone density and boosting immunity.

Zinc (long ignored by mainstream medicine for bone health), is in fact a crucial element for proper absorption of Calcium and Vitamin D to get into cells where it works to build bones. Although Calcium is the mineral most associated with bone formation, Zinc is also found in the bones. Forming a small percentage of the bone, Zinc is needed to form Hydroxylapatite which is a naturally occurring crystalline Calcium complex. Hydroxylapatite crystals make up about half of the bones’ weight. Thus, Zinc is essential for proper mineralization of bones by contributing to its bone mass.

Calcium is not the only nutrient important for bone formation, many trace minerals such as Zinc, Copper, Manganese and Boron are also important. A deficiency in trace minerals predisposes osteoporosis. According to studies by National Centre for Biotechnology Information, Zinc helps in prevention of osteoporosis.

You may not think of Zinc as a vital nutrient for bones, yet without adequate Zinc, the bones cannot maintain themselves.

The Bahai or Lotus Temple in Delhi, completed in the year 1986, is a monumental structure shaped as the petals of the lotus flower. It was built by a renowned Canadian architect named FariborzSahba and took 10 years for planning the structure of the temple and implementing it.

The petals of the Lotus temple of Delhi are clad in white marble panels, and their structure has been reinforced with 300 tonnes of galvanized bars to avoid the risk of rust staining on the white concrete body. This also helped to maintain the pristine appearance of the monument and avoid cracking which is prevalent in Delhi because of the humid conditions of the city. Also, the reinforcement used in the white concrete shells, the binding wires and the connecting cables are entirely galvanized so as to prevent the long-term effects of rusting and to guarantee the life of the delicate shell structure of the petals.

Lotus temple is one of the best pieces of art of olden times, that has stood the test of time till today. The monument remains one of the major attractions and a prominent landmark which has won numerous architectural awards. Hundreds of millions of devotees from across the world have already visited Lotus temple and the structure is made to see many more millions in the coming hundreds of years.

When riding in an amusement park, the first thing that comes to mind is THRILL and the second – SAFETY.

Steel begins to corrode when it is exposed to the atmosphere and amusement parks have both, humidity and salinity. Often the corrosion is blatantly visible and is an eyesore to the surrounding areas. But at times corrosion is unknown and is only blamed after a mishap or a tragedy. Thus, it is crucial to protect steel structures like roller coasters, race tracks, carnival rides, sporting arenas, water parks etc. by providing them with a protective coating. Hot-dip galvanizing is the best choice of coating since it is vital to the overall performance, safety of the structure and durability.  Also, providing aesthetic appeal and maintenance-free performance, Hot-Dip Galvanization keeps the rides functioning comparatively with less service interruption.

World-class amusement parks like Universal Studios, New Jersey Pier, Vacances Val-Cartier (largest winter amusement park in North America), Grand Canyon Skywalk etc. all amusement park-ride manufacturers, around the world, use galvanized steel to protect their structures and foster safety.

Though we started this initiative to explore usages of Zinc, but with every research on Zinc, our trust on this metal is only increasing. My curiosity has lead me to search for Zinc in everything I use or consume. It is not about identifying the health problems or corrosion issues, it’s about why certain health problems are preventable or early curable, and why, corrosion did not take place across number of buildings, bridges, electrical poles, automobiles and temples in so many decades.

We don’t use toothpaste anymore that does not have Zinc. While taking any multi-vitamin, antiseptic, oral care medicines, we make sure it has Zinc in it. It is a tonic for my skin, nutrition, strength to paints and for healthy hair. While buying any steel item, post verifying SS symbol, the next question is whether it has Zinc coating or not.

We have become spokespersons for Zinc. Our watches, mobiles and other equipments, using batteries, has to have only Zinc batteries.

The usage of Zinc in the Moon Buggy and for Space Crafts are only justification of the trust and respect this metal governs across various usages.

For once, I am continuously exploring properties and usages of Zinc, and not because I work for Hindustan Zinc.

