spore: profile
id: zinc
spore_version: 0.2
family: zinc-alloys
name: Zinc and zinc alloys
abbreviation: Zn
role: die-casting alloy and corrosion-protective coating
category: metals
type: heavy-metals
summary: |
  Zinc (Zn) is used as the coating that galvanises steel, as rolled titanium-zinc sheet for roofs and façades, and as the base of the zinc alloys Zamak 3, Zamak 5 and ZA-8 that are die cast into parts. The ASTM B86 limits for Zamak 3 give a minimum tensile strength of 283 MPa, and ZA-8 ranges from 221 to 374 MPa. Pure zinc has a density of 7.133 g/cm3 at 25 °C and melts at 419.53 °C.
best_for: Die-cast parts with thin walls, and steel protected by a galvanised zinc coating
weakest_at: Weight (6.3 to 7.2 g/cm3) and post-casting shrinkage in precision die castings
identity:
  formula: 'Zn (element; CAS 7440-66-6). Zamak 3, ASTM B86 AG40A (weight %): Al 3.7 to 4.3, Mg 0.02 to 0.06, Cu 0.1 max, Fe 0.05 max, Pb 0.005 max, Cd 0.004 max, Sn 0.002 max, Zn balance. Zamak 5, ASTM B86 AC41A (weight %): Al 3.7 to 4.3, Cu 0.7 to 1.2, Mg 0.02 to 0.06, Fe 0.05 max, Pb 0.005 max, Cd 0.004 max, Sn 0.002 max, Zn balance. ZA-8, UNS Z35636 (weight %): Al 8.0 to 8.8, Cu 0.8 to 1.3, Mg 0.015 to 0.03, Fe 0.075 max, Pb 0.006 max, Cd 0.006 max, Sn 0.003 max, Zn balance; the ASTM B86 ZA-8 sheet prints Mg 0.01 to 0.03 and the Wikipedia casting column prints 0.015 to 0.03. Rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink, weight %): Zn 99.995 minimum, Cu 0.08 to 0.17, Ti 0.07 to 0.12, Al below 0.015.'
  cas: 7440-66-6
  source: pubchem-zn-synonyms
  where: PubChem record for zinc, CID 23994 (formula Zn, molecular weight 65.4; CAS 7440-66-6 in the synonyms list). Alloy compositions from the ICAST copies of ASTM B86 and UNS sheets (see recipe). Dynacast gives ZA-8 as approximately 8.4 % aluminium.
  designations:
    - system: Name
      code: Zamak 3
      source: icast-b86-ag40a
      where: Cross reference table
    - system: ASTM
      code: B86 AG40A
      source: icast-b86-ag40a
      where: Title line of the sheet
    - system: UNS
      code: Z33521
      note: AG40A ingot
      source: icast-uns-z33521
      where: Title line of the sheet
    - system: ISO
      code: ZP3
      source: icast-b86-ag40a
      where: Cross reference table
    - system: UNI
      code: ZnAl4
      source: icast-b86-ag40a
      where: Cross reference table
    - system: ASTM
      code: B240 Zamak 3
      source: icast-b86-ag40a
      where: Cross reference table
    - system: Name
      code: Zinc Alloy 3
      source: dynacast-zn
      where: Zamak 3 description
    - system: Name
      code: Zamak 5
      source: icast-b86-ac41a
      where: Cross reference table
    - system: ASTM
      code: B86 AC41A
      source: icast-b86-ac41a
      where: Title line of the sheet
    - system: UNS
      code: Z33531
      source: icast-b86-ac41a
      where: Cross reference table
    - system: ISO
      code: ZP5
      source: icast-b86-ac41a
      where: Cross reference table
    - system: ASTM
      code: B240 AC41A
      source: icast-b86-ac41a
      where: Cross reference table
    - system: Name
      code: Zinc Alloy 5
      source: dynacast-zn
      where: Zamak 5 description
    - system: Name
      code: ZA-8
      source: icast-b86-za8
      where: Cross reference table (ANSI/AA)
    - system: ASTM
      code: B86 ZA-8
      source: icast-b86-za8
      where: Title line of the sheet
    - system: UNS
      code: Z35636
      source: icast-uns-z35636
      where: Title line of the sheet
    - system: UNS
      code: Z35638
      note: also printed
      source: icast-uns-z35636
      where: Cross reference table
    - system: ISO
      code: ZP8
      source: icast-b86-za8
      where: Cross reference table
    - system: ISO
      code: ZP0810
      source: icast-b86-za8
      where: Cross reference table
    - system: EN
      code: '988'
      source: nedzink-ti-zinc
      where: Introduction paragraph (EN 988 and ASTM B69)
    - system: ASTM
      code: B69
      source: nedzink-ti-zinc
      where: Introduction paragraph
    - system: EN
      code: '1179'
      note: Z1 grade
      source: nedzink-ti-zinc
      where: Introduction paragraph (Z1 in accordance with EN 1179)
    - system: Trade name
      code: NedZink titanium zinc
      source: nedzink-ti-zinc
      where: Page title
    - system: Name
      code: Special High Grade
      note: SHG zinc
      source: usgs-mcs2026-zinc
      where: Events, Trends, and Issues (LME price)
tags:
  environments: []
  stresses: []
  applications:
    - batteries
    - structures
    - mechanisms
    - thermal-control
    - electronics-and-chips
properties:
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, pure zinc (element)
    value: 7.133
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: pure zinc (element)
      condition: form not stated in the PubChem record
      temperature: 25 °C
      unit_in_source: g/cu cm
    method: Value printed in the Density section of the PubChem record for zinc (CID 23994)
    status: ground
    source: pubchem-zn-density
    where: Density section, entry 7.133 g/cu cm at 25 °C
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting point, pure zinc (element)
    value: 419.53
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: pure zinc (element)
      condition: form not stated in the PubChem record
      unit_in_source: 419.53 °C
    method: Value printed in the Melting Point section of the PubChem record for zinc (CID 23994)
    status: ground
    source: pubchem-zn-melting
    where: Melting Point section, entry 419.53 °C
  - benchmark: boiling_point
    label: Boiling point, pure zinc (element)
    value: 907
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: pure zinc (element)
      condition: at 760 mm Hg
      unit_in_source: 907 °C @760 [mm Hg]
    method: Value printed in the Boiling Point section of the PubChem record for zinc (CID 23994)
    status: ground
    source: pubchem-zn-boiling
    where: Boiling Point section, entry 907 °C @760 mm Hg
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink)
    value: 7.2
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink; Zn 99.995 % base with small Cu, Ti and Al additions)
      condition: rolled sheet, manufacturer's physical property table
      unit_in_source: g/cm3
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the NedZink technical specification (English page)
    status: ground
    source: nedzink-ti-zinc
    where: Physical properties table, row Density
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting point, rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink)
    value: 420
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink; Zn 99.995 % base with small Cu, Ti and Al additions)
      condition: rolled sheet, manufacturer's physical property table
      unit_in_source: °C
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the NedZink technical specification (English page)
    status: ground
    source: nedzink-ti-zinc
    where: Physical properties table, row Melting point
  - benchmark: recrystallisation_temperature
    label: Recrystallisation temperature, rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink)
    value: 300
    bound: lower
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink; Zn 99.995 % base with small Cu, Ti and Al additions)
      condition: rolled sheet
      reading: printed as a lower limit, '> 300 °C'
    method: Lower limit printed in the physical properties table of the NedZink technical specification
    status: ground
    note: Custom benchmark name, not in property-canon.yaml; printed as a lower limit only.
