Zinc Alloy Slush Metal
also Hollow Casting Zinc, Slush Zinc
Slush Metal is a low-melting zinc casting alloy — typically a Zamak 3, ZA-8 or ZA-12 base — poured into a chilled mould and drained after a short dwell so only a solidified hollow shell remains.
Reference datasheet — Slush Metal is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the As Cast condition
Slush Metal tempers and conditions
Slush Metal is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. As Cast is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As Cast, Zamak 3 (Zn-4Al) base metal used for slush work | Cheapest and most stable option; narrow freezing range means thicker, less uniform slush shells but excellent platability. | 120 | 170 | 4 | 65 HB | 27 % IACS |
low-temperature dimensional stabilizing anneal (~100 °C, 3–6 h) | Pick when the casting must hold close dimensions after machining or plating; trades a little strength for stability and ductility. | 120 | 165 | 5 | 65 HB | 28 % IACS |
As CastDefault generic Zn-5Al slush casting alloy, no post-cast treatment | Default condition for hollow ornamental slush castings; use as poured after trimming and polishing. | 130 | 180 | 3 | 70 HB | 27 % IACS |
As Cast, ZA-8 (Zn-8Al-1Cu) base metal | Wider freezing range gives better shell control on large hollow parts and noticeably higher strength/hardness. | 200 | 250 | 2 | 90 HB | 27.7 % IACS |
As Cast, ZA-12 (Zn-11Al-1Cu) base metal | Longest freezing range and highest strength of the common slush bases; chosen for large or semi-structural hollow castings. | 210 | 300 | 2 | 95 HB | 28.3 % IACS |
What is Slush Metal?
Slush Metal is a low-melting zinc casting alloy — typically a Zamak 3, ZA-8 or ZA-12 base — poured into a chilled mould and drained after a short dwell so only a solidified hollow shell remains. It suits decorative hollow castings such as lamp bases and figurines, where 180 MPa tensile, 130 MPa yield, 70 HB, 110 W/(m·K) thermal conductivity, 27% IACS and free machining (score 78) are sufficient. Limits are 3% elongation, a 100 °C maximum service temperature, wall thickness controlled only by process parameters, and no fusion welding. Use conventional die casting when tolerance or load capacity matters. Slush Metal has a density of 6.6 g/cm³ (0.238 lb/in³), lighter than 64% of zinc alloy grades. It melts at 380°C (716 °F). Slush Metal has a yield strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 180 MPa (26.1 ksi) — weaker than 57% of zinc alloy grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 85 GPa (12.3 Msi).
What is Slush Metal used for?
- Decorative castings and ornaments
- Lamp bases and lighting bodies
- Figurines, statuettes and trophies
- Candlesticks and holloware
- Furniture and cabinet hardware
- Mirror and clock frames
- Plated souvenir and giftware parts
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 89% of zinc alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 92% of zinc alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 86% of zinc alloy grades
Slush Metal properties
Typical room-temperature values for Slush Metal-As Cast; bars are the position among zinc alloy grades.
Physical3
Slush Metal has a density of 6.6 g/cm³ (0.238 lb/in³), lighter than 64% of zinc alloy grades. It melts at 380°C (716 °F).
Mechanical16
Slush Metal has a yield strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 180 MPa (26.1 ksi) — weaker than 57% of zinc alloy grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 85 GPa (12.3 Msi).
Thermal6
Slush Metal 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
Slush Metal conducts electricity at 27 % IACS, worse than 57% of zinc alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), better than 50% of zinc alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Slush Metal takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 3.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 71% of zinc alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
Slush Metal's machinability is very good (78/100, worse than 61% of zinc alloy grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the zinc alloy family
Yield strength against density for every zinc alloy grade FabDigit runs. Slush Metal is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Slush Metal
Is Slush Metal easy to machine?
Cuts very easily with sharp positive-rake carbide or HSS tools at high speed and light feed; thin slush walls need gentle clamping to avoid collapse.
Can Slush Metal be welded?
Effectively unweldable by fusion; join by soft soldering (Zn/Sn-Zn alloys with active flux) or adhesives, or cast integral features.
Can Slush Metal be formed, bent or molded?
Pour at ~430–470 °C into a cool steel or bronze mold, hold seconds to build the shell, then invert to drain the liquid core; wall thickness is set by pour temperature, mold temperature and dwell time.
Slush Metal 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alraised to 8–12 % when ZA-8/ZA-12 base is used for a wider freezing range | 3.5 – 6 | 5 |
| Curaises strength and hardness; too much promotes ageing growth | 0 – 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Mgsuppresses intergranular corrosion from impurities | 0.01 – 0.06 | 0.03 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Pbimpurity limit — critical for long-term dimensional stability | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Cd | ≤ 0 | 0 |
| Sn | ≤ 0 | 0 |
| Zn | balance |
What surface finishes work on Slush Metal?
Buffs to a bright surface and takes copper/nickel/chromium plating or antique lacquer readily; no anodizing, and chromate/lacquer is recommended for humid or outdoor exposure.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on zinc alloy parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Plating
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Zinc Alloy Slush Metal in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Hollow Casting ZincSlush Zinc
- Also called
- Zinc-Aluminum Slush
How much does Slush Metal cost?
Slush Metal is a standard-cost zinc alloy ($$), cheaper than about 81% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Slush Metal — frequently asked
What is Slush Metal used for?
Slush Metal is typically used for decorative castings and ornaments, lamp bases and lighting bodies, figurines, statuettes and trophies, candlesticks and holloware, furniture and cabinet hardware and mirror and clock frames. In short: decorative slush-cast zinc.
What is the yield strength of Slush Metal?
Slush Metal has a typical yield strength of 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 180 MPa (26.1 ksi) — weaker than 57% of zinc alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Slush Metal easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (78/100, worse than 61% of zinc alloy grades). Cuts very easily with sharp positive-rake carbide or HSS tools at high speed and light feed; thin slush walls need gentle clamping to avoid collapse.
Can Slush Metal be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Effectively unweldable by fusion; join by soft soldering (Zn/Sn-Zn alloys with active flux) or adhesives, or cast integral features.
What surface finishes work on Slush Metal?
Buffs to a bright surface and takes copper/nickel/chromium plating or antique lacquer readily; no anodizing, and chromate/lacquer is recommended for humid or outdoor exposure.
Can Slush Metal be formed, bent or molded?
Pour at ~430–470 °C into a cool steel or bronze mold, hold seconds to build the shell, then invert to drain the liquid core; wall thickness is set by pour temperature, mold temperature and dwell time.
What is the maximum service temperature of Slush Metal?
Slush Metal is rated for continuous use to about 100°C (212 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Slush Metal cost?
Slush Metal is a standard-cost zinc alloy ($$), cheaper than about 81% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol.15: Casting — Slush Casting and Zinc Casting Alloys — ASM International (2008)
- 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 Castings — ASTM International (2016)
- ASTM B86 — Zinc and Zinc-Aluminum Alloy Foundry and Die Castings — ASTM International (2018)
- ILZRO / Eastern Alloys zinc alloy property data (Zamak 3, ZA-8, ZA-12) — International Lead Zinc Research Organization (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.