Zinc Alloy Die Casting with 0.2mm Thick Developed in Japan

Japan Die Casting Association succeeded in development of zinc alloy die casting as thin as 0.2 millimeters for the first time in the world. Zinc alloy die casting may become able to be used for new applications such as a body of mobile machines by making die casting thinner and lighter.The association started the development of zinc alloy die casting as thin as less than 0.5 mm in 2003 and realized die casting with 0.4 mm of thickness, 100 mm of length and 70 mm of width. Zinc alloy die casting is generally as thick as 0.5 mm. To make die casting of 0.2 mm thickness, there was a problem that melting alloy solidifies in a casting machine when a mold is filled at only 60-70%.The association applied mold releasing lubricant in order to fill the mold with melting alloy fully. The lubricant was not diluted and put on a mold, while which is generally diluted to 500 times thinner before the usage.With 0.2 mm thickness, zinc alloy die casting shows less specific strength than aluminium alloy die casting which accounts for 95% in total die casting alloy demand. The association tries to improve tensile strength of zinc alloy die casting with 0.2 mm thickness to 500 megapascal from current 350 megapascal by addition of more aluminium and copper into the alloy. The association targets commercial adoption of thin zinc alloy die casting within 2007.Zinc alloy die casting was used as much as 70,000 tonnes per year in 1970s mainly for automobiles. In recent years the market almost halved when aluminium alloy die casting is more used with advantage of lightness.