    source: nedzink-ti-zinc
    where: Physical properties table, row Recrystallisation temperature
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Linear expansion coefficient, rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink)
    value: 0.022
    unit: mm/(mK)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink; Zn 99.995 % base with small Cu, Ti and Al additions)
      condition: rolled sheet
      unit_in_source: mm/(mK)
      equivalent: 22 ppm/K
    method: Value printed as 0.022 mm/(mK), that is millimetres per metre per kelvin; the importer converts it to ppm/K (0.022 mm/(m·K) equals 22 ppm/K)
    status: ground
    source: nedzink-ti-zinc
    where: Physical properties table, row Linear expansion coefficient
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength Rp0.2, rolled titanium-zinc (product minimum)
    value: 110
    bound: lower
    unit: N/mm2
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink; Zn 99.995 % base with small Cu, Ti and Al additions)
      condition: rolled sheet; product requirement (minimum)
      test: Rp 0,2 (yield strength)
      unit_in_source: N/mm2
    method: Minimum product requirement printed in the mechanical and technological properties table of the NedZink specification
    status: ground
    note: A minimum product requirement, not a typical test result.
    source: nedzink-ti-zinc
    where: Mechanical and technological properties table, row Yield strength (Rp 0,2)
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength Rm, rolled titanium-zinc (product minimum)
    value: 150
    bound: lower
    unit: N/mm2
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink; Zn 99.995 % base with small Cu, Ti and Al additions)
      condition: rolled sheet; product requirement (minimum)
      test: tensile strength Rm
      unit_in_source: N/mm2
    method: Minimum product requirement printed in the mechanical and technological properties table of the NedZink specification
    status: ground
    note: A minimum product requirement, not a typical test result.
    source: nedzink-ti-zinc
    where: Mechanical and technological properties table, row Tensile strength (Rm)
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation A50, rolled titanium-zinc (product minimum)
    value: 40
    bound: lower
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink; Zn 99.995 % base with small Cu, Ti and Al additions)
      condition: rolled sheet; product requirement (minimum)
      test: elongation A50
    method: Minimum product requirement printed in the mechanical and technological properties table of the NedZink specification
    status: ground
    note: A minimum product requirement; the Vickers hardness row prints 'min. 40%' with no clear unit and is not recorded.
    source: nedzink-ti-zinc
    where: Mechanical and technological properties table, row Elongation (A50)
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength minimum, Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 AG40A)
    value: 283
    bound: lower
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 AG40A; ZP3; UNS Z33521)
      condition: as-cast or aging (heat-treatment column of the sheet)
      unit_in_source: Mpa
    method: Minimum limit printed in the mechanical properties block of the ICAST copy of ASTM B86 AG40A; not a typical test value
    status: ground
    note: The ICAST UNS Z33521 sheet prints 280 MPa minimum for the same grade; the two ICAST sheets are not identical and this record uses the ASTM B86 AG40A sheet.
    source: icast-b86-ag40a
    where: Mechanical properties block, Tensile Strength in Mpa 283 min.
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength minimum, Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 AG40A)
    value: 221
    bound: lower
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 AG40A; ZP3; UNS Z33521)
      condition: as-cast or aging (heat-treatment column of the sheet)
      unit_in_source: Mpa
    method: Minimum limit printed in the mechanical properties block of the ICAST copy of ASTM B86 AG40A; not a typical test value
    status: ground
    note: The ICAST UNS Z33521 sheet prints 200 MPa minimum for the same grade.
    source: icast-b86-ag40a
    where: Mechanical properties block, Yield Strength in Mpa 221 min.
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation minimum, Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 AG40A)
    value: 10
    bound: lower
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 AG40A; ZP3; UNS Z33521)
      condition: as-cast or aging (heat-treatment column of the sheet)
    method: Minimum limit printed in the mechanical properties block of the ICAST copy of ASTM B86 AG40A; not a typical test value
    status: ground
    source: icast-b86-ag40a
    where: Mechanical properties block, Elongation in % 10 min.
  - benchmark: brinell_hardness
    label: Hardness minimum, Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 AG40A)
    value: 82
    bound: lower
    unit: HB
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 AG40A; ZP3; UNS Z33521)
      condition: as-cast or aging (heat-treatment column of the sheet)
    method: Minimum limit printed in the mechanical properties block of the ICAST copy of ASTM B86 AG40A; not a typical test value
    status: ground
    note: Custom benchmark name, not in property-canon.yaml. The ICAST UNS Z33521 sheet prints 83 HB minimum.
    source: icast-b86-ag40a
    where: Mechanical properties block, Hardness in HB 82 min.
  - benchmark: density
    label: Specific gravity, Zamak 3 (ZP3), zero porosity
    value: 6.6
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 3 (ZP3)
      condition: die-cast alloy, zero porosity
      temperature: 21 °C
      unit_in_source: specific gravity (no unit printed)
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Specific Gravity at 21°C (zero porosity), column ZP3
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Thermal expansion, Zamak 3 (ZP3)
    value: 27
    unit: µm/m/°C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 3 (ZP3)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      temperature: 20 to 100 °C
      unit_in_source: µm/m/°C
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Thermal Expansion at 20-100 °C, column ZP3
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity, Zamak 3 (ZP3)
    value: 113
    unit: W/(m·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 3 (ZP3)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      temperature: 70 to 140 °C
      unit_in_source: W m-1 °C-1
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Thermal Conductivity at 70-140 °C, column ZP3
  - benchmark: specific_heat
    label: Specific heat capacity, Zamak 3 (ZP3)
    value: 418.7
    unit: J/(kg·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 3 (ZP3)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      temperature: 20 to 100 °C
      unit_in_source: J/kg/°C
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Specific Heat Capacity at 20-100 °C, column ZP3
  - benchmark: electrical_conductivity
    label: Electrical conductivity, Zamak 3 (ZP3)
    value: 27
    unit: '% IACS'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 3 (ZP3)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      temperature: not stated
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    note: Custom benchmark name, not in property-canon.yaml.
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Electrical Conductivity % IACS, column ZP3
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting temperature range, Zamak 3 (ZP3)
    value: 381
    value_high: 387
    bound: range
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 3 (ZP3)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      reading: melting temperature range, solidus to liquidus
    method: Range printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Melting Temperature Range, column ZP3
  - benchmark: post_casting_contraction
    label: Post-casting contraction, Zamak 3, 5 weeks after stabilisation
    value: 0.02
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 3 (ZP3)
      condition: 'aged: stabilised (3 to 6 h at 100 °C, or 5 to 10 h at 85 °C, or 10 to 20 h at 70 °C), then measured after 5 weeks'
      reading: contraction as stabilised
    method: Contraction printed in the Dimensional Stability As Stabilised table of the International Zinc Association guide
    status: ground
    note: Custom benchmark name, not in property-canon.yaml. Shows the aged (stabilised) condition.
    source: iza-physical
    where: Dimensional Stability As Stabilised table, row 5 weeks, column ZP3
  - benchmark: post_casting_contraction
    label: Post-casting contraction, Zamak 3, 2 years after stabilisation
    value: 0.03
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 3 (ZP3)
      condition: 'aged: stabilised (3 to 6 h at 100 °C, or 5 to 10 h at 85 °C, or 10 to 20 h at 70 °C), then measured after 2 years'
      reading: contraction as stabilised
    method: Contraction printed in the Dimensional Stability As Stabilised table of the International Zinc Association guide
    status: ground
    note: Custom benchmark name, not in property-canon.yaml. Shows the aged (stabilised) condition.
    source: iza-physical
    where: Dimensional Stability As Stabilised table, row 2 Years, column ZP3
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength minimum, Zamak 5 (ASTM B86 AC41A)
    value: 328
    bound: lower
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 5 (ASTM B86 AC41A; ZP5; UNS Z33531 as printed)
      condition: as-cast or aging (heat-treatment column of the sheet)
      unit_in_source: Mpa
    method: Minimum limit printed in the mechanical properties block of the ICAST copy of ASTM B86 AC41A; not a typical test value
    status: ground
    source: icast-b86-ac41a
    where: Mechanical properties block, Tensile Strength in Mpa 328 min.
