Why are rooftops in Paris so antique?

Paris is often considered one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in the world and its antique architectures attract tourists. However, until the early 19th century, Paris was infamous for its noxious odors and filth. To solve this problem, Napoleon III appointed Baron Haussmann as prefect of Seine and gave him the grand mission to transform Paris into a modern cityscape. Haussmann recreated Paris with new boulevards, garden and parks, and expanded sewer systems.

The crucial fact here is that zinc alloy was mandated to be used on all roofs of stone buildings, leading to its widespread adoption, and more than 90% of buildings in Paris today are silver-gray roofs. As a result, the roofs have not corroded for over 200 years, preserving their in-itial beauty while blending with the modernity ofcontemporary architecture.

Paris is often considered one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in the world and its antique architectures attract tourists. However, until the early 19th century, Paris was infamous for its noxious odors and filth. To solve this problem, Napoleon III appointed Baron Haussmann as prefect of Seine and gave him the grand mission to transform Paris into a modern cityscape. Haussmann recreated Paris with new boulevards, garden and parks, and expanded sewer systems.

The crucial fact here is that zinc alloy was mandated to be used on all roofs of stone buildings, leading to its widespread adoption, and more than 90% of buildings in Paris today are silver-gray roofs.As a result, the roofs have not corroded for over 200 years, preserving their in-itial beauty while blending with the modernity ofcontemporary architecture.

Zinc demonstrates its hidden versatility not only as an ‘alloy’ but also as a ‘compound’ in our daily lives. If you look closely at the ingredients of sunscreen products, you will see that they contain zinc oxide (ZnO). Zinc oxide, when added to sunscreen, reflects solar radiation and disperses visible light, thereby preventing damage to skin cells and aging. It has been also utilized for various purposes ranging from white paint pigment to pharmaceuticals and dental materials for quite some time. Recently, it has been extensively developed for various purposes across industries due to its excellent optical and electrical properties as an oxide. For instance, zinc oxide is used as wireless biosensors and electrophotographic photoreceptor and is also popular as a component in fluorescent display devices.

Sunscreen

White paint
pigment

Display
component

Electrophotographic
photoreceptor

Zinc Oxide
(ZnO)

The immune shield within our body : zinc

Zinc, which is highly industrially versatile, is an essential mineral for all living things, including humans. However, it is also a nutrient that is not naturally produced within our bodies and cannot be stored. For this reason, most multivitamin supplements, taken to replenish deficient nutrients in the body, contain a small amount of zinc.

Benefits of Zinc

Zinc plays a crucial role in the body, aiding in the production of DNA, which is the genetic material of proteins and cells, as well as supporting over 100 enzyme functions and assisting in the metabolism of all cells, contributing to antioxidant activity. If you find yourself frequently catching colds or experiencing illnesses, it’s worth considering whether you might have a zinc deficiency. Zinc, in particular, is excellent for preventing viruses, as it strengthens the immune system, helping to prevent the proliferation of viruses such as the rhinovirus that causes colds.

However, insufficient intake of zinc can not only impair the initial response to infections and the immune process but also lead to symptoms such as growth delay, decreased concentration, loss of appetite, hair loss, and aging of the eyes. Despite these potential issues, zinc is abundantly found in various foods such as grains, meat, vegetables, making it readily available through a balanced diet. In fact, it has been reported that the average daily zinc intake for the Koreans can be supplemented by consuming only rice, meat, eggs, and kimchi, providing half of the recommended daily zinc intake.

Zinc, one of the essential elements in our body and daily life, is the second most abundantly distributed trace element in our body after iron. At the same time, it is considered the fourth most important metal following: iron, aluminum, and copper.

Sacrificial Zinc

One of the most common uses of zinc metal is the coating on steel material. In other words, more than half of the zinc produced worldwide is used as ‘galvanizing’, which prevents the corrosion of iron. Corrosion, in this context, refers to the oxidation of iron when it comes into contact with oxygen.

Placing a substance that oxidizes more readily than iron on top of it can prevent iron corrosion by sacrificially corroding instead. This method is known as the ‘sacrificial anode cathodic protection (SACP)’.

In other words, zinc-plated steel products, commonly known as ‘galvanized plates’, apply a sacrificial method where the zinc on the surface corrodes first, protecting the internal iron until the zinc coating is consumed.

In other words, zinc-plated steel products, commonly known as ‘galvanized plates’, apply a sacrificial method where the zinc on the surface corrodes first, protecting the internal iron until the zinc coating is consumed.

