1. General

1.1 Applications for zinc and zinc alloys

While the main industrial use of zinc is due to its particular electrochemical properties (e.g. galvanizing steel), shaped products have long been of considerable practical importance. Zinc's low mechanical strength and excellent resistance to atmospheric corrosion first led to its development in the 19th century as a rolled product for building roofing, mainly in France, Belgium and Germany. At the same time, roll-forming operations were perfected, notably for building accessories (gutters and rainwater drainage pipes).

Today, zinc alloys are used in a wide variety of applications, although construction (in rolled form) remains the main application. In decreasing order of importance, we'd like to mention, without being...