Zinc Alloy Kirksite CHILL
Other
also Kirksite A
CHILL = chill cast
Pick when a finer grain and 10–20 % higher strength/hardness are needed on punch noses and wear faces.
Values for the CHILL condition
Other Kirksite tempers and conditions
Kirksite is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at Kirksite.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stabilized | Use before final machining of precision dies to pre-empt natural-ageing shrinkage and residual-stress movement. | 175 | 210 | 4 | 95 HB | 27 % IACS |
Recycled/re-poured tooling metal | Economical choice for non-critical fixtures and blocks poured from scrapped dies; expect slightly lower and more variable ductility. | 180 | 210 | 2 | 100 HB | 25 % IACS |
FDefault As fabricated | Standard condition for poured tooling blocks and die models machined straight from the casting. | 190 | 227 | 3 | 100 HB | 26 % IACS |
CHILLThis page Chill cast | Pick when a finer grain and 10–20 % higher strength/hardness are needed on punch noses and wear faces. | 215 | 260 | 4 | 110 HB | 26 % IACS |
What is Kirksite CHILL?
Kirksite CHILL is Kirksite in the CHILL condition — pick when a finer grain and 10–20 % higher strength/hardness are needed on punch noses and wear faces. Kirksite CHILL has a yield strength of 215 MPa (31.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — stronger than 64% of zinc alloy grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 97 GPa (14.1 Msi). Kirksite CHILL has a density of 6.7 g/cm³ (0.242 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of zinc alloy grades. It melts at 379°C (714 °F). F is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CHILL is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Readily welded — 30/100, better than 75% of zinc alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 12/100, worse than 77% of zinc alloy grades
Kirksite CHILL properties
Typical room-temperature values for Kirksite CHILL; 21 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Kirksite reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among zinc alloy grades.
Physical3
Kirksite CHILL has a density of 6.7 g/cm³ (0.242 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of zinc alloy grades. It melts at 379°C (714 °F).
Mechanical14
Kirksite CHILL has a yield strength of 215 MPa (31.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — stronger than 64% of zinc alloy grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 97 GPa (14.1 Msi).
Thermal6
Kirksite CHILL is rated for continuous service to 100°C (212 °F). It conducts heat at 110 W/m·K (63.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 64% of zinc alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 27.4 µm/m·K (15.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Kirksite CHILL conducts electricity at 26 % IACS, worse than 86% of zinc alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (36/100), worse than 71% of zinc alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Kirksite CHILL takes about 53 MJ of energy and emits 3.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 68% of zinc alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 70%.
Manufacturability8
Kirksite CHILL's machinability is very good (82/100, better than 86% of zinc alloy grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability not recommended (12/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Kirksite CHILL
Is Kirksite easy to machine?
Cuts very freely with sharp positive-rake carbide or HSS at high speed and light feed; use flood coolant or air blast to avoid smearing, and take a light finishing pass after stabilizing.
Can Kirksite be welded?
No arc welding practice — repair worn or damaged die faces by torch flow-welding with matching zinc alloy filler, or simply cut out and re-pour.
Can Kirksite be formed, bent or molded?
Poured at roughly 430–480 °C into plaster, sand, ceramic or steel moulds directly off a master pattern; allow for ~1.2 % solidification shrinkage plus slow natural ageing contraction.
What surface finishes work on Kirksite?
Cannot be anodized; hand-stone and polish the working face, then chromate, electroless-nickel plate or paint non-working surfaces for storage protection.
Kirksite chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Alprimary strengthener; controls fluidity and shrinkage | 3.5 – 4.5 | 4 |
| Curaises strength, hardness and creep resistance | 2.5 – 3.5 | 3 |
| Mgsuppresses intergranular corrosion | 0.02 – 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Feimpurity max | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Pbimpurity max — intergranular corrosion | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Cdimpurity max | ≤ 0 | — |
| Snimpurity max | ≤ 0 | — |
| Znbalance, from Special High Grade zinc | balance | — |
Kirksite CHILL — frequently asked
What is Kirksite CHILL used for?
Kirksite CHILL is typically used for prototype stamping dies, die models, low-volume production tooling and jigs and fixtures. In short: fast low-cost prototype tooling; free-machining zinc tooling alloy; remeltable and re-pourable.
What is the yield strength of Kirksite CHILL?
Kirksite CHILL has a typical yield strength of 215 MPa (31.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — stronger than 64% of zinc alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Kirksite CHILL easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (82/100, better than 86% of zinc alloy grades). Cuts very freely with sharp positive-rake carbide or HSS at high speed and light feed; use flood coolant or air blast to avoid smearing, and take a light finishing pass after stabilizing.
Can Kirksite CHILL be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). No arc welding practice — repair worn or damaged die faces by torch flow-welding with matching zinc alloy filler, or simply cut out and re-pour.
What surface finishes work on Kirksite CHILL?
Cannot be anodized; hand-stone and polish the working face, then chromate, electroless-nickel plate or paint non-working surfaces for storage protection.
Can Kirksite CHILL be formed, bent or molded?
Poured at roughly 430–480 °C into plaster, sand, ceramic or steel moulds directly off a master pattern; allow for ~1.2 % solidification shrinkage plus slow natural ageing contraction.
What is the maximum service temperature of Kirksite CHILL?
Kirksite CHILL is rated for continuous use to about 100°C (212 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Kirksite-F and Kirksite CHILL?
F is the default condition — standard condition for poured tooling blocks and die models machined straight from the casting. CHILL: pick when a finer grain and 10–20 % higher strength/hardness are needed on punch noses and wear faces. Yield strength is 190 MPa in F versus 215 MPa in CHILL.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (zinc and zinc alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM B240 — Zinc and Zinc-Aluminum Alloys in Ingot Form for Foundry and Die Castings — ASTM International (2020)
- ASTM B86 — Zinc and Zinc-Aluminum Alloy Foundry and Die Castings — ASTM International (2018)
- Zinc tooling alloy (Kirksite-type) technical data — Eastern Alloys / zinc alloy producers (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials (zinc alloys) — ASM International (2005)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.