Like copper, zinc and zinc alloys have been used for hundreds of years. Brass is one of the best-known zinc alloys, made from mixing zinc with copper. The percentage of zinc content varies from 5% to 45%. Today, zinc is mainly applied to protect metal products from corrosion (galvanisation). Galvanisation is used in the manufacture of fire escapes, bicycle racks, crash barriers and fasteners (bolts, nuts and screws), among others. Zinc is extracted from ore and obtained from recycling, for example, in the form of scrap zinc from guttering. It is a good thing that zinc is recycled: it is estimated that, based on the current demand, in 45 years’ time we will have depleted global supplies.
