Advantages and Disadvantages of Zinc Die Casting

Zinc die casting is a manufacturing process where manufacturers use zinc or its alloys to make durable and precise die-cast parts. The hot chamber die casting process is used for casting zinc alloys which offer faster casting cycles.

Zinc and its alloys have some unique characteristics which make them ideal for certain applications. However, it is not as versatile as aluminum due to some drawbacks. We shall discuss the advantages and disadvantages of zinc die casting in this article.

Advantages of Zinc Die Casting

The list below shows different advantages of zinc die casting  such as:

• Zinc die-cast parts are more precise and stronger than aluminum die-cast parts.
• Zinc casting parts have a low melting point and so these are easy to reshape/redesign if necessary.
• It is easier to make thinner parts by zinc alloy die casting because of its good fluidity.
• Manufacturers can make complex parts using zinc and the parts also have a smooth surface.
• It is possible to do different surface treatments such as grinding, painting, electro-plating, etc. on zinc casting parts.
• While casting the die is not subjected to too much heat because of zinc’s low melting point. Thus, the dies have a longer service life.
• Zinc alloy die casting parts have better mechanical properties than most other alloys.

Disadvantages of Zinc Die Casting

The disadvantages of zinc die casting include the following:

• Zinc die casting yields much heavier parts than most other non-ferrous alloys thus unsuitable for lightweight applications.
• When mixed with other metals such as tin or lead, it compromises its corrosion resistance. It also becomes less ductile.
• If the temperature is too high, zinc casting component’s tensile strength decrease and so the parts become more fragile.
• The impact properties of zinc alloy components fall remarkably if the temperature is too low.

One of China’s Top Zinc Die Casting Manufacturers – Sunrise Metal

Sunrise Metal has a decade-long experience in zinc die-cast manufacturing. Our team always prioritizes the quality of zinc die-casting parts more than anything. So, you can expect consistent quality from design to manufacturing.

One-Stop Die Casting Service

We provide a complete solution to zinc die casting manufacturing by providing services including,

• Rapid Prototyping
• Die Casting Tooling
• Zinc Die Casting Production
• CNC Machining
• Surface Finishing

Our clients can get all the necessary die casting services here that save both time and cost.

Advanced Zinc Casting Equipment

Our die casting facilities are equipped with the latest technology hot chamber die casting equipment. We have zinc die casting machines with up to 250T clamping force which allows us to handle challenging die casting projects.

Amazing Quality Control

Our workers and engineers are dedicated to ensuring the highest quality for the manufactured goods. We have enriched quality control facilities with advanced measuring instruments that can perfectly meet your precision requirements.

Wide Range of Zinc Alloys

We work with a variety of zinc alloys for die casting, such as Zamak (2, 3, 5, 7), ZA8, ZA27, etc. If you want, you can also request any special zinc alloy. We shall try our best to keep your request if it is feasible to die cast.

Which Industries Require Zinc or Its Alloys for Die Casting?

Zinc or its alloys are perfect for making complex parts because these are cheap and easy to cast. Though aluminum die-cast parts are used more than zinc, zinc casting components also have a variety of applications.

Manufacturers use zinc mostly to produce smaller parts but with higher strength. Here are few industries where manufacturers use zinc die casting parts:

Automotive Industry

Many interior parts of automobile vehicles require zinc alloy components rather than aluminum. Though aluminum is lighter than zinc, zinc is stronger and in some cases, strength is more important than weight.

For this reason, different automobile parts such as engine components, bearings, brake parts, steering parts, etc. require zinc alloys. The Zamak 2 zinc alloy has the highest hardness and strength and so it is the most suitable alloy for these automobile parts.

Electronic Industry

The electronic industry uses zinc for making a lot of die casting parts such as energy regulator, toggle switch, control panel switch, line tester head, wall clock, audio connector, cable splitter, ceramic encased resistors, eyeleted terminals for speakers, and more.

The Zamak 3 alloy can provide dimensional stability for a long time and these parts need this feature. For this reason, this alloy is the most appropriate one for making these parts.

Appliances Industry

There are many daily appliances we use at home that are made from zinc die casting parts. For example, razers, belts, and shoe buckles, furniture inserts, hardware parts, key chains, compass and divider, door locks, handles, etc. are mostly made with zinc.

When Should I Prefer Zinc Die Casting?

Manufacturers use different metals such as aluminum, magnesium, zinc, etc. for die casting. Different parts or components are used in different applications and so only aluminum or magnesium alloys are not enough to cover all the areas. In some cases, zinc and its alloys work better than either of these metals and their alloys.

Sometimes manufacturers need to produce small but precise parts. In this case, zinc alloys are better than aluminum alloys. It is easier to create longer and smaller holes in zinc alloy parts than aluminum.

Suppliers can achieve thinner walls using zinc alloys rather than aluminum alloys. Also, zinc alloy parts have better machinability than aluminum in some cases. So when the weight of the part doesn’t matter as much as the machinability, manufacturers go for the zinc alloys.

On the other hand, magnesium and its alloys cost more than zinc alloys. But it is not as strong as zinc alloys. Also, zinc has much better elongation and is denser than magnesium. So if manufacturers require less dense parts they choose magnesium. But other than that they prefer zinc more than magnesium.

Furthermore, manufacturers often need to create parts that are as strong as steel but also desire the high production efficiency of die casting. In this case, zinc alloys are a better choice than both magnesium and aluminum alloys for die casting.