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength minimum, Zamak 5 (ASTM B86 AC41A)
    value: 228
    bound: lower
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 5 (ASTM B86 AC41A; ZP5; UNS Z33531 as printed)
      condition: as-cast or aging (heat-treatment column of the sheet)
      unit_in_source: Mpa
    method: Minimum limit printed in the mechanical properties block of the ICAST copy of ASTM B86 AC41A; not a typical test value
    status: ground
    source: icast-b86-ac41a
    where: Mechanical properties block, Yield Strength in Mpa 228 min.
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation minimum, Zamak 5 (ASTM B86 AC41A)
    value: 7
    bound: lower
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 5 (ASTM B86 AC41A; ZP5; UNS Z33531 as printed)
      condition: as-cast or aging (heat-treatment column of the sheet)
    method: Minimum limit printed in the mechanical properties block of the ICAST copy of ASTM B86 AC41A; not a typical test value
    status: ground
    source: icast-b86-ac41a
    where: Mechanical properties block, Elongation in % 7 min.
  - benchmark: brinell_hardness
    label: Hardness minimum, Zamak 5 (ASTM B86 AC41A)
    value: 91
    bound: lower
    unit: HB
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 5 (ASTM B86 AC41A; ZP5; UNS Z33531 as printed)
      condition: as-cast or aging (heat-treatment column of the sheet)
    method: Minimum limit printed in the mechanical properties block of the ICAST copy of ASTM B86 AC41A; not a typical test value
    status: ground
    note: Custom benchmark name, not in property-canon.yaml.
    source: icast-b86-ac41a
    where: Mechanical properties block, Hardness in HB 91 min.
  - benchmark: density
    label: Specific gravity, Zamak 5 (ZP5), zero porosity
    value: 6.76
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 5 (ZP5)
      condition: die-cast alloy, zero porosity
      temperature: 21 °C
      unit_in_source: specific gravity (no unit printed)
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Specific Gravity at 21°C (zero porosity), column ZP5
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Thermal expansion, Zamak 5 (ZP5)
    value: 27.2
    unit: µm/m/°C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 5 (ZP5)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      temperature: 20 to 100 °C
      unit_in_source: µm/m/°C
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Thermal Expansion at 20-100 °C, column ZP5
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity, Zamak 5 (ZP5)
    value: 108.9
    unit: W/(m·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 5 (ZP5)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      temperature: 70 to 140 °C
      unit_in_source: W m-1 °C-1
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Thermal Conductivity at 70-140 °C, column ZP5
  - benchmark: specific_heat
    label: Specific heat capacity, Zamak 5 (ZP5)
    value: 418.7
    unit: J/(kg·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 5 (ZP5)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      temperature: 20 to 100 °C
      unit_in_source: J/kg/°C
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Specific Heat Capacity at 20-100 °C, column ZP5
  - benchmark: electrical_conductivity
    label: Electrical conductivity, Zamak 5 (ZP5)
    value: 27.2
    unit: '% IACS'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 5 (ZP5)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      temperature: not stated
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    note: Custom benchmark name, not in property-canon.yaml.
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Electrical Conductivity % IACS, column ZP5
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting temperature range, Zamak 5 (ZP5)
    value: 380
    value_high: 386
    bound: range
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 5 (ZP5)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      reading: melting temperature range, solidus to liquidus
    method: Range printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Melting Temperature Range, column ZP5
  - benchmark: post_casting_contraction
    label: Post-casting contraction, Zamak 5, 5 weeks after stabilisation
    value: 0.021
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 5 (ZP5)
      condition: 'aged: stabilised (3 to 6 h at 100 °C, or 5 to 10 h at 85 °C, or 10 to 20 h at 70 °C), then measured after 5 weeks'
      reading: contraction as stabilised
    method: Contraction printed in the Dimensional Stability As Stabilised table of the International Zinc Association guide
    status: ground
    note: Custom benchmark name, not in property-canon.yaml. Shows the aged (stabilised) condition.
    source: iza-physical
    where: Dimensional Stability As Stabilised table, row 5 weeks, column ZP5
  - benchmark: post_casting_contraction
    label: Post-casting contraction, Zamak 5, 2 years after stabilisation
    value: 0.037
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: Zamak 5 (ZP5)
      condition: 'aged: stabilised (3 to 6 h at 100 °C, or 5 to 10 h at 85 °C, or 10 to 20 h at 70 °C), then measured after 2 years'
      reading: contraction as stabilised
    method: Contraction printed in the Dimensional Stability As Stabilised table of the International Zinc Association guide
    status: ground
    note: Custom benchmark name, not in property-canon.yaml. Shows the aged (stabilised) condition.
    source: iza-physical
    where: Dimensional Stability As Stabilised table, row 2 Years, column ZP5
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength range, ZA-8 (ASTM B86 ZA-8)
    value: 221
    value_high: 374
    bound: range
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: ZA-8 (ASTM B86 ZA-8; UNS Z35636; ZP8)
      condition: as-cast or aging (heat-treatment column of the sheet)
      unit_in_source: Mpa
    method: Range printed in the mechanical properties block of the ICAST copy of ASTM B86 ZA-8; not a typical test value
    status: ground
    note: The ICAST UNS Z35636 sheet prints the same mechanical ranges.
    source: icast-b86-za8
    where: Mechanical properties block, Tensile Strength in Mpa 221 - 374
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength range, ZA-8 (ASTM B86 ZA-8)
    value: 198
    value_high: 290
    bound: range
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: ZA-8 (ASTM B86 ZA-8; UNS Z35636; ZP8)
      condition: as-cast or aging (heat-treatment column of the sheet)
      unit_in_source: Mpa
    method: Range printed in the mechanical properties block of the ICAST copy of ASTM B86 ZA-8; not a typical test value
    status: ground
    source: icast-b86-za8
    where: Mechanical properties block, Yield Strength in Mpa 198 - 290
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation range, ZA-8 (ASTM B86 ZA-8)
    value: 1
    value_high: 10
    bound: range
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: ZA-8 (ASTM B86 ZA-8; UNS Z35636; ZP8)
      condition: as-cast or aging (heat-treatment column of the sheet)
    method: Range printed in the mechanical properties block of the ICAST copy of ASTM B86 ZA-8; not a typical test value
    status: ground
    source: icast-b86-za8
    where: Mechanical properties block, Elongation in % 1 - 10
  - benchmark: brinell_hardness
    label: Hardness range, ZA-8 (ASTM B86 ZA-8)
    value: 85
    value_high: 103
    bound: range
    unit: HB
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: ZA-8 (ASTM B86 ZA-8; UNS Z35636; ZP8)
      condition: as-cast or aging (heat-treatment column of the sheet)
    method: Range printed in the mechanical properties block of the ICAST copy of ASTM B86 ZA-8; not a typical test value
    status: ground
    note: Custom benchmark name, not in property-canon.yaml.