Why this metal is the 4th most sought after metal is now understood. Why mankind searched for it in ancient times so rigorously is also known now. The only difference is, in

the ancient times the wisdom was more predominant than today, as today, the benefits of Zinc have been further identified and explored.

And now since I know, I ASK FOR ZINC..

Truly, Zinc is in our lives. So live with it, why without it.

Wondering, even after knowing so much, approximately 1/3rd of the world’s population lives in areas of high-risk of Zinc deficiency.

Some ignorances are not bliss..

Did you know that your mobile phone chargers contain zinc in the form of zinc alloys, which makes it strong, tough, durable and have a high impact strength. Zinc is the easiest metal to cast with high ductility, can easily be plated, is economical for small parts and promotes a long life. Specific Zinc alloy connectors are easy to plug and fit snug, corrosion & wear resistance, and do not get loose easily or fall off USB hub.

Zinc alloy based iPhones cables have Apple’s MFI certification (Made For iPhone/iPod/iPad certification) and give the unparalleled strength and long life that everyone looks for.

Today, Zinc alloy based cables form a huge market where they can be used in Apple and Android handsets alike.

And you thought Zinc is only used for infrastructure, medicines, toys, cosmetics, tyres, nutrients, fertilizers, automobiles, toothpaste, space-crafts, batteries, paints, bridges, electrical poles, temples, for hair, for eyes, for bones, for skin, for brain development, for memories ……….etc…. it is also used in Mobile Phones……

While Zinc is present in the human body in cells, bones, eyes etc., it is also naturally present in mouth in the saliva and the enamel of teeth. Zinc is formulated into oral health products to control plaque, reduce malodour, prevent growth of bacteria and inhibit calculus deposits that form on the teeth. Zinc helps prevent diseases that originate from the mouth like: oral ulceration, stomatitis, white tongue coating, mouth sores and burning mouth syndrome.

Zinc is also used when teeth are affected by cavities, in the form of fillings to restore a damaged tooth back to its normal function and shape. Using a mixture of Zinc and other elements, this filling lasts for more than 10 years, is less expensive and can withstand forces.

In the 1890s, a remedy was introduced which is still undertaken by many people all over the world to provide temporary treatment for decaying teeth. By combining Zinc Oxide powder with Clove Oil,  Zinc Oxide Eugenol is created which is used as cement material in dentistry. This well-known combination offers an instant relief for decaying teeth and is used as a temporary filling having anaesthetic and anti-bacterial properties.

Zinc supplements may halt the rapid growth of esophageal cancer cells, according to a study that could lead to new prevention and treatment strategies for the disease. Previous studies have shown that zinc is essential for maintaining human health and protects the oesophagus or food pipe from cancer. Researchers at the University of Texas, Arlington, U.S. discovered that zinc selectively halts the growth of cancer cells but not normal esophageal epithelial cells. “Zinc deficiency has been found in many cancer patients. Both clinical data and animal studies have shown that this mineral is very important for overall body health and for cancer prevention,” says Dr. Zui Pan, an associate professor of nursing at UTA. The study, published in the FASEB Journal, found that zinc is an important element in many proteins and many enzymes and its absence makes it impossible for cells to function. “Our study, for the first time to our knowledge, reveals that zinc impedes overactive calcium signals in cancer cells, which is absent in normal cells, and thus zinc selectively inhibits cancer cell growth,” says Dr. Pan. “It now appears that zinc and calcium can have a cross talk, meaning that they can be linked.”

An insufficient amount of zinc can lead to the development of cancer and other diseases, the researchers say. “That is why it is important to have a good diet,” Dr. Pan adds. Zinc enriched foods include spinach, flax seeds, beef, pumpkin seeds and seafood like shrimp and oysters.

Until now we know about the galvanized wonders – Bandra Worli Sea Link of Mumbai and Kedarnath Bridge of Uttarakhand, and now we present yet another masterpiece that was constructed as early as the year 1869.

