What is Zinc Die Casting?
The zinc die casting process is used by various industries to make a wide array of components. Zinc alloy castings feature superior mechanical properties at normal temperatures when compared to sand castings of brass or grey iron, especially in terms of toughness and impact strength. They are also stronger and more dimensionally stable than injection molded plastics, and their lower cost makes them an ideal replacement for copper, iron, aluminum alloys, and plastic materials.
The Benefits of Zinc Die Casting
Zinc alloys offer a wide array of benefits that surpass other alloys, such as excellent finishing features and superior corrosion resistance. Other benefits include:
- Enhanced Castability. Because of its high fluidity, zinc casting is resilient, allowing for thinner, precise, and more intricate casts. This eradicates the need for secondary finishing operations common with magnesium and aluminum alloys.
- Extended Lifespan. Because of zinc’s low melting temperatures, zinc castings last 10 times longer than their aluminum counterparts.
- Cost Savings. Zinc die casting has a 150%-200% higher cycle rate than other alloys, allowing for quick and efficient production that saves time and costs. Zinc die casting companies can then pass those cost savings onto the customer, ensuring they get a quality product at a great price.
- RFI/EMI Shielding. RFI/EMI shielding prevents electronic malfunction by blocking electromagnetic waves from interfering with circuits. Zinc die casting produces components with great RFI/EMI shielding capabilities, allowing them to perform well as electrical grounds for interior circuits.
Applications of Zinc Casting
Because zinc is long-lasting, strong, and cost-effective, it’s used throughout a variety of industries. Zinc die casting manufacturing can produce smaller casts or more conventional sizes, making it the perfect alloy to use across the board. While it’s very common in the automotive industry, it’s also regularly used in manufacturing industries.
Automotive
Zinc can be cast into very precise parts without losing its strength or stability, making it a popular choice in the automotive industry. Not only can zinc mold into all different shapes, but its smooth surface makes it aesthetically pleasing, especially in higher-end vehicles. Components such as door locks, reactor gears, and seat belt systems are all common applications for zinc die casting.
Zinc is perfect for the automotive industry because it’s resistant to corrosion in severe environments as well as the following benefits:
- Strong, resilient, and stable
- Low costs
- Thermal and electric conductivity
Manufacturing
Zinc die casting is often used in manufacturing industries because it produces high-quality, light-weight products that are stronger and more cost-effective to make than their counterparts. A zinc cast has a closer tolerance than any other metal, eliminating the need for additional machining. This makes it a favorable process to many major areas within the manufacturing industry.
Zinc die casting offers the following benefits for the manufacturing industry:
- Stronger parts
- Tighter tolerances
- Extended lifespan
- Faster production
Choosing Mardek
Zinc die casting offers many advantages, as it can quickly produce parts that are cost-effective, strong, precise, long-lasting, and more. At Mardek, we are a supplier of contract offshore manufacturing services, including zinc die casting.
We can work with you to find the best solution for your application, no matter how complex. For more information, or to get started on your zinc die casting solution, contact us or request a quote today for your next project.