Placing a substance that oxidizes more readily than iron on top of it can prevent iron corrosion by sacrificially corroding instead. This method is known as the ‘sacrificial anode cathodic protection (SACP)’.

In other words, zinc-plated steel products, commonly known as ‘galvanized plates’, apply a sacrificial method where the zinc on the surface corrodes first, protecting the internal iron until the zinc coating is consumed.

As a result, zinc is widely used on the surfaces of structures made of iron or steel to withstand harsh weather conditions for extended periods, such as roofs, barbed wire, guardrails, suspension bridges, heat exchangers, and automotive structures.

The birth of the purest zinc

It took over 200 years for zinc, now widely utilized in everyday life, to become closely integrated into human existence. Sharp zinc crystals were discovered in 1526, but it wasn’t until 1746 that the German chemist Andreas Marggraf succeeded in extracting the world’s first pure zinc by heating calamine minerals. This breakthrough paved the way for large-scale industrial production. In the 1800s, Italian scientist Alessandro Volta further expanded the utility of zinc by inventing the ‘Voltaic Pile,’ a battery that generated electricity using metal plates stacked with copper and zinc, along with soaked paper in a salt solution. This invention marked another milestone in showcasing the versatility of zinc.

Then, who is the world’s No.1 zinc producer? It’s none other than Korea Zinc, which has established the world’s only smelting production system!

In particular, zinc ingots produced by Korea Zinc boast a purity of over 99.995%, representing the highest quality. Products such as the SHG Zinc Slab, registered on the London Metal Exchange (LME), are produced with the world’s top-notch technology, gaining global recognition for their superior quality.

Then, who is the world’s No.1 zinc producer? It’s none other than Korea Zinc, which has established the world’s only smelting production system!

In particular, zinc ingots produced by Korea Zinc boast a purity of over 99.995%, representing the highest quality. Products such as the SHG Zinc Slab, registered on the London Metal Exchange (LME), are produced with the world’s top-notch technology, gaining global recognition for their superior quality.

Korea Zinc’s outstanding production technology is exemplified by its Integrated Production Process, Direct Redox Smelter (DRS) Method, and Top Submerged Lance (TSL) Method. When zinc and lead ores are smelted one by one, metals other than zinc, lead, and copper are treated as impurities. This reduces productivity and leads to environmental issues such as waste disposal. To address these challenges, Korea Zinc has originally integrated the smelting processes of zinc and lead within a single plant. This not only increases the recovery rate of various valuable metals to nearly 100% but also enhances productivity and ensures competitive cost efficiency.

Integrated Production Process Model for Zinc and Lead

Zinc Concentrate

Secondary Raw Material

Lead Concentrate

Integrated Production Process Model
for Zinc and Lead

Zinc Concentrate

Secondary Raw Material

Lead Concentrate

The ‘Direct Redox Smelter (DRS) Method’ is a technique successfully commercialized by Korea Zinc, marking the world’s first achievement in its implementation. This process integrates the conventional two-step (oxidation-reduction) process into a single furnace, utilizing a melting-reduction technology. Particularly noteworthy is its excellent energy-saving and pollution prevention effects during the treatment of various raw materials, making it a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly technology.

Lastly, the Zinc Residue Treatment Technology, known as the ‘Top-Submerged Lance (TSL) Process‘ is also an environmentally friendly method. In the refining process, it transforms the unavoidable final residues into clean slag instead of waste, which is then discharged as raw material for cement, realizing the value of a circular economy. Moreover, it actively addresses revenue generation and environmental protection simultaneously by recovering non-ferrous metals (zinc, lead, copper, silver, indium, etc.) from low-grade raw materials and various industrial waste, as well as recycling rainwater. Recognizing this innovative approach, Korea Zinc’s TSL Process has received certifications for Domestic New Technology (KT, Korea Technology) and Environmental New Technology (ET, Environmental Technology) from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Environment.

Korea Zinc is a comprehensive non-ferrous metal refining company that produces essential materials for our daily lives, ranging from construction materials, jewelry, medical equipment, and high-technology industries such as cosmetics, automotive, and semiconductors. Since its establishment in 1974, Korea Zinc has continuously invested in and developed technologies, enabling it to produce annually 640,000 tons of zinc, 410,000 tons of lead, 12 tons of gold, and 2,000 tons of silver. In particular, zinc products maximize production efficiency by maintaining a 100% annual operating rate. Korea Zinc aspires to evolve into a company that continually creates sustainable value for the future with the expertise accumulated over 50 years in the refining business.

Korea Zinc,
Global No.1
Refining Company

Creating tomorrow’s value
from today’s refining.

korea Zinc

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