ALUMINUM
   
.the main benefits of aluminum are :  
it's an economic metal
high strength against physical pressure
very light ( especially compared to steal and iron )
highly corrosive resistant
very environmental metal ( 100 % recyclable )
very thermo conducting ( for lamp housings or cooling systems for example )
good where fast cooling is needed, such as lamp housings and cooling installations.
good for fast heating such as waffle irons, etc. …
has a smooth and clean surface
easily polished or painted or anodized
good to cast thin pieces
good to cast complex shapes
good for out door use ( not like zink/zamak f.e. )
sea / salt resistant ( depends on the alloy )
   
 
ALUMINUM ALLOYS
 
EN AC-46000
GD-AlSi9Cu3
EN AC-44300
GD-AlSi12
EN AC-43400
GD-AlSi10Mg
EN AC-51200
GD-AlMg9
 
min
max
min
max
min
max
min
max
Si 8 11 10,5 13,5 9 11 1,5 2,5
Cu 2 3,5 --- 0,1 --- 0,1 --- 0,05
Mn 0,1 0,5 0,001 0,4 0,001 0,4 0,2 0,5
Mg 0,1 0,5 --- 0,05 0,4 0,5 9 10
Fe 0,7 1,2 0,7 1 0,7 1 0,7 1
Ni --- 0,3 --- --- --- --- --- ---
Pb --- 0,2 --- --- --- --- --- ---
Sn --- 0,1 --- --- --- --- --- ---
Ti --- 0,15 --- 0,15 --- 0,15 --- 0,15
Zn --- 1,2 --- 0,1 --- 0,1 --- 0,1
Al --- rest --- rest --- rest --- rest
Others <0,05 <0,15 <0,05 <0,15 <0,05 <0,15 <0,05 <0,15
Number 3.2163.05   3.2582.05   3.2382.05   3.3292.05  
0,2-Limit 140 - 240 N/mm2 140 - 180 N/mm2 140 - 200 N/mm2 140 - 220 N/mm2
Firmness 240 - 310 RN/mm2 220 - 280 RN/mm2 220 - 300 RN/mm2 200 - 300 RN/mm2
Elasticity 0,5 - 3 A5% 1 - 3 A5% 1 - 3 A5% 1 - 5 A5%
Hardness 80 - 120 HB 5/250 60 - 100 HB 5/250 70 - 100 HB 5/250 70 - 100 HB 5/250
Density 2,75 kg/dm3 2,65 kg/dm3 2,65 kg/dm3 2,6 kg/dm3

 

PEWTER
 
  the main benefits of tin/pewter are :  
  non corrosive
.almost no oxidizing ( even less then silver )
easily polished in a sliver, satin or antique finish.
.it bends rather then braking ( as most other metals do )
food appropriate ( it is used in various medicines )
.....( the insides of food cans are always covered with thin )
taste free ( good for food and drink ware f.e. )
.it can be casted on a high pressure die casting machine , as centrifugally casted
.....( this makes it easy to produce high as low volumes )
excellent for out door use
good to cast thin pieces
excellent to cast complex shapes
extreme smooth and clean surface
highly electrical conducting
very environmental metal ( 100 % recyclable )
     
  the main sectors for tin/pewter are :  
    food sector ( aluminum "tin plated" food cans )
giftware , table ware & deco rational
.medical sector ( medicine & equipment )
trophies & promotional items
designer items
.jewelry
....
.
     
 
PEWTER ALLOY
Name Sn Cu Sb
Pewter contains 97% 2% 1%
Atomic Number 50 29 51
Atomic Mass 118.71 amu 63.546 amu 121.76 amu
Melting Point 231.9 °C 1083.0 °C 630.0 °C
Boiling Point 2270.0 °C 2567.0 °C 1750.0 °C
Number of Protons/Electrons 50 29 51
Number of Neutrons 69 35 71
Crystal Structure Tetragonal Cubic Rhombohedral
Density @ 293 K 7.31 g/cm 3 8.96 g/cm 3 6.684 g/cm 3
Color white red/orange bluish

 

ZINK / ZAMAK
     
 

the main concerns about zamak are :

........................................low melting point
........................................rather corrosive
........................................low physical tolerance ( brakes easily)
............................. ..........toxic

     
 
ZINK / ZAMAK ALLOYS
  ZAMAK 2 ZAMAK 3 ZAMAK 5 ZAMAK 7 ZAMAK 8 ZAMAK 12 ZAMAK 27

 

Al 3.5- 4.3 3.5- 4.3 3.5- 4.3 3.5- 4.3 8.0- 8.8 10.5-11.5 25.0-28.0 %
Mg  .020-.050  .020-.05  .03- .08  .005-.020  .015-.030  .015-.030  .010-.020

