Materials / Compare
Steel vs. Zinc Zamak 3
Compare Steel vs. Zinc Zamak 3 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC | 221MPasourcetypical |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) | 283MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | 10%sourcetypical, in 2 in. |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) | 85.5GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) | 6,600kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 49kN·m/kg46% higher | 33.5kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.5MN·m/kg1.97x higher | 13MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) | 0.27sourcetypical, Zamak 3 hot-chamber die cast |
| Shear modulus | 76.9GPa2.29x stiffer in shear | 33.7GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 167GPa | 62GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,048m/s | 3,599m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C | 113W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) | 27.4µm/m·Ksourcetypical |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 60µm growth2.28x less | 137µm growth |
| Specific heat | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C | 419J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 13mm²/s | 40.9mm²/s3.14x faster |
| Thermal shock resistance | 5,390W/m | 7,782W/m44% more resistant |
| Melting point | not sourced | 381–387°Csourcemelting range |
| Values for | Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards. | 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 Steel stronger than Zinc Zamak 3?
Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against 221 MPa for Zinc Zamak 3 (1.74x).
Which is lighter, Steel or Zinc Zamak 3?
Zinc Zamak 3 is lighter: 6,600 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, Steel or Zinc Zamak 3?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 85.5 GPa for Zinc Zamak 3, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Steel or Zinc Zamak 3?
For the same stiffness or strength: Steel is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Steel | Zinc Zamak 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 1.97x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 29% heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 12% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 46% heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 22% heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 11% 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, Steel or Zinc Zamak 3?
Zinc Zamak 3 conducts heat better: 113 W/m·K against 48 W/m·K for Steel.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 27.4 µm/m·K for Zinc Zamak 3.