Aluminum ADC12 vs. Zinc Zamak 3

Compare Aluminum ADC12 vs. Zinc Zamak 3 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Aluminum ADC12	Zinc Zamak 3
Yield strength	one test result149MPa1	221MPa248% stronger
Ultimate tensile strength	one test result345MPa122% stronger	283MPa2
Elongation at break	one test result2.3%1	10%24.35x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	standard value79.8GPa3	85.5GPa2
Density	measured2,680kg/m³42.46x lighter	6,600kg/m³2
Strength to weight	55.6kN·m/kg1.66x higher	33.5kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	29.8MN·m/kg2.3x higher	13MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	0.275
Shear modulus	not sourced	33.7GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	62GPa
Speed of sound	5,457m/s1.52x faster	3,599m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Aluminum ADC12	Zinc Zamak 3
Thermal conductivity	125W/m·K4	113W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	measured21µm/m·K430% less	27.4µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	105µm growth30% less	137µm growth
Specific heat	measured911J/kg·K42.18x higher	419J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	51.2mm²/s25% faster	40.9mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	7,782W/m
Melting point	solidus-liquidus515–582°C4	melting range381–387°C2

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources5 documents: Daiki Aluminium Industry, Nathan Trotter, S.S. Aluminum, Eastern Alloys

Aluminum ADC12: JIS ADC12 (Al-Si-Cu, about A383 / EN AC-46100) high-pressure die-casting alloy, as cast; physical properties from Daiki Aluminium Industry (ADC12 ingot producer) measured values; modulus from S.S.Aluminum (ADC12 ingot producer) standard values.
Zinc Zamak 3: Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 die cast), Nathan Trotter (zinc alloy producer) technical data sheet, typical values

1
NA Alloys Product DataDaiki Aluminium IndustryAluminum ADC12 · Yield strength: one test result, 0.2% proof stress, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Ultimate tensile strength: one test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Elongation at break: one test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)
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
Die-Casting Alloys (ダイカスト用合金)S.S. AluminumAluminum ADC12 · Young's modulus (stiffness): standard value (S.S.Aluminum)
4
DIK365 Product DataDaiki Aluminium IndustryAluminum ADC12 · Density: measured (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Thermal conductivity: measured on specimens cut from a 50 x 100 x 5 mm flat die casting (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Thermal expansion: measured, temperature range not stated (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Specific heat: measured (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Melting point: solidus-liquidus (Daiki)
5
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 ADC12 stronger than Zinc Zamak 3?

Zinc Zamak 3 is stronger: its yield strength is 221 MPa against 149 MPa for Aluminum ADC12 (48%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum ADC12 or Zinc Zamak 3?

Aluminum ADC12 is lighter: 2,680 kg/m³ against 6,600 kg/m³ for Zinc Zamak 3.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum ADC12 or Zinc Zamak 3?

Zinc Zamak 3 is stiffer: Young's modulus 85.5 GPa against 79.8 GPa for Aluminum ADC12, so the same part in Zinc Zamak 3 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum ADC12 or Zinc Zamak 3?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum ADC12 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 be	Aluminum ADC12	Zinc Zamak 3
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	2.3x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	2.38x heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	2.41x heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	1.66x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	1.89x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	2.02x 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 ADC12 or Zinc Zamak 3?

Zinc Zamak 3 stretches further before it breaks: 10% elongation at break against 2.3% for Aluminum ADC12.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum ADC12 or Zinc Zamak 3?

Aluminum ADC12 conducts heat better: 125 W/m·K against 113 W/m·K for Zinc Zamak 3.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum ADC12 expands less: 21 µm/m·K against 27.4 µm/m·K for Zinc Zamak 3.