    source: icast-b86-za8
    where: Mechanical properties block, Hardness in HB 85 - 103
  - benchmark: density
    label: Specific gravity, ZA-8 (ZP8), zero porosity
    value: 6.3
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: ZA-8 (ZP8)
      condition: die-cast alloy, zero porosity
      temperature: 21 °C
      unit_in_source: specific gravity (no unit printed)
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Specific Gravity at 21°C (zero porosity), column ZP8
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Thermal expansion, ZA-8 (ZP8)
    value: 27.3
    unit: µm/m/°C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: ZA-8 (ZP8)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      temperature: 20 to 100 °C
      unit_in_source: µm/m/°C
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Thermal Expansion at 20-100 °C, column ZP8
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity, ZA-8 (ZP8)
    value: 114.7
    unit: W/(m·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: ZA-8 (ZP8)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      temperature: 70 to 140 °C
      unit_in_source: W m-1 °C-1
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Thermal Conductivity at 70-140 °C, column ZP8
  - benchmark: specific_heat
    label: Specific heat capacity, ZA-8 (ZP8)
    value: 435.4
    unit: J/(kg·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: ZA-8 (ZP8)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      temperature: 20 to 100 °C
      unit_in_source: J/kg/°C
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Specific Heat Capacity at 20-100 °C, column ZP8
  - benchmark: electrical_conductivity
    label: Electrical conductivity, ZA-8 (ZP8)
    value: 27.4
    unit: '% IACS'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: ZA-8 (ZP8)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      temperature: not stated
    method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    note: Custom benchmark name, not in property-canon.yaml.
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Electrical Conductivity % IACS, column ZP8
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting temperature range, ZA-8 (ZP8)
    value: 375
    value_high: 404
    bound: range
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      alloy: ZA-8 (ZP8)
      condition: die-cast alloy
      reading: melting temperature range, solidus to liquidus
    method: Range printed in the physical properties table of the International Zinc Association die-casting alloy guide
    status: ground
    source: iza-physical
    where: Physical Properties table, row Melting Temperature Range, column ZP8
corrosion:
  - environment: Wet storage of galvanised coil, sheet and pack
    headline: Wet, tightly packed galvanised product forms white rust, which is zinc hydroxide.
    effect: Storage stain (usually white rust) is zinc hydroxide, which forms when zinc is in contact with moisture. It does not convert to the protective carbonate film, because wet packs starve the surface of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The extent depends on the time wet, the temperature and chloride-containing salts. When white rust occurs there is an actual loss of zinc coating, although most of it can be removed with no significant long-term damage to the coating.
    rating: moderate
    conditions:
      exposure: wet packs, coils or tubes in storage or transport
      accelerants: moisture; chloride-containing salts
      basis: qualitative statements, no measured rate
    source: steel-wet-storage
    where: Introduction and extent-of-damage paragraphs; GalvInfoNote 3.2 section on storage stain
  - environment: Open air, non-marine (galvanised steel and zinc surfaces)
    headline: In open air a zinc carbonate film forms during drying and slows further corrosion.
    effect: Zinc reacts with oxygen to a thin oxide, then with water to zinc hydroxide, and over time with carbon dioxide to zinc carbonate, the tenacious film that protects the surface. That film forms only when the surface dries between wet spells. GalvInfoNote 3.2 puts the corrosion rate of a zinc coating at anywhere from 10 to 100 times slower than bare steel.
    rating: low
    conditions:
      basis: mechanism and a relative rate (10 to 100 times slower than bare steel); no corrosion rate in micrometres per year
      environment_note: atmosphere with wet-dry cycles
    source: galv-3-2
    where: Why Does Zinc Protect Steel? section, and the paragraph comparing the coating rate with bare steel (PDF text drops the multiplier sign, read as 'times')
  - environment: Chloride-laden or marine air
    headline: Chloride salts speed white rust and loss of zinc.
    effect: Both sources name chloride-containing salts as accelerating corrosive agents for white rust. The steel.org.au note says zinc has a low atmospheric corrosion rate in non-marine environments only because a continuous passive film forms, so marine exposure is a different case.
    rating: moderate
    conditions:
      basis: qualitative statements, no measured rate
      agent: chloride-containing salts
    source: steel-wet-storage
    where: Introduction paragraph and extent-of-damage paragraph
risks:
  hazards:
    - text: 'ECHA C&L Inventory via PubChem, zinc (CID 23994): 2,624 company reports from 46 notifications. Of these, 2,237 reports give hazard codes, and the percentages below are shares of those 2,237 reports: H250 (26.7 %) catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air; H260 (26.7 %) in contact with water releases flammable gases; H400 (84.9 %) very toxic to aquatic life; H410 (79 %) very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. 387 of the 2,624 reports (14.7 %) say the substance does not meet GHS criteria.'
      ghs:
        - H250
        - H260
        - H400
        - H410
      source: pubchem-zn-ghs
      where: GHS Classification section, aggregated information (Danger and Warning blocks)
    - text: One notification block carries the Warning signal word with H320, causes eye irritation.
      ghs:
        - H320
      source: pubchem-zn-ghs
      where: GHS Classification section, Warning block with H320
    - text: PubChem says the classification varies between notifications with impurities, additives and form (for example powder versus solid), so the form of zinc matters.
      ghs: []
      source: pubchem-zn-ghs
      where: GHS Classification section, note under the aggregated table
  failure_risks:
    - mode: Zinc whiskers shorting electronic circuits
      trigger: Zinc-plated or zinc surfaces in electronic systems, including raised access floor tiles and relays
      consequence: NASA's whisker failure list cites a 1994 rotary-switch failure attributed to zinc whiskers (J. Downs, Metal Finishing), a 2006 private communication on zinc whiskers in relays, and system failures attributed to zinc whiskers from raised access floor tiles in computer servers, routers and power supplies.
      severity: moderate
      source: nepp-whisker
      where: Publicly reported failure references table, zinc entries; computer servers entry
    - mode: White rust removing zinc coating in storage
      trigger: Wet, tightly packed galvanised product in storage or transport
      consequence: An actual loss of zinc coating occurs when white rust forms, and the surface is etched and loses its bright appearance.
      severity: low
      source: galv-3-2
      where: Why is Zinc Susceptible to Storage Stain (White Rust)? section, and the paragraph on surface appearance
    - mode: Post-casting shrinkage of die castings
      trigger: Die castings left at ambient temperature after casting, without stabilisation
      consequence: Post-casting shrinkage continues after casting. The IZA gives contraction after stabilisation of 0.02 % at 5 weeks and 0.03 % at 2 years for Zamak 3; for high-precision parts this may need to be taken into account.
      severity: low
      source: iza-physical
      where: Dimensional Stability and Dimensional Stability As Stabilised sections
  side_effects:
    - text: The hazard codes most often notified are very toxic to aquatic life (H400, 84.9 % of reports giving codes) and very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (H410, 79 % of reports giving codes).
      affects: Waterways and aquatic life near zinc releases
      source: pubchem-zn-ghs
      where: Aggregated GHS information
  handling:
    - text: 'Keep zinc dust and powder dry and away from water. The aggregated PubChem record gives H260: in contact with water releases flammable gases, which may ignite spontaneously.'
      source: pubchem-zn-ghs
      where: Aggregated GHS information, H260 line
    - text: Keep galvanised coil, sheet and tube dry and separated. Open wet packs and let them dry, use dry dunnage, and keep tarpaulins dry so that water stays out of the load.
