6 Common Non-Ferrous Alloys Used for Die Casting Products

We usually manufacture die casting products using non-ferrous metals. However, we rarely use the base metal for die casting parts. So, we alloy the base metal with other elements to improve its properties. Hence, making it more suitable for die casting.

Therefore, we prefer to use the term die casting alloys more often than die casting materials or metals. The six commonly used non-ferrous die casting alloys include:

• Aluminum
• Zinc
• Magnesium
• Titanium
• Copper
• Lead

Aluminum Alloys

Aluminum is one of the most popular non-ferrous alloys used for die casting. It is widely used in many industries as a cost-effective production solution. Plus, It has many other advantages as well. There are several varieties of aluminum available to suit a different purpose.

Some popular non-ferrous aluminum alloys for die casting are,

• A380
• A360
• A383
• A384

Zinc Alloys

The fluidity property and excellent mechanical strength of zinc make it an appealing choice for die casting. However, zinc is several times heavier than aluminum. Thus, it is not suitable for lightweight applications. Yet, zinc alloy die casting is very popular for producing high-strength miniature parts.

Some commonly used zinc alloys are as follows:

• Zamak
• ZA8
• ZA12
• ZA27

Magnesium Alloys

Magnesium is extremely lightweight. Thus, it is very popular in the automotive, aerospace, and other industries that crave lighter parts. Plus, magnesium has good machinability. However, It has poor corrosion resistance.

Titanium Alloys

Titanium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio out of all ferrous and non-ferrous metals, making it an excellent choice for aerospace applications. However, titanium alloy die casting is rather expensive. Thus, it is mainly preferred when you are more concerned about the quality than the economy.

Copper & Lead Alloys

Copper and lead alloys don’t have a whole lot of application like the others. Still, they are extensively used in some specific areas. For instance, copper alloy die casting is primarily used to produce durable plumbing and electrical parts.

 

Sunrise Metal is Your Reliable Supplier for Die Cast Parts

Sunrise is a Chinese manufacturing company with premier die casting capabilities. We specialize in Aluminum Die Casting and Zinc Die Casting. So, we are capable of handling any regular or miniature die casting project.

We have four manufacturing plants near Shanghai. Moreover, our factories are equipped with high-end die casting machines and quality control equipment. Here are some details about our die casting services.

Aluminum Die Casting

We have various sizes of cold chamber machines ranging from 280T to 1600T. So, we are capable of handling any small to large aluminum die casting project. We offer various aluminum alloy casting options to our customers including,

• ADC12
• A380
• AlSi10
• AlSi12 and more.

Zinc Die Casting

Our zinc die casting facility is equipped with advanced hot chamber die casting equipment. The capacity of the machines ranges from 60T-250T. So, we can produce high-precision zinc alloy parts. We offer various zinc alloy casting options to our customers including,

• Zamak 3
• Zamak 5

However, you might be confused about which die casting alloy will be best suited for your project. We can help you choose the right material for your project based on your requirement.

Alternatively, if you want to use a different alloy of your choice, you can consult us. Then our engineering team will assess the feasibility and let you know.

Additionally, our quality control team thoroughly checks every die casting product to ensure maximum quality for every part. We are also continually investing in advanced QA testing devices to further improve our die casting parts quality.

 

What are the Benefits of Non-Ferrous Alloys Die Casting Products?

Under normal circumstances, only non-ferrous metal alloys can be die cast due to their lower melting point than ferrous alloys. Despite lacking the appealing qualities of ferrous metal, the advantages of die casting non-ferrous make it a desirable choice.

Below we have discussed the main benefits of die casting non-ferrous alloys:

High Production Capacity: In terms of production capacity, die casting is an extremely efficient manufacturing process. You can manufacture a huge volume of die casting parts within a very short period. Each casting cycle usually only takes about a few seconds to a minute.

Cost-Efficiency: Die casting is probably one of the most cost-effective manufacturing processes for large volume production. You can produce thousands of die casting parts with a single set of molds. So, the per-part production cost keeps on decreasing with continued production.

High Dimensional Stability: Die casting products have outstanding dimensional accuracy. You can manufacture parts with intricate geometric details. And yet, the time required would be almost the same to die casting any simpler parts.

Smooth Finishing: Die casting parts tend to have a smooth surface finishing. Therefore, it substantially minimizes the need for secondary finishing operations. So, this saves both time and money for your project.

Why are Aluminum Alloys More Popular Than Others?

Aluminum alloy die casting is the most popular in die casting process. It has many alluring properties that make it a better choice in most cases. Because of that, it has dramatically soared in popularity within the last few decades.

Here, we have highlighted the advantages of aluminum alloy die casting to help you better understand its popularity.

Lightweight

Aluminum is about three times lighter than iron. So, manufacturers can produce lightweight die casting products with aluminum alloys. It is one of the main reasons for its widespread popularity in the industry. Not to mention that end users also have a huge demand for lightweight products nowadays.

Excellent Strength

Aluminum alloys have an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. It makes it suitable for applications with high strength requirements. Therefore, it is widely for the production of structural components for automobiles and aircraft.

Very Durable

Aluminum alloy has superior wear and corrosion resistance. So, aluminum die casting parts can withstand harsh environments and last longer.

High Conductivity

Aluminum die casting alloys also have high electrical and thermal conductivity. For this reason, aluminum parts are excellent as electronic components.

Can You Die Cast Ferrous Metals?

It is not feasible to die-cast ferrous metals. But, to be honest, it is not impossible either. The main reason is the high melting temperature of ferrous metals. It makes ferrous metals hard to handle. To be able to die cast something, the mold material must have a higher melting point than the die casting alloy.

Interestingly, ferrous metals themselves are used as a mold material for die casting of non-ferrous alloys. So, you cannot use steel mold for casting ferrous metal. However, we could use water-cooled copper dies for die casting ferrous metal. But, the scope of application is quite limited.

Sunrise Metal offers both aluminum die casting and zinc die casting services. I mentioned it in the google sheet