ASTM B86 - 11 Standard Specification for Zinc and Zinc Aluminum (ZA) Alloy Foundry and Die Castings

1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers commercial zinc, zinc-aluminum castings and continuous cast bar stock, as designated and specified in Table 1. Seven alloy compositions are specified and designated as follows:

Common	Traditional	ASTM ^A	UNS

Alloy 3	Zamak 3	AG 40A ^B	Z33520
Alloy 7	Zamak 7	AG 40B	Z33523
Alloy 5	Zamak 5	AC 41A ^B	Z35531
Alloy 2	Zamak 2	AC 43A	Z35541
ZA-8	ZA-8	...	Z35636
ZA-12	ZA-12	...	Z35631
ZA-27	ZA-27	...	Z35841
_________

^A See Table 1, Footnote C.

^B SAE Specification, Nos. 903 and 925 conform to the requirements for alloys AG40A and AC41A, respectively.

1.2 Zinc Alloys Z33520, Z33523, Z35531, and Z35541 are used primarily in the manufacture of pressure die castings. Zinc-Aluminum Alloys Z35636, Z35631, and Z35841 are used in the manufacture of both foundry and pressure die castings. These alloys are also fabricated into continuous cast bar stock used for prototyping and screw machine stock.

1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.4 Systems of nomenclature used to designate zinc and zinc-aluminum (ZA) alloys used for casting are described in Appendix X1.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety and health practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements

Element	Alloy 3^A^,^B^,^C^,^D Zamak 3 (AG40A) Z33520	Alloy 7^A^,^B^,^C^,^D^,^E Zamak 7 (AG40B) Z33523	Alloy 5^A^,^B^,^C^,^D Zamak 5 (AC41A) Z35531	Alloy 2^A^,^C^,^,^D Zamak (AC43A) Z35541 †	ZA-8^A^,^C^,^F ZA-8 Z35636	ZA-12^A^,^C^,^F ZA-12 Z35631	ZA-2^A^,^C^,^F ZA-27 Z35841
Aluminum	3.7-4.3	3.7-4.3	3.7-4.3	3.7-4.3	8.0-8.8	10.5-11.5	25.0-28.0
Magnesium	0.02-0.06^G	0.005-0.020	0.02-0.06^G	0.02-0.06	0.01-0.03	0.01-0.03	0.01-0.02
Copper	0.1 max^H	0.1 max^E	0.7-1.2	2.6-3.3	0.8-1.3	0.5-1.2	2.0-2.5
Iron, max	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.075	0.075	0.075
Lead, max	0.005	0.003	0.005	0.005	0.006	0.006	0.006
Cadmium, max	0.004	0.002	0.004	0.004	0.006	0.006	0.006
Tin, max	0.002	0.001	0.002	0.002	0.003	0.003	0.003
Nickel	. . .	0.005-0.020	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .	. . .
Zinc^I	remainder	remainder	remainder	remainder	remainder	remainder	remainder

^A For purposes of acceptance and rejection, the observed value or calculated value obtained from analysis should be rounded to the nearest unit in the last right-hand place of figures, used in expressing the specified limit, in accordance with the rounding procedure prescribed in Practice E29.

^B Zinc alloy castings may contain nickel, chromium, silicon, and manganese in amounts of 0.02, 0.02, 0.035, and 0.06 %, respectively. No harmful effects have ever been noted due to the presence of these elements in these concentrations and, therefore, analyses are not required for these elements, with the exception of nickel analysis for Z33522.

^C ASTM alloy designations were established in accordance with Practice B275. The UNS designations were established in accordance with Practice E527. The last digit of a UNS number differentiates between alloys of similar composition. The UNS designations for ingot and casting versions of an alloy were not assigned in the same sequence for all alloys.

^D When this material is required to conform to ISO 301, the chemical limits for thallium and indium each shall not exceed 0.001 %.

^E For the majority of commercial applications, a copper content up to 0.25 % will not adversely affect the serviceability of these die castings and should not serve as a basis for rejection, unless otherwise specified in the contract or purchase order between the producer and user.

^F Zinc-aluminum ingot for foundry and pressure die casting may contain chrome, manganese, or nickel in amounts of up to 0.01 % each or 0.03 % total. No harmful effects have ever been noted due to the presence of these elements in up to these concentrations and, therefore, analyses are not required for these elements.

^G Magnesium may be as low as 0.015 % provided that the lead, cadmium, and tin do not exceed 0.003, 0.003, and 0.001 %, respectively.

^H For the majority of commercial applications, a copper content of up to 0.7 % will not adversely affect the serviceability of die castings and should not serve as a basis for rejection, unless otherwise specified in the contract or purchase order between the producer and user, such as to meet the requirements of ISO 15201.

^I Determined arithmetically by difference.

† Corrected editorially.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

Military Standard

MIL-STD-129 Marking for Shipment and Storage (Military Agencies)

Military Specification

MIL-P-116 Methods of Preservation

Federal Standard

Fed. Std. No. 123 Marking for Shipment (Civil Agencies)

ASTM Standards

B240 Specification for Zinc and Zinc-Aluminum (ZA) Alloys in Ingot Form for Foundry and Die Castings

B275 Practice for Codification of Certain Nonferrous Metals and Alloys, Cast and Wrought

B557 Test Methods for Tension Testing Wrought and Cast Aluminum- and Magnesium-Alloy Products

B899 Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and Alloys

B949 Specification for General Requirements for Zinc and Zinc Alloy Products

E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials

E23 Test Methods for Notched Bar Impact Testing of Metallic Materials

E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications

E88 Practice for Sampling Nonferrous Metals and Alloys in Cast Form for Determination of Chemical Composition

E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS)

E536 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Zinc and Zinc Alloys

E634 Practice for Sampling of Zinc and Zinc Alloys by Spark Atomic Emission Spectrometry

Keywords

bar stock; castings; concast; continuous cast bar stock; die castings; foundry castings; permanent mold castings; pressure die castings; prototyping; sand castings; ZA alloys; Zamak; zinc; zinc-aluminum alloys; zinc metal;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 77.150.60 (Lead, zinc and tin products)

DOI: 10.1520/B0086-11

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ASTM B86-11

Historical Standard: ASTM B86-11 Standard Specification for Zinc and Zinc-Aluminum (ZA) Alloy Foundry and Die Castings