ASTM B240

Abstract

This specification covers commercial zinc and zinc-aluminum alloys in ingot form for remelting for the manufacture of pressure die castings, foundry castings and continuous cast bar stock. Seven alloy compositions are specified, which includes Z33521, Z33522, Z35530, Z35540, for zinc alloys and Z35635, Z35630, Z35840, for zinc-aluminum alloys. The material shall be of uniform quality and reasonably free from dross, adhering foreign matter, and surafce oxide. The determination of chemical composition shall be made in accordance with suitable analytical methods.

This abstract is a brief summary of the referenced standard. It is informational only and not an official part of the standard; the full text of the standard itself must be referred to for its use and application. ASTM does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents of this abstract are accurate, complete or up to date.

1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers commercial zinc and zinc-aluminum (ZA) alloys in ingot form for remelting for the manufacture of pressure die castings, foundry castings and continuous cast bar stock as designated and specified in Table 1. Seven alloy compositions are specified, designated as follows:

Common	Traditional	ASTM^A	UNS^A

Alloy 3	Zamak 3	AG 40A	Z33524
Alloy 7	Zamak 7	AG 40B	Z33526
Alloy 5	Zamak 5	AC 41A	Z35532
Alloy 2	Zamak 2	AC 43A	Z35544
ZA-8	ZA-8	...	Z35637
ZA-12	ZA-12	...	Z35632
ZA-27	ZA-27	...	Z35842

^A See Table 1, footnote B.

TABLE 1 Chemical and North American Color Code Requirements

	Alloy 3 ^A^, ^B^, ^C^, ^D	Alloy 7 ^A^, ^B^, ^C^, ^D	Alloy 5 ^A^,^B^,^C^,^D	Alloy 2 ^A^,^B^,^C^,^D	ZA-8 ^B^, ^C^, ^E	ZA-12 ^B^, ^C^, ^E	ZA-27 ^B^, ^C^, ^E
	Zamak 3	Zamak 7	Zamak 5	Zamak 2	ZA-8	ZA-12	ZA-27
	(AG40A)	(AG40B)	(AC41A)	(AC43A)
	(Z33524)	(Z33526)	(Z35532)	(Z35544)	(Z35637)	(Z35632)	(Z35842)
Color Code^F	None	Brown	Black	Green	Blue	Orange	Purple
Element
Aluminum	3.9-4.3	3.9-4.3	3.9-4.3	3.9-4.3	8.2-8.8	10.8-11.5	25.5-28.0
Magnesium	0.03-0.06	0.010-0.020	0.03-0.06	0.025-0.05	0.02-0.03	0.02-0.03	0.012-0.020
Copper	0.10 max	0.10 max	0.7-1.1	2.7-3.3	0.9-1.3	0.5-1.2	2.0-2.5
Iron, Max	0.035	0.035	0.035	0.035	0.035	0.05	0.07
Lead, Max	0.0040	0.0030	0.0040	0.0040	0.005	0.005	0.005
Cadmium, Max	0.0030	0.0020	0.0030	0.0030	0.005	0.005	0.005
Tin, Max	0.0015	0.0010	0.0015	0.0015	0.002	0.002	0.002
Nickel	- - -	0.005-0.020	- - -	- - -	- - -	- - -	- - -
Zinc^G	Remainder	Remainder	Remainder	Remainder	Remainder	Remainder	Remainder

^A Zinc alloy ingot for die casting may contain nickel, chromium, silicon, and manganese in amounts of up to 0.02, 0.02, 0.035 and 0.05 %, respectively. 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, except that nickel analysis is required for Z33526.

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

^C 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.

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

^E Zinc-aluminum ingot for foundry and pressure die casting may contain nickel, chromium, and manganese 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.

^F Refer to Practice B908. (Note: Colors indicated are for North American applications.)

^G Determined arithmetically by difference.

1.2 Zinc alloys Z33524, Z33526, Z35532, and Z35544 are used primarily for remelting in the manufacture of pressure die castings. Zinc-aluminum alloys Z35637, Z35632, and Z35842 are used for remelting in the manufacture of both foundry and pressure die castings. Castings made from these ingots are specified in Specification B86, Standard Specification for Zinc and Zinc-Aluminum Alloys for Foundry and Die Castings.

1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this 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.

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

ISO Standards

ISO 301 Zinc Alloy Ingots Intended for Casting

ISO 3815–1 Zinc and zinc alloys -- Part 1: Analysis of solid samples by optical emission spectrometry.

ISO 3815–2 Zinc and zinc alloys -- Part 2: Analysis by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

ASTM Standards

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

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

B897 Specification for Configuration of Zinc and Zinc Alloy Jumbo Block and Half Block Ingot

B899 Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and Alloys

B908 Practice for the Use of Color Codes for Zinc Casting Alloy Ingot

B949 Specification for General Requirements for Zinc and Zinc Alloy Products

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

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

E536 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Zinc and Zinc Alloys

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

DOI: 10.1520/B0240-13

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

ASTM B240 (Nonferrous Metal Standards and Nonferrous Alloy Standards)

Citing ASTM Standards

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ASTM B240 - 13

ASTM B240 - 13 Standard Specification for Zinc and Zinc-Aluminum (ZA) Alloys in Ingot Form for Foundry and Die Castings

ASTM B240 (Nonferrous Metal Standards and Nonferrous Alloy Standards)