      source: steel-wet-storage
      where: Prevention and bulk transport paragraphs
    - text: 'Stabilise precision castings: 3 to 6 hours at 100 °C, or 5 to 10 hours at 85 °C, or 10 to 20 hours at 70 °C.'
      source: iza-physical
      where: Dimensional stability section, stabilisation heat treatment paragraph
  mitigations:
    - text: Passivation treatments reduce white rust, but do not prevent it in improper storage. Chromium-based treatments were historically used and are being replaced by silane or trivalent chromium treatments.
      source: steel-wet-storage
      where: Galvanizers always apply... and passivation paragraphs
    - text: The stabilisation heat treatment brings forward shrinkage that would otherwise happen slowly after casting.
      source: iza-physical
      where: Dimensional stability section, paragraph on stabilisation
uses:
  - application: batteries
    device: Silver-zinc battery
    example: Several early NASA spacecraft, including the Apollo command module, used silver-zinc batteries (NASA article, 2016).
    source: nasa-silver-zinc
    where: Article text, paragraph beginning 'Several early NASA spacecraft'
  - application: structures
    device: Galvanised steel for automobile and construction markets
    example: Galvanized steel was the leading use of refined zinc in the United States in 2025, used widely in automobile and construction end markets.
    source: usgs-mcs2026-zinc
    where: Events, Trends, and Issues; Domestic Production and Use
  - application: structures
    device: Rolled titanium-zinc roofs and façades
    example: NedZink lists standing-seam and roll-cap roof systems and standing-seam façades in rolled titanium-zinc, which it describes as extremely weather-resistant and maintenance-free.
    source: nedzink-ti-zinc
    where: Roofs and Façades entries, and the product description paragraph
  - application: mechanisms
    device: Die-cast valve, pump and general-engineering parts (Zamak 3, Zamak 5, ZA-8)
    example: ICAST's ASTM B86 sheets state the intended application as valve, pump, general engineering, automotive and other industries.
    source: icast-b86-ag40a
    where: Application line of the sheet (AC41A and ZA-8 sheets print the same line)
  - application: thermal-control
    device: Heat sinks cast from zinc diecasting alloys
    example: The IZA says zinc diecasting alloys have good conductivity of heat and electricity, which makes them useful for heat sinks, wave-guides and EMI shielding.
    source: iza-physical
    where: Heat Sink Design paragraph
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: EMI shielding and wave-guides from zinc diecastings
    example: The IZA lists EMI shielding and wave-guides among the uses of its zinc diecasting alloys.
    source: iza-physical
    where: Heat Sink Design paragraph
supply:
  - subject: Zinc
    abundance: Identified zinc resources of the world are about 1.9 billion tons; world reserves are 240,000 thousand t (USGS MCS 2026, zinc content)
    producers:
      - country: China
        share_percent: 31.5
        year: 2025
      - country: Peru
        share_percent: 11.5
        year: 2025
      - country: Australia
        share_percent: 8.5
        year: 2025
      - country: India
        share_percent: 6.7
        year: 2025
      - country: Mexico
        share_percent: 6
        year: 2025
    critical_lists:
      - list: 2025 final List of Critical Minerals, zinc listed (IEA reproduction of the USGS list, fetched in this run; the USGS page returned HTTP 403 to curl)
        listed: true
    recycling: 'USGS: refined zinc is recovered from secondary materials at primary and secondary smelters, including galvanizing residues and crude zinc oxide from electric arc furnace dust. Net import reliance for refined zinc was 73 % in 2025 (estimated).'
    substitutes:
      - 'USGS: aluminum and plastics substitute for galvanized sheet in automobiles; aluminum alloys, cadmium, paint and plastic coatings replace zinc coatings in other applications; aluminum- and magnesium-base alloys are major substitutes for zinc-base diecasting alloys.'
    source: usgs-mcs2026-zinc
    where: 'World Mine Production and Reserves table, mine production 2025e in thousand t (zinc content): China 4,100; Peru 1,500; Australia 1,100; India 870; Mexico 780; world total 13,000 (rounded). Shares are calculated by Space Mushroom against that rounded total. Reserves: China 60,000; world 240,000 thousand t. Recycling and Substitutes sections.'
media: []
documents:
  - title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Zinc'
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-zinc.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: 'ICAST data sheet: ASTM B86 AG40A (Zamak 3)'
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.icastllp.com/material_db_pdf/ASTM%20B86%20AG40A.pdf
  - title: 'ICAST data sheet: UNS Z33521 (AG40A ingot)'
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.icastllp.com/material_db_pdf/UNS%20Z33521.pdf
  - title: 'ICAST data sheet: ASTM B86 AC41A (Zamak 5)'
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.icastllp.com/material_db_pdf/ASTM%20B86%20AC41A.pdf
  - title: 'ICAST data sheet: ASTM B86 ZA-8'
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.icastllp.com/material_db_pdf/ASTM%20B86%20ZA-8.pdf
  - title: 'ICAST data sheet: UNS Z35636 (ZA-8 casting)'
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.icastllp.com/material_db_pdf/UNS%20Z35636.pdf
  - title: NedZink titanium zinc technical specifications
    type: datasheet
    url: https://nedzink.com/en/?p=24866
  - title: 'International Zinc Association: zinc diecasting alloys, physical properties'
    type: report
    url: https://diecasting.zinc.org/properties/en/alloy_properties/eng_prop_a_physical-properties/
  - title: 'PubChem: zinc (CID 23994), GHS classification'
    type: database
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Zinc
  - title: 'NASA NEPP: whisker failure references'
    type: report
    url: https://nepp.nasa.gov/WHISKER/failures/index.htm
  - title: 'GalvInfoNote 3.2: corrosion, mechanisms, prevention and testing'
    type: report
    url: https://www.galvinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2017/05/GalvInfoNote_3_2.pdf
  - title: Wet storage staining on galvanized steels
    type: report
    url: https://www.steel.org.au/getattachment/1da8f314-454a-4583-9690-84826e342e2d/Wet-Storage-Staining-on-Galvanized-Steel-4-2-2013.pdf
  - title: 'NASA: silver-zinc batteries article (2016)'
    type: report
    url: https://www.nasa.gov/?p=94903
    year: 2016
  - title: 'Dynacast: zinc die casting alloys'
    type: report
    url: https://dynacast.com/en-sg/resources/material-information/zinc-casting-metals/zamak-3
  - title: 'Wikipedia: Zinc aluminium (ZA alloys, composition only)'
    type: database
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_aluminium
gaps:
  - No vacuum, outgassing, atomic-oxygen, radiation or thermal-vacuum data for zinc or its alloys were fetched in this run, so tags.environments is empty.
  - No datasheet for cast pure zinc (SHG ingot) with properties was fetched. The PubChem element values state no form or temper, and the rolled values are from one manufacturer.
  - Electrical conductivity or resistivity of pure zinc, and thermal conductivity of pure zinc and rolled zinc, were not found in a readable source. Electrical conductivity for the three die-casting alloys is recorded as % IACS under a custom benchmark name.
  - The NedZink values are minimum product requirements from the manufacturer's table, not typical test results. Its Vickers hardness row prints 'min. 40%' with no clear unit, so it is not recorded.
  - The Zamak 3 and Zamak 5 mechanical values are minimum limits from ICAST copies of ASTM B86, not typical measured values. The ICAST UNS Z33521 sheet gives different values for the same grade (Al 3.9 to 4.3 %, Mg 0.025 to 0.05 %, tensile 280 MPa, yield 200 MPa, hardness 83 HB); this record uses the ASTM B86 AG40A sheet. Confirm limits against the standard before design use.
