How is Zinc die-casting different from Aluminum die-casting in the lighting industry?

Casting is the process of melting various metals at high temperatures and cooling them in a casting mold to create parts that have excellent dimensions and high stability, it is widely used in industries that require more complex components, such as lightings and automobiles, to improve overall production efficiency and quality of the components;  this is a very common production technique in modern manufacturing industry.  Among them, zinc alloy and aluminum alloy are common metal raw materials in the casting process, what is the difference between zinc alloy and aluminum alloy? Which one is more suitable for the lighting industry? This article will compare the differences between the two and help you find the right raw material.

Die casting is the manufacturing process versatile for producing engineered parts with complex shapes by pouring or forcing molten metal under high pressure into reusable steel molds. With its advantage of shaping excellent dimensions and high stability, die-casting is widely used in various industries for overall production efficiency and quality of the components, such as lighting and automobiles. 

Among non-ferrous metal alloys used as die casting alloys, zinc alloy and aluminum alloy are common metal raw materials in the casting process, what is the difference between zinc alloy and aluminum alloy? Which one is more suitable for the lighting industry? This article will compare the differences between the two and help you find the right raw material.

WHAT IS ALUMINUM ALLOY?

Aluminum has the characteristics of lightweight, high-temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, electrical and thermal conductivity, etc. In addition, aluminum alloys are easy to adjust with different metals, such as magnesium, copper, and other different metal materials. And because of requiring little post-machining for finished goods, the aluminum die-casting method is also economically feasible in multiple manufacturing industries. Aluminum alloy is the most common raw material used in the modern casting process.

WHAT IS ZINC ALLOY?

Zinc also has good thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, corrosion-resistant and other characteristics, it consists of a greater hardness than aluminum and is more robust. Due to its excellent casting fluidity and strength, the finished product of zinc alloy components is incredibly strong, hardness and accurate dimensions as well as other advantages. Although the zinc die casting production cost is slightly higher than the aluminum die casting, but for the high complexity of small compositions, and parts that must be thin-walled, zinc alloy also has its irreplaceable advantages, its finished product is more resilient than aluminum alloy with a finer exterior.

Zinc alloy has high strength and hardness, excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, high dimensional accuracy, and stability. In addition, due to the structural integrity, it is perfect for casting to create the multi-faceted, highly complex shapes of products . Although the zinc die casting production cost is slightly higher than the aluminum die casting, zinc alloy still has its irreplaceable advantages because its finished product is more resilient than aluminum alloy with a finer exterior. Hence, Zinc alloys is most suitable for the industrial parts with high complexity and  thin-walled.

ZINC ALLOY VS ALUMINUM ALLOY, WHICH ONE IS THE MORE SUITABLE AS THE RAW MATERIAL FOR THE LIGHTING INDUSTRY?

Parts made with die-casting raw materials will have different applications due to the physical properties of the metal itself, and the following is a comparison of the differences between zinc alloy and aluminum alloy:

Raw materials Zinc alloy Aluminium alloy
Common Advantage ● Corrosion-resistant
● High-temperature resistant
● Thermally conductive
● Electrically conductive
● 100% Recyclable
Main Difference High Density、Great Strength、Incredible hardness Light-weight、corrosion resistance
Suitable components Small components with higher demand of post-treatment Considerably light-weight components
Cost Relatively high Relatively low

The demand for lighting parts can vary according to their applied fields, such as outdoor/ indoor, and commercial / home. And choosing the appropriate raw material will not only benefit the manufacturing costs, but also improve the quality of lighting parts, and ensure a stable supply. If you have any needs for casting parts for luminaires, please contact TEAMSWORLD to provide you with the most suitable solution.

TEAMSWORLD, A MATERIAL-SELECTION EXPERT FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF ZINC ALLOY, ALUMINUM ALLOY

Are you looking for suitable raw materials for the lighting fixtures? TEAMSWORLD is your trusted partner of zinc alloy casting parts from Taiwan! With 30 years of experience in casting service for the lighting industry, TEAMSWORLD strictly controls the material selection, manufacturing process, processing, and assembly. Thus, all products with ISO 9001 certification deliver the value of quality we insist on .TEAMSWORLD can provide appropriate manufacturing solutions according to your needs at a more affordable price and create a more refined supply chain system for you.

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What Are The Different Types of Die Casting Process?

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