|
Aluminum |
Brass |
Magnesium |
Zinc |
|
| Tensile strength, psi x 1000 |
47 |
55 |
34 |
41 |
| Yield strength, psi x 100 (0.2 pct offset) |
23 |
30 |
23 |
— |
| Shear strength, psi x 1000 |
28 |
37 |
20 |
31 |
| Fatigue strength, psi x 1000 |
20 |
25 |
14 |
7 |
| Elongation, pct in 2 in. |
3.50 |
15 |
3.0 |
10 |
| Hardness (Brinell) |
80 |
91 |
63 |
82 |
| Specific gravity |
2.71 |
8.30 |
1.80 |
6.60 |
| Weight, lb/cu. in. |
.098 |
0.305 |
.066 |
0.24 |
| Melting point (liquid), oF |
1100 |
1670 |
1105 |
728 |
| Thermal conductivity, CGS |
0.23 |
0.21 |
0.16 |
0.27 |
| Thermal expansion, in./in./oF x 10-6 |
12.1 |
12.0 |
15.0 |
15.2 |
| Electrical conductivity, pct of copper standard |
27 |
20 |
10 |
27 |
| Modulus of elasticity, psi x 106 |
10.3 |
15 |
6.5 |
— |
| Impact strength (Charpy), ft/lb |
3.0 |
40 |
2.0 |
43.0 |
For more specific information, refer to NADCA Product Standards for Die Casting.
|
Aluminum |
Brass |
Magnesium |
Zinc |
|
| Chrome plating | Fair | Excellent | Fair | Excellent |
| Black chrome plating | Fair | Excellent |
— |
Excellent |
| Colored plating | Fair |
— |
— |
Excellent |
| Mechanical-polishing & buffing | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Lacquers, enamels, epoxies & acrylics | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Anodizing | Fair |
— |
— |
— |
|
Aluminum |
Brass |
Magnesium |
Zinc |
|
| Anodizing-corrosion & abrasion protection | Excellent |
— |
Good | Excellent |
| Chromate conversion-corrosion | Excellent |
— |
Excellent | Excellent |
| Heavy paint, wrinkle, matte finishes-abrasion, corrosion protection & to hide imperfections | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
|
||||
| Machine Types: |
Aluminum |
Brass |
Magnesium |
Zinc |
|
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Production range, shots/hr |
40-200 |
40-200 |
75-400 |
200-550 |
| Average tool life, no. of shots x 1000 |
125 |
20 |
200 |
500 |
|
Aluminum |
Brass |
Magnesium |
Zinc |
|
| Aluminum |
Remainder |
0.25 |
8.3 to 9.7 |
3.5 to 4.3 |
| Cadmium |
— |
— |
— |
.004 (max) |
| Copper |
3.0 to 4.0 |
57.0 (min) |
0.35 (max) |
0.25 (max) |
| Iron |
1.3 |
0.50 |
— |
0.10 (max) |
| Lead |
— |
1.50 |
— |
.005 (max) |
| Magnesium |
0.10 |
— |
Remainder |
.02 to .05 |
| Manganese |
0.50 |
0.25 |
0.13 (min) |
— |
| Nickel |
0.50 |
— |
.03 (max) |
* |
| Silicon |
7.5 to 9.5 |
0.25 (max) |
0.5 (max) |
* |
| Tin |
0.35 |
1.50 |
— |
.003 (max) |
| Zinc |
3.0 |
Remainder |
0.35 to 1.0 |
Remainder |
| Other |
0.50 |
0.50 |
0.3 (max) |
— |
| Mechanical properties and chemical composition vary for specific alloys. Refer to NADCA Product Standards for Die Casting for details. | ||||
Characteristics of Die Casting Alloys
|
Aluminum |
Brass |
Magnesium |
Zinc |
|
| Dimensional stability |
Good |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Good |
| Corrosion resistance |
Good |
Excellent |
Fair |
Fair |
| Casting ease |
Good |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
| Part complexity |
Good |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
| Dimensional accuracy |
Good |
Fair |
Excellent |
Excellent |
| Die cost |
Medium |
High |
Medium |
Low |
| Machining cost |
Low |
Medium |
Low |
Low |
| Finishing cost |
Medium |
Low |
High |
Low |
Chart does not intend to compare metals. Its purpose is to show the most advantageous characteristics of each specific metal. For more specific information, refer to NADCA Product Standards for Die Casting.
|
Aluminum |
Brass |
Magnesium |
Zinc |
|
| Maximum weight, lb. |
70 |
10 |
44 |
75 |
| Minimum wall thickness, large castings, in. |
.080 |
.090 |
.100 |
.035 |
| Minimum wall thickness, small castings, in. |
.040 |
.055 |
.040 |
.015 |
| Minimum variation per in. of diameter or length from drawing dimensions over one in. |
.0015 |
.009 |
.0015 |
.001 |
| Cast threads, max. per in. external |
24 |
10 |
24 |
32 |
| Cored holes, min. diameter in. |
.080 |
0.250 |
.080 |
.050 |
The values shown herein represent normal production practice at the most economic level. Greater accuracy involving extra close work or care in production should be specified only when and where necessary since additional cost may be involved.
For more specific information, refer to NADCA Product Standards for Die Casting.