  - ZA-8 magnesium differs between the ICAST ASTM B86 ZA-8 sheet (0.01 to 0.03 %) and the UNS Z35636 sheet and Wikipedia casting column (0.015 to 0.03 %); the recipe uses 0.015 to 0.03.
  - ASTM B86 prints 'As-Cast or Aging' as one condition with no separate die-cast or aged mechanical values. Stabilised (aged) contraction data are given only for ZP3 and ZP5 in the IZA table; ZP8 is not in that table.
  - 'Impact values were not recorded: ICAST prints 65 J minimum at room temperature for Zamak 5 and 20 to 42 J for ZA-8.'
  - 'Creep, fatigue and long-term strength of die castings: no readable source found.'
  - Intergranular corrosion and the effect of Pb, Cd and Sn impurities on dimensional change were not sourced. A 2018 Technische Mechanik paper was seen only in a search snippet and was not opened.
  - 'Atmospheric corrosion rate in micrometres per year: not found in a readable source. GalvInfoNote 3.2 gives only a relative rate (10 to 100 times slower than bare steel). ISO 9223 was not opened.'
  - Corrosion of Zamak and ZA-8 in humid or chloride air was not sourced; the International Zinc Association corrosion page was not located at its guessed address.
  - Hazard data are ECHA notifications aggregated by PubChem (2,624 reports). No occupational exposure limit and no metal-fume source was opened.
  - 'Critical-mineral list: zinc is listed on the 2025 final list in the IEA reproduction of the USGS list, fetched in this run. The USGS release page returned HTTP 403 to curl and the Federal Register notice was not opened. The EU critical raw materials list was not checked for zinc.'
  - Supply shares are calculated by Space Mushroom from the USGS 2025e mine-production table (zinc content, thousand t) against the rounded world total of 13,000 thousand t; the country values do not sum exactly to that total.
  - 'Benchmark names not in property-canon.yaml and used here: brinell_hardness, electrical_conductivity, post_casting_contraction, recrystallisation_temperature.'
  - The NASA silver-zinc article does not describe the electrode chemistry, so zinc's role as the active metal is not stated in the fetched text.
  - No media (images) were added in this run; no openly licensed image page was fetched with its licence checked.
  - UNS and ISO numbers differ between sources. Only numbers printed on pages fetched in this run are recorded. MakeItFrom returned a block page to curl and was not used.
  - The Dynacast pages fetched give no numeric composition, so composition comes from the ICAST sheets, NedZink's table and the Wikipedia casting column.
sources:
  usgs-mcs2026-zinc:
    title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Zinc (U.S. Geological Survey)'
    id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-zinc.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: public domain (USGS)
  iea-crit-2025:
    title: Final List of Critical Minerals 2025 (IEA policy database, reproducing the USGS list)
    url: https://www.iea.org/policies/31799-final-list-of-critical-minerals-2025
    year: 2025
    kind: web
    license: IEA web page (cited, not reproduced)
  pubchem-zn-density:
    title: 'PubChem compound record: Zinc (CID 23994), Density section'
    id: CID 23994; CAS 7440-66-6
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23994/JSON?heading=Density
    kind: database
    license: public domain (NCBI)
  pubchem-zn-melting:
    title: 'PubChem compound record: Zinc (CID 23994), Melting Point section'
    id: CID 23994
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23994/JSON?heading=Melting+Point
    kind: database
    license: public domain (NCBI)
  pubchem-zn-boiling:
    title: 'PubChem compound record: Zinc (CID 23994), Boiling Point section'
    id: CID 23994
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23994/JSON?heading=Boiling+Point
    kind: database
    license: public domain (NCBI)
  pubchem-zn-ghs:
    title: 'PubChem compound record: Zinc (CID 23994), GHS classification (ECHA C&L Inventory, aggregated)'
    id: CID 23994
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23994/JSON?heading=GHS+Classification
    kind: database
    license: public domain (NCBI); ECHA data as attributed there
  pubchem-zn-synonyms:
    title: 'PubChem compound record: Zinc (CID 23994), synonyms list'
    id: CID 23994; CAS 7440-66-6
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug/compound/cid/23994/synonyms/TXT
    kind: database
    license: public domain (NCBI)
  nedzink-ti-zinc:
    title: 'NedZink titanium zinc: technical specifications (EN 988, ASTM B69; Zn 99.995 % base)'
    url: https://nedzink.com/en/?p=24866
    kind: datasheet
    license: manufacturer web page (cited, not reproduced)
  icast-b86-ag40a:
    title: 'ICAST Alloys LLP data sheet: ASTM B86 AG40A (Zamak 3), chemical composition and mechanical properties'
    url: https://www.icastllp.com/material_db_pdf/ASTM%20B86%20AG40A.pdf
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier data sheet, reference only (cited, not reproduced)
  icast-uns-z33521:
    title: 'ICAST Alloys LLP data sheet: UNS Z33521 (zinc die casting alloy 3, AG40A ingot)'
    url: https://www.icastllp.com/material_db_pdf/UNS%20Z33521.pdf
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier data sheet, reference only (cited, not reproduced)
  icast-b86-ac41a:
    title: 'ICAST Alloys LLP data sheet: ASTM B86 AC41A (Zamak 5), chemical composition and mechanical properties'
    url: https://www.icastllp.com/material_db_pdf/ASTM%20B86%20AC41A.pdf
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier data sheet, reference only (cited, not reproduced)
  icast-b86-za8:
    title: 'ICAST Alloys LLP data sheet: ASTM B86 ZA-8, chemical composition and mechanical properties'
    url: https://www.icastllp.com/material_db_pdf/ASTM%20B86%20ZA-8.pdf
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier data sheet, reference only (cited, not reproduced)
  icast-uns-z35636:
    title: 'ICAST Alloys LLP data sheet: UNS Z35636 (zinc-aluminum ZA-8 alloy casting)'
    url: https://www.icastllp.com/material_db_pdf/UNS%20Z35636.pdf
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier data sheet, reference only (cited, not reproduced)
  iza-physical:
    title: 'International Zinc Association, Zinc Diecasting Alloys: Physical Properties (table for ZP3, ZP5, ZP2 and ZP8; dimensional stability)'
    url: https://diecasting.zinc.org/properties/en/alloy_properties/eng_prop_a_physical-properties/
    kind: handbook
    license: IZA web page (cited, not reproduced)
  dynacast-zn:
    title: 'Dynacast: zinc die casting, alloys Zamak 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and ZA descriptions'
    url: https://dynacast.com/en-sg/resources/material-information/zinc-casting-metals/zamak-3
    kind: web
    license: manufacturer web page (cited, not reproduced)
  nasa-silver-zinc:
    title: NASA Research Helps Take Silver-Zinc Batteries from Idea to the Shelf (Loura Hall)
    url: https://www.nasa.gov/?p=94903
    year: 2016
    kind: web
    license: public domain (NASA)
  nepp-whisker:
    title: 'NASA NEPP: Whisker Failures, publicly reported failure references'
    url: https://nepp.nasa.gov/WHISKER/failures/index.htm
    kind: web
    license: public domain (NASA)
  galv-3-2:
    title: 'GalvInfoNote 3.2, section 3: Corrosion, mechanisms, prevention and testing (GalvInfo Center)'
    url: https://www.galvinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2017/05/GalvInfoNote_3_2.pdf
    kind: report
    license: GalvInfo Center note (cited, not reproduced)
  steel-wet-storage:
    title: Wet storage staining on galvanized steels (David Harrison, Coating Development Manager, OneSteel Australian Tube Mills)
    id: file name dated 4-2-2013
    url: https://www.steel.org.au/getattachment/1da8f314-454a-4583-9690-84826e342e2d/Wet-Storage-Staining-on-Galvanized-Steel-4-2-2013.pdf
    kind: report
    license: industry note (cited, not reproduced)
  wiki-za:
    title: 'Wikipedia: Zinc aluminium (ZA alloys; composition table only)'
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_aluminium
    kind: web
    license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (cited, not reproduced)
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-24'
review:
  status: draft
  method: assistant
  checked_values: 44
  unreachable: 0
  caveats: 17
  note: 'Values were read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-24 from the pages named in each entry, fetched in this run (PDFs as text; web pages as text with tags removed). Caveats: ASTM B86 values are minimum limits, and the ICAST UNS Z33521 sheet differs from its AG40A sheet; NedZink rolled-zinc values are minimum product requirements; the PubChem zinc values state no form; custom benchmark names are listed in gaps.'
