The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

What is White Zinc?

2007

Hello, could you help me?

I'm at uni in Surrey, UK, coming into year 3, and need some help on understanding white zinc! you all seem very intellectual in this feild so I hope you can help!

could you tell me more about the properties of white zinc, how its used, where, why and what techniques or equipment is used? and what are the outcomes?

Thank you for your help!

Lara Healey
student/graphic designer - Hampshire, UK

---

I'm having a little problem with your question, Lara, but I'm not sure whether you don't understand the question or whether I am unfamiliar with a terminology that might be used in art school but not my industry.

So, the best I can answer, and it may not be right, is:
1). There is a paint pigment called "zinc white" and this may be what you are referring to. See webexhibits.org/pigments/indiv/history/zincwhite.html
2). Otherwise, as far as I know, zinc metal is zinc metal and, although it is a white metal, there is no special white zinc as opposed to zinc zinc. So see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc . Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007

---

2007

To understand the following possible explanation I suggest you first look up "galvanizing" - try Google.
It could refer to the white deposit of oxide that is white in colour that appears on the surface of the galvanised metal on aging.
Ferrous metal rusts and we say it has a film of of red rust or iron oxide on the surface. I think they use the same type of term when referring to a aged zinc coating "white zinc".

Terry Hickling
Birmingham, United Kingdom