Materials / Compare
Glass vs. Zinc Zamak 3
Compare Glass vs. Zinc Zamak 3 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | not given (tensile used) | 221MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 41MPasourcetypical mean surface tensile stress at fracture (MOR), 60 s load, weathered, 50% breakage probability | 283MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | 41MPasourcemean MOR (same value as tensile) | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 10%sourcetypical, in 2 in. |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 72GPasourcetypical | 85.5GPasourcetypical19% stiffer |
| Density | 2,500kg/m³sourcetypical2.64x lighter | 6,600kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 16.4kN·m/kg | 33.5kN·m/kg2.04x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 28.8MN·m/kg2.22x higher | 13MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.22sourcetypical | 0.27sourcetypical, Zamak 3 hot-chamber die cast |
| Shear modulus | 29.5GPa | 33.7GPa14% stiffer in shear |
| Bulk modulus | 42.9GPa | 62GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,367m/s | 3,599m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.937W/m·Ksourcetypical at 75 F | 113W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 8.3µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 75-575 F | 27.4µm/m·Ksourcetypical |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 41.5µm growth3.3x less | 137µm growth |
| Specific heat | 880J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 75 F | 419J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 0.426mm²/s | 40.9mm²/s96x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 50.1W/m | 7,782W/m155x more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 381–387°Csourcemelting range |
| Max service temperature | 511°Csourcestrain point (ASTM C336) - stress-relaxation onset, not a rated service limit | not sourced |
| Values for | Annealed soda-lime-silica float glass, Pilkington North America Technical Bulletin ATS-129 (04/2025) | Zamak 3 (ASTM B86 die cast), Nathan Trotter (zinc alloy producer) technical data sheet, typical values |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Is Glass stronger than Zinc Zamak 3?
Zinc Zamak 3 is stronger: its yield strength is 221 MPa against tensile strength 41 MPa for Glass (5.39x).
Which is lighter, Glass or Zinc Zamak 3?
Glass is lighter: 2,500 kg/m³ against 6,600 kg/m³ for Zinc Zamak 3.
Which is stiffer, Glass or Zinc Zamak 3?
Zinc Zamak 3 is stiffer: Young's modulus 85.5 GPa against 72 GPa for Glass, so the same part in Zinc Zamak 3 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Glass or Zinc Zamak 3?
For the same stiffness or strength: Glass is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Zinc Zamak 3 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam.
| Part that must be | Glass | Zinc Zamak 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 2.22x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.42x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 2.49x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 2.04x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 16% heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 14% heavier |
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which conducts heat better, Glass or Zinc Zamak 3?
Zinc Zamak 3 conducts heat better: 113 W/m·K against 0.937 W/m·K for Glass.
Which expands less with temperature?
Glass expands less: 8.3 µm/m·K against 27.4 µm/m·K for Zinc Zamak 3.