Brooklyn Bridge of New York is one of the most famous and oldest bridges in the world. This Cable Stayed – Suspension Bridge took 14 years to construct and is the first suspended bridge which used hot dip galvanized cables. With a total cable length of 32,500 kilometers, the cable amazingly used over 6.8 million pounds (2300 tonnes) of steel wires. The cables were galvanized to ensure that the rain and salty water of the East River protected the bridge from rusting.

The decision to use hot-dip galvanized steel was extremely smart. Hot-dip galvanized steel reduced the need for both short and long-term maintenance, which tremendously saved expensive and time-consuming repairs.

Researchers in California have found a replacement to the Lithium-Ion batteries which are infamous for overheating, bursting into flames and even exploding. A safer, less expensive, smaller and lighter substitution has been explored.

Yes! Zinc-based batteries which are also rechargeable, store as much energy as Lithium-Ion batteries and could be used in smartphones, mild hybrid engines, electric vehicles, electric bicycles, and eventually power grid storage. The experts are aggressively exploring a scale-up of this technology and feel that the Zinc based batteries will be ready for the market by the end of 2019.

Even the U.S. Navy members are researching alternative technologies to Lithium-Ion batteries. Debra Rolison, Head of the Advanced Electrochemical Materials Section at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., says that the Navy is concerned for the safety of its soldiers. Zinc-based batteries do not pose the same fire risk linked with Lithium-Ion batteries, and can surpass them, making them “the go-to global battery for single-use applications,”. The Navy researchers are also exploring cathodes other than nickel to use with the Zinc anodes. “Silver-Zinc shows much greater power than that of Lithium-Ion” Rolison says. “It could be of extreme interest to the Navy for submersible applications”.

In today’s times of increasing working hours and chronic stress, Computer Vision Syndrome and Digital Eye Strain are a common issue. Headache, blurred vision, irritation, extra tearing, excessive blinking and even neck pain are symptoms of the same. In times like these, it is essential to take extra care of vision health.

Zinc, the essential trace mineral, or ‘helper molecule’, is vital for eye health. Zinc is highly concentrated in the eye, mostly in the retina and choroid, the vascular tissue layer under the retina. It plays a crucial role in bringing vitamin A from the liver to the retina in order to produce melanin, a protective pigment in the eyes. Zinc has been shown to protect against age-related macular degeneration, night blindness, cataract, damage to optic nerve, impaired vision, poor night vision and cloudy cataracts. A person with Zinc deficiency in their body is also at risk for alopecia (loss of hair from eyebrows and eyelashes), mental sluggishness and increased susceptibility to infection.

Experts recommend daily amount of Zinc consumption – 8 milligrams (mg) for women and 11 mg for men. Good food sources of Zinc include nuts, seafood, spinach, mushroom, milk, yoghurt, eggs, cocoa, black-eyed peas, tofu and wheat germ.

Diabetes might be one of the most talked about diseases across the world and especially in India, but awareness about the same can well be estimated by the fact that India today has more people with type-2 diabetes. The WHO also estimates that 80 per cent of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries and projects that such deaths will double between 2016 and 2030.

Interestingly, ZINC has long been an ingredient used in “older” insulins, such as Regular, NPH, and Lente. ZINC is also necessary for the formation of insulin in the pancreas’s beta cells. For these reasons, researchers have looked at the role of zinc supplementation in the prevention and treatment of Type 2 diabetes— but unfortunately, without success.

However, new light has been shed on the role of ZINC in diabetes. In this month’s issue of Diabetes Care, Finnish researchers followed 1,050 adults with Type 2 diabetes for seven years. During that time, 156 participants died from heart disease and 254 had fatal or nonfatal heart attacks. Blood ZINC levels were lower in people who died from heart disease compared to those who survived; also, ZINC levels were lower in those who had heart attacks. The authors of this study speculate that, possibly because ZINC has antioxidant properties, supplementation may be useful in warding off heart disease in people with Type 2 diabetes.

