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Brass and Aluminum Die Casting: An Overview of Two Popular Metal Casting Processes
Die casting is a popular metal casting process used to create precise, high-tolerance metal parts and products. Two of the most common metals used in die casting are brass and aluminum. Both offer distinct advantages and are ideal for certain applications. Here is an overview of brass and aluminum die casting, including the basics of each process, benefits and drawbacks of each metal, typical applications, and examples of products made using each material.
What is Die Casting?
Die casting is a metal casting process that forces molten metal into a mold cavity under high pressure. The metal hardens and takes the shape of the mold as it cools. Die casting allows for the economical production of intricate, detailed, high-tolerance metal components with a fine surface finish.
There are two main types of die casting - hot chamber and cold chamber. Hot chamber die casting, primarily used for metals with low melting points like zinc, keeps the metal in a molten pool and uses a plunger to force it into the die. Cold chamber die casting, used for higher melting point metals like aluminum and brass, melts the metal in a separate furnace before using a ladle to pour it into the cold chamber of the die casting machine.
Brass Die Casting Overview
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, with the proportions of each varying to create different brass alloys. Common brass alloys used in die casting include yellow brass (with 15-37% zinc) and red/leaded brass (with 5-20% zinc and 2-7% lead).
Brass is valued for its strength, corrosion resistance, attractive gold-like color, excellent machinability, dimensional stability, and ability to take a high polish. It has a relatively low melting point, making it ideal for hot chamber die casting. As it solidifies, it shrinks less than many other alloys, permitting extremely close tolerances.
Brass parts are commonly die cast for:
- Plumbing fixtures, valves, and components
- Musical instruments
- Decorative hardware and lighting fixtures
- Gears, bushings, and bearings
- Automotive trim pieces and under-hood components
- Marine fittings and components
- Door handles, knobs, and hardware
- Bells and decorative pieces
Brass die casting is ideal for small to medium sized components with intricate details or high accuracy requirements. It allows producing parts with excellent surface finishes and precise dimensional control. The excellent machinability of brass also makes it easy to do additional finishing work after casting.
Aluminum Die Casting Overview
Aluminum is a lightweight, versatile metal valued for its high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, thermal and electrical conductivity, and ease of machining. The most common aluminum alloys used for die casting include 380, 383, 360, 413, and A360.
Aluminum die casting is done using the cold chamber process. Molten aluminum does not dissolve iron well, so hot chamber machines built with iron components cannot be used. The fast solidification of aluminum also allows for minimizing porosity in the cast parts.
Some common applications of aluminum die casting include:
- Automotive parts like housings, pistons, cylinder heads, and wheels
- Aerospace and aviation components
- Consumer electronics and appliances
- Medical devices
- Business machines
- Recreational equipment
- Industrial parts like mountings, fittings, and housings
Aluminum die casting produces complex, tight tolerance metal components with a high-quality surface finish. It enables high volume production for low cost per part. Aluminum parts can also be anodized or electroplated for enhanced corrosion resistance, lubricity, and aesthetic appeal.
Comparing Brass and Aluminum for Die Casting
When deciding between brass versus aluminum die casting, there are several factors to consider:
Cost - Aluminum is generally less expensive than brass. Aluminum die casting also has faster cycle times, allowing more parts to be produced per hour. This offsets the higher tooling costs.
Strength - Brass is the stronger of the two metals. It has a tensile strength around 60,000 psi compared to aluminum’s 45,000 psi.
Weight - Aluminum is about 65% lighter than brass. Its lightweight nature makes it appealing for aircraft, automobiles, and applications where weight savings are important.
Corrosion resistance - Brass provides excellent corrosion resistance in water applications, making it ideal for valves, fittings, marine components, and plumbing. Its zinc content hinders dezincification. Aluminum forms an impervious oxide layer but can still corrode in saltwater or acidic conditions.
Thermal/electrical conductivity - Aluminum excels in heat transfer and electrical conductivity, with three times the thermal conductivity and 1.5 times the electrical conductivity of brass.
Appearance - Brass has an attractive gold-like sheen, while aluminum has a more industrial gray appearance. However, aluminum can be anodized or colored via dyeing, painting, or powder coating.
Machinability - Brass is generally easier to machine after casting than aluminum, allowing more finishing operations. But aluminum still machines fairly well with sharp tools.
For applications requiring strength, corrosion resistance, machinability, and attractive appearance, brass die casting often provides superior benefits. Aluminum is preferable when lightweight properties, thermal/electrical conductivity, and lower cost are the primary drivers.
The Final Word on Die Casting with Brass and Aluminum
Die casting provides a high volume, cost-effective production method for quality metal parts with reasonable secondary finishing requirements. Both brass and aluminum are versatile metals whose properties make them ideal for die casting a wide range of parts and products.
Brass die casting produces strong, precise parts with excellent corrosion resistance. Aluminum die casting is known for lightweight strength, efficient production, and diverse secondary finishing options. With an understanding of each metal's intrinsic properties and die casting characteristics, product designers can select the optimal material for their particular application. By leveraging the strengths of brass and aluminum, innovative products can be manufactured via reliable, repeatable die casting processes. CNC Milling