Zinc Alloy
Zinc alloy is a metal combining zinc and other elements during the manufacturing process and is widely used for a variety of industrial, commercial and consumer purposes. The alloy exhibits superior corrosion resistance, low levels of electrical and thermal conductivity and allows for easy casting, machining and shaping. Properties vary widely depending on the components used in forming the alloy, with zinc blend formed from zinc, copper and tin alloys being the most popular.
Zinc alloys are particularly important for their malleability, an attribute that allows parts to be easily formed and ensures that products are robust and reliable. This malleability also means that components comprising zinc alloys can be used in high temperature and other harsh environments. Increasingly, zinc alloys are being used in commercial and consumer electronics applications due to their high melting point, corrosion resistance and malleability.
Zinc alloys are gaining in popularity due to their suitability for preparing items that require multiple components. For example, alloys are used to weld pieces in ships, aircraft and automotive designs, as well as for casting items such as door knobs, hand rails, sign posts and ornamental detailing.
A zinc alloy can contain a variety of elements, with the most common being aluminum, nickel, copper,, brass and magnesium. The combination of elements affects the strength and flexibility of the alloy, and formulators carefully adjust those levels to optimize the performance of the product.
Designers must understand the properties of different zinc alloys and determine which is best suited to the task at hand. When more strength is desired, zinc-aluminum alloys are generally used, while zinc-magnesium alloys are more suitable for product versatility. Zinc-copper alloys boast a hardness not generally associated with pure zinc, while zinc-nickel alloys have excellent formability and corrosion resistance.
Zinc alloy is often used in conjunction with other materials. For example, alloys are used in automobile transmissions for their high strength and corrosion resistance combined with low weight and cost. They are also used in home building products to provide mechanisms that resist corrosion from outside elements and human touch.
As the cost of zinc alloy and other metals increase, many parts manufacturers are beginning to experiment with alternatives, such as composites or plastic, for some parts. While these materials often offer the same design flexibility and weight reduction of zinc, they do not offer the same levels of strength and corrosion resistance.
For this reason, zinc alloys remain a popular choice for many everyday products. Zinc alloys are relatively inexpensive, are easily worked and have a range of properties that make them a great choice for a variety of applications.
