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Zinc Zamak 3
Zamak 3 is a zinc alloy with about 4% aluminum and the most common zinc die casting alloy in North America. It casts in fast hot-chamber machines, holds tighter tolerances and thinner walls than aluminum, and plates well with chrome or nickel. Typical tensile strength is 41 ksi (283 MPa). Dies often last over 1 million shots.
- UNS
- Z33520
- ASTM
- B86 (AG40A)
- EN 12844
- ZP3 (ZnAl4, ZP0400)
- Trade name
- Zamak 3
How does it compare?
Typical room-temperature values for Zamak 3, against all 48 materials in the library.
- Tensile strength
- 283 MPa47th pct
- Yield strength
- 221 MPa25th pct
- Density
- 6.6 g/cm³57th pct
- Max service temp
- 100 °C10th pct
- Elongation
- 10 %14th pct
- Relative cost
- $$$$$
Bars are relative to the strongest, densest or hottest material in the SSG library. Percentile vs all 48 materials.
- Density
- 6.6 g/cm³ · 0.2384 lb/in³
- Tensile strength
- 283 MPa · 41.0 ksi
- Yield strength
- 221 MPa · 32.1 ksi
- Elongation
- 10%
- Elastic modulus
- 96 GPa · 13.9 Msi
- Hardness
- 82 HB
- Max service temperature
- 100 °C · 212 °F
- Melting point
- 381 °C · 718 °F
- Thermal conductivity
- 113 W/m·K
When should you use Zamak 3?
Strengths
- Hot-chamber cycles several times faster than aluminum die casting
- Walls down to about 0.030 in (0.75 mm) and tight tolerances with little or no machining
- The best plating base of the die cast alloys for chrome, nickel and brass finishes
- Best long-term dimensional stability of the Zamak alloys
- Die life often above 1 million shots
Watch for
- Creeps under sustained load, more so above 120 °F (50 °C); test clamped joints and preloaded bosses
- About 2.4× the density of aluminum, so parts are heavy
- Lower strength than Zamak 5 and ZA alloys
- Not for continuous service above about 212 °F (100 °C)
Typical parts
- Faucet handles and plumbing trim
- Lock bodies and door hardware
- Zipper pulls and buckles
- Automotive interior trim and badges
- Connector housings and EMI shielding
- Small gears and mechanism parts
How Zamak 3 is made into parts
Cost, finishes and design rules for each process in this material.
What does a part in Zamak 3 cost?
A representative part, die casting. Raw material at about $4.00/kg is one line of it; process time and tooling usually matter more.
Housing · Die casting
Order total $35,268
- Tooling
- $18,550
- one-time, spread over the order
- Piece price
- $3.22
- before setup + tooling
- Lead time
- 8–12 weeks
- to first production
Size
Drag a row to adjust · click to type
Length140140 mm
Width90.090.0 mm
Wall2.202.20 mm
Quantity
Price per part falls as volume rises
Exact quantity50005000 pcs
Material
Design checks pass
Open in builderBudgetary estimate for a representative part. Firm quotes come from principals after drawing review.
Zamak 3 questions
Zamak 3 vs Zamak 5?
Zamak 5 adds about 1% copper for roughly 17% more tensile strength (48 vs 41 ksi) and better creep resistance, with slightly lower ductility and long-term dimensional stability. Zamak 3 is the default in North America; Zamak 5 is common in Europe and for parts under higher load.
Zinc vs aluminum die casting?
Zinc casts faster, holds tighter tolerances, allows thinner walls, and gets several times the die life. Aluminum is about 60% lighter and holds strength at higher temperatures. Zinc wins on small, precise, plated parts; aluminum wins on larger housings where weight matters.
Can Zamak be chrome plated?
Yes. Zinc die castings are a standard base for decorative copper-nickel-chrome per ASTM B456, with a copper strike first. Casting surface quality drives plating quality, so cosmetic faces need good gate and overflow design.
What temperature can zinc die castings handle?
Plan for continuous service below about 212 °F (100 °C). Zinc alloys creep under sustained load even near room temperature, and more above 120 °F (50 °C). For hot or preloaded parts, use aluminum or a ZA alloy.
Similar materials
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