story:
  recipe:
    line: 'Pure zinc is the element Zn. The die-casting alloys add aluminium with smaller amounts of copper and magnesium: Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 AG40A) has 3.7 to 4.3 % aluminium and 0.02 to 0.06 % magnesium; Zamak 5 (ASTM B86 AC41A) also has 0.7 to 1.2 % copper; ZA-8 (UNS Z35636) has 8.0 to 8.8 % aluminium and 0.8 to 1.3 % copper. Rolled titanium-zinc sheet from NedZink is at least 99.995 % zinc with small additions of copper, titanium and aluminium. Each alloy is zinc for the balance. The sources reviewed do not describe the smelting or casting steps, so none are given here.'
    parts:
      - name: Zinc, pure base of rolled titanium-zinc
        symbol: Zn
        share_percent: 99.995
        share_note: minimum
        role: Base metal of the NedZink rolled product (Z1 under EN 1179)
        source: nedzink-ti-zinc
        where: Product requirements table, row Zinc (source prints Zn 99.995 %)
      - name: Copper, rolled titanium-zinc
        symbol: Cu
        share_percent: 0.08
        share_high: 0.17
        role: Small alloying addition
        source: nedzink-ti-zinc
        where: Product requirements table, row Copper (source prints 0.08 to 0.17 %)
      - name: Titanium, rolled titanium-zinc
        symbol: Ti
        share_percent: 0.07
        share_high: 0.12
        role: Small alloying addition
        source: nedzink-ti-zinc
        where: Product requirements table, row Titanium (source prints 0.07 to 0.12 %)
      - name: Aluminium, rolled titanium-zinc
        symbol: Al
        share_percent: 0.015
        share_note: less than
        role: Small addition, kept low
        source: nedzink-ti-zinc
        where: Product requirements table, row Aluminium (source prints less than 0.015 %)
      - name: Aluminium, Zamak 3
        symbol: Al
        share_percent: 3.7
        share_high: 4.3
        role: Main alloying element
        source: icast-b86-ag40a
        where: Chemical composition table, row Aluminium
      - name: Magnesium, Zamak 3
        symbol: Mg
        share_percent: 0.02
        share_high: 0.06
        role: Minor alloying element (ASTM B86 range)
        source: icast-b86-ag40a
        where: Chemical composition table, row Magnesium
      - name: Copper, Zamak 3
        symbol: Cu
        share_percent: 0.1
        share_note: maximum
        role: Impurity limit
        source: icast-b86-ag40a
        where: Chemical composition table, row Copper
      - name: Iron, lead, cadmium and tin, Zamak 3
        symbol: Fe, Pb, Cd, Sn
        share_note: 'maximum: Fe 0.05, Pb 0.005, Cd 0.004, Sn 0.002'
        role: Impurity limits
        source: icast-b86-ag40a
        where: Chemical composition table, rows Iron, Lead, Cadmium and Tin
      - name: Zinc, Zamak 3
        symbol: Zn
        share_note: balance
        role: Matrix
        source: icast-b86-ag40a
        where: Chemical composition table, row Zinc
      - name: Aluminium, Zamak 5
        symbol: Al
        share_percent: 3.7
        share_high: 4.3
        role: Main alloying element
        source: icast-b86-ac41a
        where: Chemical composition table, row Aluminium
      - name: Copper, Zamak 5
        symbol: Cu
        share_percent: 0.7
        share_high: 1.2
        role: Copper addition (ASTM B86 AC41A range)
        source: icast-b86-ac41a
        where: Chemical composition table, row Copper
      - name: Magnesium, Zamak 5
        symbol: Mg
        share_percent: 0.02
        share_high: 0.06
        role: Minor alloying element (ASTM B86 range)
        source: icast-b86-ac41a
        where: Chemical composition table, row Magnesium
      - name: Iron, lead, cadmium and tin, Zamak 5
        symbol: Fe, Pb, Cd, Sn
        share_note: 'maximum: Fe 0.05, Pb 0.005, Cd 0.004, Sn 0.002'
        role: Impurity limits
        source: icast-b86-ac41a
        where: Chemical composition table, rows Iron, Lead, Cadmium and Tin
      - name: Zinc, Zamak 5
        symbol: Zn
        share_note: balance
        role: Matrix
        source: icast-b86-ac41a
        where: Chemical composition table, row Zinc
      - name: Aluminium, ZA-8
        symbol: Al
        share_percent: 8
        share_high: 8.8
        role: Main alloying element; Dynacast gives about 8.4 % and says ZA-8 is the only ZA alloy that can be hot-chamber die cast
        source: icast-uns-z35636
        where: Chemical composition table, row Aluminium
      - name: Copper, ZA-8
        symbol: Cu
        share_percent: 0.8
        share_high: 1.3
        role: Copper addition
        source: icast-uns-z35636
        where: Chemical composition table, row Copper
      - name: Magnesium, ZA-8
        symbol: Mg
        share_percent: 0.015
        share_high: 0.03
        role: Minor alloying element (UNS Z35636 range; the ASTM B86 ZA-8 sheet prints 0.01 to 0.03)
        source: icast-uns-z35636
        where: Chemical composition table, row Magnesium
      - name: Iron, lead, cadmium and tin, ZA-8
        symbol: Fe, Pb, Cd, Sn
        share_note: 'maximum: Fe 0.075, Pb 0.006, Cd 0.006, Sn 0.003'
        role: Impurity limits
        source: icast-uns-z35636
        where: Chemical composition table, rows Iron, Lead, Cadmium and Tin
      - name: Zinc, ZA-8
        symbol: Zn
        share_note: balance
        role: Matrix
        source: icast-uns-z35636
        where: Chemical composition table, row Zinc
  risk_groups:
    - title: For people
      lead: The sources give no occupational exposure limit for zinc. The hazards on record are mainly to aquatic life, with a fire risk in some pyrophoric notifications.
      level: 1
      verdict: Aquatic hazard; some pyrophoric notices
      points:
        - label: Notified classes
          line: Of the 2,237 reports that give hazard codes, 84.9 % list very toxic to aquatic life (H400) and 79 % list very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (H410). Of all 2,624 reports, 14.7 % (387) say zinc does not meet GHS criteria.
        - label: Pyrophoric notices
          line: 'Some notifications classify zinc as pyrophoric: H250 (26.7 % of reports giving codes) says it catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air, and H260 (26.7 %) says contact with water releases flammable gases.'
