Zinc Oxide Production, The French Process

Zinc oxide is one of the most used compounds in various industries around the world, and that’s why this material is known for its versatility. To manufacture this material, there are several ways to do it and one of the most popular ones is called the French process. This is how zinc oxide production is done through the French process.

Also Known as The Direct Process

Although it’s more known as the French process, people also called it the direct process. It’s considered as the traditional method to produce zinc oxide. In this process, zinc metal is being melted and then vaporized in a furnace being set in a very high temperature, typically around 1200 degrees Celsius. 

This melting and vaporizing process will then create zinc vapor. After that, the zinc vapor will react with the oxygen around it and will form the particles of zinc oxide. In this zinc oxide production, after the particles are formed, they will be collected by the workers and then will be processed to achieve certain properties.

The Most Desirable Zinc Oxide

The French or direct process is one of the best ways to produce zinc oxide in terms of qualities. Zinc oxide produced by this method would have high purity, and amazing chemical reactivity. This is why the zinc oxide produced by this process is often preferred in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, ceramics, and cosmetics which need zinc oxide with superior qualities.

Being the best way of zinc oxide production with the best qualities of zinc oxide, the French or direct process is also quite expensive. This makes sense since the zinc oxide this process produces has excellent qualities. But this is also why the French process is still less popular than the American process.