DIABETES has a harrowing background in India

The diabetes capital of the world with as many as 50 million people suffering from type-2 diabetes, India has a challenge to face. However, medical experts feel that timely detection and right management can go a long way in helping patients lead a normal life. Diabetes might be one of the most talked about diseases across the world and especially in India, but awareness about the same can well be estimated by the fact that India today has more people with type-2 diabetes (more than 50 million) than any other nation.

With the country having the highest number of diabetic patients in the world, the sugar disease is posing an enormous health problem to our country today. Often known as the diabetes capital of the world, India has been witnessing an alarming rise in incidence of diabetes according to the International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheet on diabetes, an estimated 3.4 million deaths are caused due to high blood sugar.

The WHO also estimates that 80 per cent of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries and projects that such deaths will double between 2016 and 2030. It has been further estimated that the global burden of type-2 diabetes is expected to increase to 438 million by 2030 from 285 million people (recorded in 2010). Similarly, for India this increase is estimated to be 58%, from 51 million people in 2010 to 87 million in 2030. But

debates, discussions and deliberations aside, the fundamental thing is to know what exactly is diabetes.

To put it simply, it is a medical condition that is caused due to insufficient production and secretion of insulin from the pancreas in case of Type-I diabetes and defective response of insulin Type-2 diabetes. Under normal body circumstances, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin lowers the blood glucose level. When the blood glucose elevates (for example, after eating food), insulin is released from the pancreas to normalise the glucose level. In patients with diabetes, the absence or insufficient production of insulin causes hyperglycaemia.

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, that is, it can be curbed at the initial level by introducing lifestyle changes and controlled after its incidence through medicines in early stages and administration of external insulin in advanced stages. But it would not be wrong to say that it cannot be cured completely and lasts a lifetime.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the world’s major diseases. It currently affects an estimated 143 million people worldwide and the number is growing rapidly. In India, about 5 per cent population suffers from diabetes. Medical health experts assert that regular check-ups and timely detection plays a vital role in controlling and managing the problem. Ironically, due to patient resistance and feeling of disbelief that ‘I can have diabetes too’, most patients tend to defer on detection and treatment that often leads to complications.

Practitioners feel that patient adherence to medication and lifestyle modifications play an important role in diabetes management and this can help them lead a normal life. Un-monitored prevalence of diabetes also results in increased risk of vascular complications like cardiovascular, renal, neural and visual disorders which are related to the duration of the disease.

Zinc plays an essential role in neurotransmitter function and helps maintain cognition. It is necessary in the metabolism of Melatonin which is a key hormone for healthy sleep. Zinc is one of the three minerals that have a sedative effect on the nervous system (the others are Calcium and Magnesium) and is also thought to help mental recovery post-stress.

A research study by Rondanelli et al in 2011 tested the effect of Zinc, Melatonin & Magnesium on patients with primary insomnia and found that the treatment had a beneficial effect on the quality of sleep. It is thought that whilst the Melatonin helped with sleep onset, it was Magnesium and Zinc that had a positive effect on the restorative value of sleep.

Consumption of Zinc helps to have less wake-ups in the night. It is an excellent & safe sleep aid; and also has a calming & antidepressant effect.

Along with helping to regulate sleep, Zinc has shown to improve the vividness of dreams. As explained over at Nutrition Central (one of the world’s largest nutrition supplement companies), “When researching the signs and symptoms of vitamin B6 and Zinc deficiency, Dr. Carl Pfeiffer, from the Brain Bio Center in New Jersey, found that an alarming proportion of deficient people couldn’t recall their dreams. After supplementing with B6 and Zinc, dream recall would return.”

Using Zinc for sleep is an excellent way to improve general sleeping ability. It regulates the sleep portion of the circadian rhythm. Melatonin is able to normalize the Zinc level in people who had a low level of Zinc in their body. Studies published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society have revealed that the combination of Zinc, Melatonin and Magnesium is highly recommended to help improve the quality of sleep of insomnia patients.