        - label: Eyes
          line: One notification block lists H320, causes eye irritation, with the Warning signal word.
    - title: If it fails
      lead: These failure routes come from the sources. They are field reports and standards notes, not space tests.
      level: 2
      verdict: Whiskers and white rust
      points:
        - label: Zinc whiskers
          line: NASA's whisker failure list cites a 1994 rotary-switch failure attributed to zinc whiskers and a 2006 private communication on zinc whiskers in relays. It also attributes system failures to zinc whiskers from raised access floor tiles.
        - label: White rust
          line: Wet, tightly packed galvanised product forms white rust, which is zinc hydroxide. The stain etches the coating and can remove some zinc, although most white rust can be removed without lasting damage.
        - label: Dimensional change
          line: Die castings keep shrinking after casting. The IZA says the change is negligible for most purposes, and a stabilising heat treatment brings most of it forward.
    - title: Handling and storage
      points:
        - label: Keep dust and powder dry
          line: 'Keep zinc dust and powder away from water: some notifications say contact releases flammable gas (ECHA notifications via PubChem).'
        - label: Keep packs dry
          line: Open and dry wet packs of galvanised product, use dry dunnage and keep tarpaulins dry (steel.org.au).
        - label: Stabilise precision parts
          line: Hold castings for 3 to 6 hours at 100 °C, or 5 to 10 hours at 85 °C, or 10 to 20 hours at 70 °C (IZA).
  why: 'Zinc is a metal with a low melting point that does two jobs. As a coating it protects steel: the zinc forms a carbonate film that slows its own corrosion, and galvanising extends the life of steel because that film behaves differently from iron oxide. As a die-casting alloy it is cast into parts, and Dynacast lists a lower melting point, excellent thin-wall capability and high dimensional accuracy for zinc die casting. Zamak 3 is the most widely used zinc alloy in North America and Zamak 5 in Europe, and ZA-8 is the aluminium-rich member of the family. Zinc metal melts at 419.53 °C and has a density of 7.133 g/cm3 at 25 °C, while Zamak 3 melts over 381 to 387 °C.'
  uses:
    - where: Batteries
      line: Silver-zinc batteries powered several early NASA spacecraft, including the Apollo command module, according to NASA's 2016 article.
    - where: Galvanised steel
      line: Galvanised steel was the leading use of refined zinc in the United States, used widely in automobile and construction markets (USGS, 2025).
    - where: Die castings
      line: The ASTM B86 sheets from ICAST give valve, pump, general engineering and automotive parts as the intended use of Zamak 3, Zamak 5 and ZA-8.
    - where: Heat sinks and EMI shielding
      line: The International Zinc Association says zinc diecasting alloys conduct heat and electricity well, which suits heat sinks, wave-guides and EMI shielding.
    - where: Roofs and façades
      line: NedZink sells rolled titanium-zinc for standing-seam and roll-cap roofs and standing-seam façades, and describes it as weather-resistant and maintenance-free.
  can_do:
    - label: Melt
      line: Zamak 3 melts over 381 to 387 °C, Zamak 5 over 380 to 386 °C and ZA-8 over 375 to 404 °C, according to the IZA table.
      value: 381 to 387 °C (Zamak 3)
    - label: Strength, Zamak 3
      line: The ASTM B86 AG40A limits require at least 283 MPa tensile strength, 221 MPa yield strength and 10 % elongation, in the as-cast or aged condition.
      value: 283 MPa minimum tensile
    - label: Strength, Zamak 5
      line: The ASTM B86 AC41A limits require at least 328 MPa tensile strength and 228 MPa yield strength, with 7 % elongation.
      value: 328 MPa minimum tensile
    - label: Strength, ZA-8
      line: ZA-8 is printed at 221 to 374 MPa tensile strength and 198 to 290 MPa yield strength, with 1 to 10 % elongation and 85 to 103 HB hardness.
      value: 221 to 374 MPa tensile
    - label: Heat conduction
      line: Thermal conductivity at 70 to 140 °C is 113 W/(m·K) for Zamak 3, 108.9 for Zamak 5 and 114.7 for ZA-8 (IZA).
      value: 113 W/(m·K) (Zamak 3)
    - label: Weight
      line: Density is 6.6 g/cm3 for Zamak 3 and 6.3 g/cm3 for ZA-8 (zero porosity, 21 °C), and 7.133 g/cm3 for pure zinc at 25 °C.
      value: 6.3 to 7.2 g/cm3 across the family
    - label: Rolled sheet
      line: Rolled titanium-zinc has a minimum tensile strength of 150 N/mm2 and a minimum elongation of 40 % (NedZink product requirements).
      value: 150 N/mm2 minimum tensile
    - label: Dimensional change
      line: Zamak 3 castings that have been stabilised contract by 0.02 % after 5 weeks and 0.03 % after 2 years (IZA).
      value: 0.03 % after 2 years
  compare: Among the die-casting alloys, Zamak 3 and Zamak 5 are close in density (6.6 and 6.76 g/cm3) and in thermal conductivity (113 and 108.9 W/(m·K)). Zamak 5 has the higher minimum strength (328 MPa tensile and 228 MPa yield, against 283 and 221 for Zamak 3) but the lower minimum elongation (7 %, against 10 %). ZA-8 is the lightest of the three at 6.3 g/cm3, and its tensile range runs to 374 MPa, but its elongation runs from 1 to 10 %. Pure zinc is denser at 7.133 g/cm3 at 25 °C, and the rolled titanium-zinc sheet is weaker in tension, with a minimum of 150 N/mm2.
  compare_rows:
    - label: Density
      benchmark: density
    - label: Melting point
      benchmark: melting_point
    - label: Thermal conductivity
      benchmark: thermal_conductivity
  handling:
    - 'Keep zinc dust and powder dry and away from water: some notifications say contact releases flammable gas (H260, PubChem).'
    - Open and dry wet packs of galvanised product, use dry dunnage and keep tarpaulins dry, to prevent white rust (steel.org.au).
    - 'Stabilise precision die castings: 3 to 6 hours at 100 °C, or 5 to 10 hours at 85 °C, or 10 to 20 hours at 70 °C (IZA).'
  good_for:
    - Die-cast parts with thin walls and complex shapes (Dynacast lists excellent thin-wall capability).
    - Heat sinks and EMI shielding from zinc diecastings, where conductivity counts (IZA).
    - Weather-resistant roofing and façades in rolled titanium-zinc (NedZink).
    - Silver-zinc batteries, which powered early NASA spacecraft such as Apollo (NASA).
  watch_out:
    - 'Heavy: 6.3 to 7.2 g/cm3 depending on the grade.'
    - Some notifications classify zinc as pyrophoric (H250) and say contact with water releases flammable gas (H260).
    - Wet storage forms white rust, a zinc hydroxide stain that can remove some coating.
    - Zinc whiskers have caused electronic failures in NASA's whisker failure list.
    - Die castings shrink after casting; stabilise precision parts (IZA).
    - 'Sources differ for the same grade: the ICAST UNS Z33521 sheet gives lower minimum tensile and yield strengths for Zamak 3 than the ASTM B86 AG40A sheet, so confirm limits against the standard.'
    - No vacuum, outgassing or radiation data for zinc alloys were found in this run.
  verdict: Zinc and its die-casting alloys are well documented and cast well into thin, complex parts, and the metal protects steel as a coating. Zamak 3 and Zamak 5 are the common choices, ZA-8 has the widest strength range and the least ductility, and zinc powder is a fire hazard. This profile has no space-environment data for zinc or its alloys.