Zamak 3
Z33520The world's most widely used zinc die casting alloy — nearly 70% of all zinc die castings in North America. 4% Al provides excellent castability, dimensional stability, and surface finish. No copper addition gives best long-term dimensional stability and ductility. Superb plating, painting, and chromating characteristics. Used for automotive hardware, door handles, zippers, toys, electrical components, decorative fittings, and consumer goods. The benchmark zinc alloy. Also known as ASTM AG40A, EN ZnAl4.
International equivalents
| Flag | Standard | Country | Grade | Number | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 | ASTM | USA | AG40A | Z33520 | REF |
| 🇪🇺 | EN | Europe | ZnAl4 | — | 100% |
Sources: ASTM B86, EN 12844
Chemical composition comparison (wt%)
Side-by-side: Zamak 3 (ASTM) (ASTM B86) vs ZnAl4 (EN)
| Element | Zamak 3 (ASTM) | ZnAl4 (EN) | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cu | ≤ 0.25% | — | — |
| Al | 3.5–4.3% | — | — |
| Mg | 0.02–0.05% | — | — |
| Fe | ≤ 0.1% | — | — |
| Pb | ≤ 0.005% | — | — |
| Cd | ≤ 0.004% | — | — |
| Sn | ≤ 0.003% | — | — |
| Zn | — | — | — |
Mechanical properties
As-Cast
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 280–285 | MPa |
| Yield Strength | 220–225 | MPa |
| Elongation | 10–14 | % |
| Hardness HB | 82–86 | HB |
| Density | ≥ 6.6 | g/cm3 |
| Elastic Modulus | ≥ 85.5 | GPa |
Compatibility verdict
Zamak 3 and ZnAl4: 100% composition match
Close equivalents but NOT identical.
Related materials
ZA-12
Z35631Hypereutectic zinc-aluminum alloy with 11% Al and 1% Cu. Bridges the gap between Zamak alloys and ZA-27 with good castability in both gravity and pressure die casting (cold chamber). Higher strength and better bearing/wear properties than Zamak 3/5, with good machinability from continuous cast bar stock. Density 6.03 g/cm³. Used for bearings, bushings, wear-resistant components, hydraulic fittings, and general engineering castings. Can be chrome plated with modified processes.
ZA-27
Z35841The strongest and lightest zinc casting alloy with 27% Al and 2.2% Cu. Highest strength (UTS ~425 MPa, YS ~380 MPa), highest melting point, and lowest density (5.0 g/cm³) of all zinc alloys. Cold chamber die casting only. Cannot be chrome plated. Excellent bearing properties and wear resistance. Used for high-strength structural castings, gear blanks, bearing housings, cam followers, and components replacing bronze or cast iron at lower cost. Also available as continuous cast bar for machining.
Zamak 5
Z35531Copper-containing zinc die casting alloy with higher strength and creep resistance than Zamak 3. The 1% Cu addition improves hardness and wear resistance at the expense of some long-term dimensional stability. Preferred in Europe over Zamak 3. Used for automotive die castings, lock housings, power tool components, industrial hardware, and applications requiring higher creep resistance under sustained load. Also known as ASTM AC41A, EN ZnAl4Cu1.
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