Zinc supplement, if taken at night will be beneficial for the body in multiple ways. Zinc is involved in the production of at least 300 enzymes, helps in hundreds of body processes, from producing DNA to repairing cells and boosting immune system. The mineral can help to sleep better at night, along with a host of additional benefits.

Another example of usage of ZINC… We all have Zinc in our lives…

Researchers from the University of Leicester discovered that Zinc plays a key role in regulating the way Calcium moves in the heart cells. Zinc is present in heart muscle and interacts with Calcium to affect heart function.

Zinc is the most common mineral in human body beside Iron. Zinc is actually found in every cell. Past research have shown patients with congestive heart failure often have profound Zinc deficiency. Zinc has potent antioxidant properties which help to neutralize free radicals that may accelerate aging & contribute to the development of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. In addition to essential metabolic functions, the level of Zinc in the body also affects the heart muscle. When oxidative stress occurs, it may be due to a shortage of Zinc, which can be determined by examining the heart muscle. Studies by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) show the relationship between the total amount of Zinc in the body and cardiac function. Zinc deficiency initially appears as symptoms on the skin, hair and fingernails, although it can progress to include reduced immune response and organ failure, including the heart. Heart palpitations have numerous causes, including many benign ones, but they may indicate early signs of heart failure.

Zinc appears to have protective effects in coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy. In such states, replenishing with Zinc has been shown to improve cardiac function and prevent further damage.

At an incredible 828 metres (2,716.5 feet) and more than 160 storeys, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building.

Engineers, designers, architects and skilled workers from more than 100 countries were involved in the making of the building. The construction took 22 million man-hours, where more than 12,000 dedicated personnel ensured the seamless progress of the building.

Burj Khalifa’s primary structure is made of reinforced concrete. The  construction used 330,000 m3 of concrete and 55,000 tonnes of galvanized steel rebar. A cathodic protection system is in place under the concrete to neutralize the groundwater and prevent corrosion. Due to the hot and humid outside conditions, an additional protective coating to the structure was required. Thus, the steel pipes used in the inner skeleton of the building were hot-dip galvanized along with the steel construction around the entrance to maximise protection.

The world’s tallest building is another testimony of the strength of Zinc … We all have Zinc in our lives

 

The Statue of Liberty is a sculpture on Liberty Island in New York City which symbolizes the United States of America to millions of people around the world. The 151 feet statue was a gift from France to the United States and was designed by French sculptor – FrédéricAuguste Bartholdi & built by Gustave Eiffel. It took over a decade to build (1875 to 1886) and over $250,000 which was a significant amount considering that it was the 19th century.

For more than 100 years, the Statue of Liberty welcomed seafarers to the shores with dignity, grace, health and vigour. But deep down, it was hurting. Standing in the humid and saline environment of New York Harbour, left the Statue of Liberty interiors vulnerable to massive corrosion. The regular maintenance checks in the 1980s revealed that galvanic corrosion had taken place between the outer Copper skin and the inner wrought Iron structure.

In 1982, it was announced that the statue was in need of considerable restoration.

A Zinc Silicate coating was used in the restoration that provided the Statue with superior corrosion resistance. Zinc Silicate coating was an inorganic water-based Zinc primer that was applied as a rust inhibitor. Also, according to the New York Historical Society, the Statue had developed a green hue by the year 1920. If the Statue had been covered with a Zinc & Copper alloy, this process would likely have taken much longer and stood the test of time.

Restoring the metallurgic integrity to Liberty took 6 years and costed $162 million. According to author Jonathan Waldman, “Rust is costlier than all other natural disasters combined, amounting in the US alone to $437 billion a year, which approaches to 3% of the nation’s GDP. By comparison, the damage done to property by hurricanes Katrina, Sandy and Andrew in 2012 was $128 billion, $50 billion and $44 billion, respectively.”

Another testimony of the strength of Zinc … We all have Zinc in our lives…