%

Cu  2.5- 3.0 .25 max 9  .75-1.25  .25 max .8- 1.3  0.5- 1.2 2.0- 2.5 %
Fe (max)   .10  .10 .10  .075  .075  .075  .075 %
Pb (max)  .005  .005  .005  .003  .006  .006  .006 %
Cd (max)  .004  .004  .004  .002  .006   .006  .006 %
Sn (max)  .003 .003  .003  .001  .003  .003  .003 %
Ni (other)x 10 - - -  .005-.020 - - - %
Zn Bal. Bal. Bal. Bal. Bal. Bal. Bal. %
Mechanical               ..
U.Tensile Strength 52 (359) 41 (283) 48 (328) 41 (283) 54 (374) 58 (400) 61  (421) psi x 10.3(MPa)
Yield Strength 41 (283) 32 (221) 39 (269) 32 (221) 42 (290) 46 (317) 55  (379) psi x 10.3(MPa)
Elongation 7 10 7 13 6/okt 4/jul 1/mrt % in 2"
Shear Strength 46 (317) 31 (214) 38 (262) 31 (214) 40 (275) 43 (296) 47  (325) psi x 10.3(MPa)
Hardness 100 82 91 80 95-110 95-115 105-125 Brinell
Impact Strength 35² (48) 43² (58) 48² (65) 43² (58) 31³ (42) 21³ (29) 9³ (5) ft-lb (J)
Fatigue Strength 8.5 (59) 6.9 (48) 8.2 (57) 6.8 (47) 15 (103) 17 (117) 21  (145) psi x 10 3 (MPa)
Compressive Yield Strength 93 4 (641) 60 4 (414) 87 4 (600) 60 4 (414) 37 (252) 39 (269) 52  (385) psi x 10.3(MPa)
Modulus of Elasticity 12.4 6 (85.5) 12.4 6 (85.5) 12.4 6 (85.5) 12.4 6 (85.5) - - - psi x 10.6 (MPax10.3)
Poisson's Ratio 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.29 0.30 0.32  
Physical                
Density .24 (6.6) .24 (6.6) .24 (6.6) .24 (6.6) .227 (6.3) .218 (6.0) .181 (5.0) lb/cu in(g/cm 3 )
Melting Range 379-390) 381-387 380-386 381-387 375-404 377-432 376-484 °C)
Electr.Cond. 25 27 26 27 27.7 28.3 29.7 %IACS
Thermal Cond. 60.5 65.3 62.9 65.3 66.3 67.1 72.5  BTU/ft/hr/°F
Thermal Exp. 15.4 (27.8) 15.2 (27.4) 15.2 (27.4) 15.2 (27.4) 12.9 (23.3) 13.4 (24.2) 14.4 (26.0) 68-212°F µin/in/°F
Specific Heat 10.419 10.419 10.419 10.419 .104 (435) .107 (448) .125 (534) BTU/lb/°F
Die Shrinkage .007 .007 .007 .007 .007 .0075 .008 in/in
Zamak 2
This alloy offers the highest strength and hardness of the ZAMAK family. However, its high copper content (3%) results in property changes upon long term aging. These changes include slight dimensional growth (0.0014 in/in/after 20 yrs.)
Zamak 3
This alloy is usually the first choice when considering zinc for die casting. Ithas a good balance of desirable physical and mechanical properties, good castability and long-term dimensional stability. It offers fair finishing characteristics for surface treatments.
Zamak 5
This alloy has castings which are marginally stronger and harder than No. 3. However, these improvements are tempered with a reduction in ductility which can affect formability during secondary bending, riveting, swaging or crimping operations.
Zamak 7
This alloy has a lower magnesium content in order to increase the fluidity. To avoid problems with inter-granular corrosion lower levels of impurities are called for and a small quantity of nickel is specified. The alloy is good for casting thin walled pieces. Close attention to control of the die casting process parameters is important to eliminate defects.
Zamak 8

This is a good gravity casting alloy. It can be casted in a hot chamber die cast, with improved strength, hardness and creep properties over Zamak's, with the exception of a No. 2 alloy which is very similar in performance. ZA-8 is readily plated and finished using standard procedures for Zamak. When the performance of standard No. 3 or No. 5 is in question, ZA-8 is often the die casting choice because of high strength and creep properties and efficient hot chamber castability.

Zamak12
This is the most versatile zinc alloy in terms of combining high performance properties and ease of fabrication using either gravity or pressure die casting. ZA-12 is the best gravity casting alloy for sand, permanent mold and the new graphite mold casting process. It is also a good pressure die casting alloy (cold chamber) which provides a sounder structure than ZA-27, as well as higher die cast elongation and impact properties. For these reasons, die cast ZA-12 often competes with ZA-27 for strength application. An excellent bearing alloy, ZA-12 is also platable.
Zamak 27
This is the high strength performer of the zinc alloys whether for gravity or pressure die casting (cold chamber). It is also the lightest alloy and offers excellent bearing and wear resistance properties. ZA-27, however, requires care during melting and casting to assure sound internal structure, particularly for heavy wall sections. It may also need a stabilization heat treatment when tight dimensional tolerances are required. ZA-27 is not recommended for plating. However, when brute strength or wear resistant properties are needed, ZA-27 has demonstrated extraordinary performance.