It’s very suitable for diecasting, a technology that’s been around since the early 1950s.
The best alloys for die-casting are usually composed of zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn) and magnesium (Mg). These elements work together to form a special microstructure in the metal. That microstructure is critical to a successful casting. It helps determine the strength and hardness of the part and how it will hold up under stress.
We started with A380, which has a very similar microstructure and chemistry to the alloy commonly known as AlMgMnZn. So that’s why we chose A380 A380 diecast aluminum over AlMgMnZn.
Other castings include copper, nickel, steel and lead. For example, the metal used for car bumpers is made of zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu), plus a small amount of chromium (Cr) to provide some toughness. Nickel is often used in automotive heat exchangers because of its superior corrosion resistance.
Most aluminum castings are manufactured in a lost-wax process called investment casting. There are three steps to making an investment casting:
