Zinc alloys have significant advantages as casting materials for small components, with excellent physical and mechanical properties, castability and finishing characteristics. Hot chamber die cast zinc alloys can be cast to tight tolerances, complex detail, net shape, and the alloy's dimensional stability ensures part-to-part consistency over long production runs. Net shape manufacturing is one of the main advantages of hot chamber die cast zinc alloys.
- Zinc alloys facilitate higher die casting cycle speeds versus aluminum and other metal alloys, more complex shapes, thinner wall sections, smoother surface finishes, and higher standards of dimensional accuracy.
- Compared to plastic, zinc alloys are several times stronger and many times more rigid. Their mechanical properties compare favorably with powdered iron, brass, and screw-machined steel.
Zinc has inherent EMI/RFI shielding properties.
AIM uses only high-grade zinc alloys certified for purity.
Zinc casting alloys are defined in three categories:
- ZINC ALLOYS #2, #3, #5, #7, #8, and #12.
- ZA ALLOY (Zinc Aluminum Alloy) ZA12 and ZA-27
- ALLOY NO. 93 (For Slush Casting)
Applications
Casting Processes
Zinc Alloys were developed specifically for pressure die casting using hot chamber casting, which is highly automated and the most popular and efficient die casting process.
ZA Alloys (Zinc Aluminum Alloys) were developed initially for gravity casting using sand, permanent mold, plaster mold and graphite mold casting techniques. ZA alloys can be used in pressure die casting, but require a cold chamber casting method.
