Which Die Casting Alloy Fits Your Part?
The aluminum workhorses
A380 and ADC12 dominate aluminum die casting: good castability, solid mechanical properties and wide availability. Differences are subtle — ADC12 is the Japanese-spec counterpart with slightly higher silicon, aiding flow in thin walls; A380 is the common North American choice.
For parts needing higher ductility or corrosion resistance, A360 and A413 trade some castability for those properties.
When zinc wins
Zinc alloys (e.g. Zamak 3/5) cast at lower temperatures, achieve tighter detail and as-cast finish, and plate beautifully — ideal for small decorative or precision parts. Their higher density and material cost cap them where weight or volume cost dominates.
Thin walls, sharp detail, plating required? Zinc. Large structural housings? Aluminum.
Decide with the whole lifecycle
Machining allowance, finishing method (powder coat, e-coat, plating), leak-test requirements and scrap behaviour all differ by alloy. Ask your caster to run the trade study on your actual part geometry rather than a datasheet comparison.
FAQ
Is ADC12 equivalent to A380?
They are close Japanese and North American counterparts; ADC12 typically carries slightly higher silicon. Confirm chemistry with your supplier for critical parts.
Which alloy for thin-wall parts?
Higher-silicon aluminum grades flow well in thin sections; zinc excels for very thin, detailed small parts.
Why choose zinc over aluminum?
Tighter as-cast detail, superior plating, lower casting temperature — offset by higher density and material cost.
Can alloys be substituted mid-program?
Not casually — thermal behaviour, porosity and machining response change; revalidate the part before switching.
All figures above refer to standard product data sheets; final confirmation is subject to written quotation.