Materials / Compare

Aluminum A380 vs. Zinc Zamak 3

Compare Aluminum A380 vs. Zinc Zamak 3 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Aluminum A380Cast
Zinc Zamak 3Cast
MechanicalAluminum A380Zinc Zamak 3
Yield strength160MPa1221MPa238% stronger
Ultimate tensile strength320MPa113% stronger283MPa2
Elongation at break3.5%110%22.86x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)71GPa185.5GPa220% stiffer
Density2,713kg/m³12.43x lighter6,600kg/m³2
Strength to weight59kN·m/kg1.76x higher33.5kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight26.2MN·m/kg2.02x higher13MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.3330.274
Shear modulus26.7GPa33.7GPa26% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus69.6GPa12% higher62GPa
Speed of sound5,116m/s42% faster3,599m/s
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcretePCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum A380Zinc Zamak 3
Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum A380Zinc Zamak 3
Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight
ThermalAluminum A380Zinc Zamak 3
Thermal conductivity96.2W/m·K1113W/m·K217% more heat through a fin
Thermal expansion21.8µm/m·K126% less27.4µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing109µm growth26% less137µm growth
Specific heat963J/kg·K12.3x higher419J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)36.8mm²/s40.9mm²/s11% faster
Thermal shock resistance6,669W/m7,782W/m17% more resistant
Melting pointnot sourcedmelting range381–387°C2
1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonRubberWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum A380Zinc Zamak 3
Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight
0.111010010100Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)Thermal expansion (µm/m·K)Plastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic NylonWoodAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Copper C10100Copper C12200GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM HIPSSLA Resin StandardDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelConcreteBrickPlywoodPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Alumina 96%Ceramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum 3003-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Aluminum A380Zinc Zamak 3
Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources4 documents: Rheocast Company, Nathan Trotter, North American Die Casting Association, Eastern Alloys
Aluminum A380
A380 aluminium high-pressure die-casting alloy, typical properties; Rheocast Company (aluminium die caster, Germantown WI) A380 alloy data page.
Zinc Zamak 3
Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 die cast), Nathan Trotter (zinc alloy producer) technical data sheet, typical values
  1. 1
    Alloy Aluminum: A380Rheocast CompanyAluminum A380 · Yield strength: typical, 25 °CAluminum A380 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 25 °CAluminum A380 · Elongation at break: typicalAluminum A380 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, 25 °CAluminum A380 · Density: typical at 68 °FAluminum A380 · Thermal conductivity: typical at 68 °FAluminum A380 · Thermal expansion: typical, 68-572 °F (20-300 °C)Aluminum A380 · Specific heat: typical at 68 °F
  2. 2
    Zamak 3 Technical Data SheetNathan Trotterarchived copyZinc Zamak 3 · Yield strength: typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Elongation at break: typical, in 2 in.Zinc Zamak 3 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Density: typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Thermal conductivity: typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Thermal expansion: typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Specific heat: typicalZinc Zamak 3 · Melting point: melting range
  3. 3
    Product Design for Die Casting, Table 4.1: Die Casting Alloys Material Properties ComparisonNorth American Die Casting Associationarchived copyAluminum A380 · Poisson's ratio: typical, as-cast, separately die cast specimens
  4. 4
    Zinc Die Casting Properties Guide (2012)Eastern AlloysZinc Zamak 3 · Poisson's ratio: typical, Zamak 3 hot-chamber die cast

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Aluminum A380 stronger than Zinc Zamak 3?

Zinc Zamak 3 is stronger: its yield strength is 221 MPa against 160 MPa for Aluminum A380 (38%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum A380 or Zinc Zamak 3?

Aluminum A380 is lighter: 2,713 kg/m³ against 6,600 kg/m³ for Zinc Zamak 3.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum A380 or Zinc Zamak 3?

Zinc Zamak 3 is stiffer: Young's modulus 85.5 GPa against 71 GPa for Aluminum A380, so the same part in Zinc Zamak 3 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum A380 or Zinc Zamak 3?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum A380 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beAluminum A380Zinc Zamak 3
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter2.02x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter2.22x heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter2.29x heavier
Strong rod or tielighter1.76x heavier
Strong beamlighter1.96x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter2.07x heavier

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).

Which is more ductile, Aluminum A380 or Zinc Zamak 3?

Zinc Zamak 3 stretches further before it breaks: 10% elongation at break against 3.5% for Aluminum A380.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum A380 or Zinc Zamak 3?

Zinc Zamak 3 conducts heat better: 113 W/m·K against 96.2 W/m·K for Aluminum A380.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum A380 expands less: 21.8 µm/m·K against 27.4 µm/m·K for Zinc Zamak 3.

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