Zinc Alloys

Zinc alloys are essential engineering materials known for their high strength, hardness, and versatility. These attributes make them ideal alternatives to machined, pressed, stamped, and fabricated components. Die casting with zinc alloys provides high ductility, excellent impact strength, and smooth finishes for cost-effective manufacturing solutions.

Zind is a natural element found as a component of the earth’s crust. Zinc ores exist in deposits spread widely throughout the world and more than 50 countries extract them.

Added as a dietary supplement in vitamins, facial creams and sun blockers. Zinc is a vital part of our daily lives.

Types of Zinc Alloys for Die Casting

Zamak is the acronym for zinc, aluminum, magnesium, and copper. It represents a family of zinc alloys with excellent strength, durability, and versatility for die casting applications. Visit this post What is ZAMAK for the history and which alloys include ZAMAK.

Zinc Die Cast Money Clip - Thin Wall

Zinc Alloys in Die Casting

Zinc alloys are the easiest to work with in die casting, thanks to their low melting points and good fluidity. This enables intricate details, thin walls, and smooth surfaces. These alloys are perfect for producing components with tight tolerances and long-term dimensional stability.

What Are Advantages of Zinc Alloys in Die Casting

  1. Durability: Zinc’s high impact strength ensures components withstand repeated use without degradation.
  2. Cost-Effectiveness: Zinc alloys reduce material costs by eliminating the need for additional processing or finishing.
  3. Versatility: These alloys are suitable for a wide range of industries, including automotive, electrical, and consumer goods.
  4. Corrosion Resistance: Zinc provides a natural barrier against corrosion, extending the lifespan of components in harsh environments.
  5. Dimensional Stability: Zinc’s long-term stability ensures consistent performance over time, even in critical applications.

When Zinc Alloys Are Right for Your Die Cast Part Design

  • High-Volume Parts: Zinc is ideal for high-volume parts with an EAU of 50,000 or more. With a significant investment in tooling, the return on investment is quicker. Zinc’s long tool life—up to a million shots—makes it highly cost-effective for large production runs.
  • Strength and Structural Integrity: If strength and structural integrity are crucial to your design, zinc alloys provide excellent reliability and durability.
  • Visual Aesthetics: Zinc is the perfect material for parts requiring specific finishes. It supports raw, non-corrosive, decorative surfaces like paint or powder coating, and highly decorative plating.
  • Part Size: Deco Products’ extensive capabilities handle parts ranging from a 1/2-inch bolt to components up to 24 inches and 8 lbs. Zinc’s density adds perceived value and weight, enhancing the feel of your parts.
  • Complexity and Tight Tolerances: Zinc is the right choice for parts requiring intricate designs or tight tolerances. Its properties ensure consistent precision in manufacturing.

Properties of Zinc Alloys

Zinc die casting alloys are versatile engineering materials. As a result, no other alloy system provides the combination of strength, performance, and economical castability. Listed are zinc alloy attributes which can potentially reduce component costs and/or improve you design performance. This information will help designers understand what zinc die cast alloys can do for product applications.

Zinc die casting alloys combine strength, performance, and economical castability. Key attributes include:

  • High strength-to-weight ratio
  • Good corrosion resistance
  • Easy moldability and good fluidity
  • Long-term dimensional stability
  • Compatible with various finishing processes

See our zinc alloy property guides below for additional information.