Why Choose Zinc Die Casting?

Aluminum:
Compared to aluminum, zinc can be cast to precision tolerances, thinner wall sections, net shapes and much longer tool life.

Plastic Injection Moldings:
Compared with plastic injection components, zinc (Zamak) die casting are stronger, stiffer, more stable dimensionally, higher heat resistances and far superior to plastics on a properties basis. For quality finishes, Zamak alloys are far superior to plastic. Zinc die castings share a higher degree of performance under load conditions compared to plastics, are completely resistant to ultra-violet rays, weather, prevent radio frequency emissions and stress cracking in the presence of various reagents. Manufacturing cycles for producing die castings are much faster than for injection moldings.

Stampings:
One die casting can often replace several stampings within an assembly. Requiring fewer assembly operations, die cast zinc can: be held within closer dimensional limits, have almost any desired variation in section thickness, involve less waste in scrap, and, achieve more complex shapes. Die castings can be made in many shapes not producible in stamped forms.

Sand Castings:
Compared to sand castings, "zinc castings" require much less machining, can be made with thinner walls, can have all or nearly all holes cored to size, can be held within much tighter tolerance limits and are produced in dies that make thousands and potentially millions of die castings without replacement. Die castings do not require new cores for each casting, have smoother surfaces and involve much less labor cost per casting.

Screw Machine Parts:
Compared with screw machine products, zinc castings are produced more rapidly, involve much less waste in scrap, can be made into shapes that are difficult or impossible to produce from bar or tubular stock, and may require fewer operations.

Which Zinc Alloy should be selected or considered?
Deco, having been in the zinc die industry for over 50 years, believes there are three zinc die cast alloys that combine both strength and stability of properties on aging to give optimum service performance. These alloys are No. 3, No 5, and No. 7. Both No. 3 and No. 7 are excellent alloys, either of which can be used for most applications. Alloy No. 3 is currently the most popular alloy, but No. 7 will perform equally well and under certain conditions is superior to No. 3.Zinc cast alloy No. 7 has lower magnesium content, with additional levels of nickel and lower impurity limits. Because of the lower magnesium content it has greater fluidity. As a result, it possesses better cast ability than No. 3, but with practical identical physical and mechanical properties and dimensional stability. The No. 7 alloy will be found helpful in relatively large castings. Complicated shapes and parts need superior hardware finishes at times. The use of alloy No. 5 is limited to special cases where superior creep strength and hardness are required. Deco Products Company LLLP produces components from the entire range of hot chamber zinc alloys (No. 2, No. 3, No.5, No. 7 and ZA8). Let our highly experienced team of engineers give you guidance in selecting your alloy choice.