Non-ferrous alloys use a non-iron base—typically aluminum, zinc, magnesium, copper (brass/bronze), titanium, and nickel. This page is a scannable catalog of common alloy names with what they do well and which casting processes fit (especially HPDC for aluminum/zinc/magnesium). Use the Quick Selector first, then the Full Lists by family.
Non-Ferrous Alloys Quick selector
| Goal | Typical alloy picks | Why it works | Casting fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight + structural | Al (A380/A360/AlSi10Mg), Mg (AZ91D/AM60B/AE44) | Low density, good strength-to-weight | HPDC for Al/Mg; Mg needs tighter controls |
| Very fine detail / small parts | Zn (Zamak 3/5/7, ZA-8) | Superb fluidity, micro-features, stable | HPDC |
| Outdoor/marine corrosion | Al (A360, A383), Cu-based bronzes (C95400/C95500) | Passive films, alloy chemistry | Al HPDC; bronzes via sand/investment |
| Conductivity/thermal | Cu (C11000/C26000/C36000), Al (A380) | Cu/Al move heat/current efficiently | Cu sand/investment/fab; Al HPDC |
| High temperature | Ni (Inconel 625/718; Hastelloy C-276; Nimonic) | Strength + oxidation at heat | Not die-cast; investment/sand/forging |
| Cost at volume | Al (A380/A383), Zn (Zamak 3) | Near-net, repeatability | HPDC |
How to read the Non-Ferrous Alloys names
- Aluminum (Al): AA/ASTM casting (A380, A360, 319, 356, 357, 384, 390, 413) and EN AC (e.g., EN AC-AlSi10Mg, AlSi9Cu3)
- Zinc (Zn): Zamak (2/3/5/7) and ZA (ZA-8/-12/-27) families
- Magnesium (Mg): families like AZ/AM/AE/WE/AJ, e.g., AZ91D, AM50A, AM60B, AE44, WE43, AJ62A, AZ31B, AZ80A
- Copper-base (Cu): UNS C + five digits (e.g., C11000, C26000, C36000, C95400, C93200)
- Titanium (Ti): Grades (1–4 CP) and Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5), Grade 7/9/12/23 (ELI), etc.
- Nickel-based: trade families like Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel, Nimonic, Incoloy (e.g., 625, 718, C-276, 400, 90, 800H/825)
Non-Ferrous Alloys Full Lists with casting notes
Aluminum casting alloys (HPDC focus; plus important non-HPDC cast alloys)
HPDC mainstays:
A380 • A360 • A383 • A384 • A413 • 319 • 390 • AlSi10Mg (EN AC-AlSi10Mg) • EN AC-AlSi9Cu3 • EN AC-AlSi12 • EN AC-AlSi7Mg0.3
Other cast routes (squeeze/sand/investment) often seen in components:
356/A356 • 357/A357 • 535 (Mg-bearing) • 206 (Al-Cu) • 242 (Al-Cu) • 712 (Al-Zn)
- What they’re good at: A380/A383/A413 = excellent flow for thin-wall housings; A360/EN AC-AlSi12 = corrosion; 319/390 = pressure-tight castings; AlSi10Mg/356/357 = heat-treatable structural potential.
- Casting fit: HPDC for A380/A360/A383/A384/A413/319/390/EN AC-AlSi9Cu3/AlSi12; squeeze/sand for 356/357/535/206/242.
- Typical uses: motor/inverter/ECU housings, carriers, pump/valve bodies, lighting housings, heat-sink covers, brackets.
Zinc alloys (HPDC + some gravity/permanent-mold)
Zamak family: Zamak 2, 3, 5, 7
ZA family: ZA-8, ZA-12, ZA-27
Other commercial Zn-Al/Cu variants: (program-specific sub-grades exist)
- What they’re good at: Superb fluidity, micro-feature replication, dimensional stability; easy plating or powder.
- Casting fit: HPDC for Zamak; ZA also suits gravity/permanent mold (select HPDC).
- Uses: precision gears, hinges, latches, connectors, appliance/furniture hardware, small housings.
Magnesium alloys (HPDC + thixomolding in cases)
Common die-casting/wrought references:
AZ91D, AM50A, AM60B, AE44, WE43, AJ62A, AZ31B, AZ61A, AZ63, AZ80A
- What they’re good at: Ultra-light mass with useful stiffness; interior structural and handheld devices; AE/WE raise high-temp/strength via rare-earths.
- Casting fit: HPDC with specialist controls; thixomolding for some grades; AZ31B/AZ80A often wrought but relevant in Mg selection shortlists.
- Uses: steering wheels, seat frames, brackets, laptop/tool shells.
Copper-base alloys (brass / bronze / cupronickel) — usually not die-cast
Coppers & brasses (Cu-Zn):
C10100, C11000 (high-conductivity coppers) • C26000, C26800, C27200, C28000 (cartridge/yellow brasses) • C35300, C36000 (free-cutting) • C37700 (forgings)
Bronzes (Cu-Sn / Al-bronze / Si-bronze / Pb-bronze):
C90300, C90500, C90700 (tin bronzes) • C93200 (bearing) • C83600 (red brass/cast bronze) • C95400, C95500, C95800 (Al-bronzes) • C65500 (Si-bronze)
Cu-Ni and “nickel silver”:
C70600 (90-10), C71500 (70-30) cupronickels • C75200/C75700 (nickel silvers)
- Casting fit: sand / investment casting, forging, machining are typical routes.
- Uses: bushings/bearings, valves/fittings, marine hardware, busbars/terminals, decorative/architectural.
Titanium alloys — not die-cast
Commercially pure (CP): Grade 1–4
Alloyed: Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V), Grade 7 (Ti-0.2Pd), Grade 9 (Ti-3Al-2.5V), Grade 12 (Ti-0.3Mo-0.8Ni), Grade 23 (Ti-6Al-4V ELI), Grade 11/16/18 (Pd-bearing corrosion grades), Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, etc.
- Casting fit: investment casting, forging, machining, additive (not HPDC).
- Uses: aerospace structures/fasteners, medical implants, chemical equipment.
Nickel-based alloys — not die-cast
Inconel: 600, 601, 625, 686, 718, 725
Hastelloy: C-276, C-22, B-2, X
Monel: 400, K-500
Nimonic: 75, 80A, 90
Incoloy: 800, 800H, 825
Alloy 20 (austenitic, corrosion-resistant)
- Casting fit: investment/sand/forging (high-temp or corrosive service).
- Uses: turbines and hot-zone parts, chemical/energy equipment, seawater fittings.
Non-Ferrous Alloys Casting fit decoder
- HPDC (High-Pressure Die Casting): best for Al/Zn/Mg at volume; thin walls, integrated features, tight repeatability.
- Gravity / Permanent mold: slower fill, good integrity; used by some ZA and Al grades.
- Sand / Investment: flexible shapes and alloy coverage (Cu, Ti, Ni families).
- Forging / Machining / Additive: when properties or geometry dictate.
YongzhuCasting Finishing notes you can act on
- Aluminum: controlled bead (satin) or AO 120–150 (adhesion) → powder or anodize; coat within 4–24 h, handle with gloves.
- Zinc: light media clean → powder or Ni/Cr/Brass plating (premium appearance + wear).
- Magnesium: gentle media → conversion coat → powder/paint; tight wet-process control.
We keep media × grit × PSI recipes per part, so Ra and adhesion stay consistent lot-to-lot.
We run 800–2000-ton aluminum die-casting lines and routinely ship A380 / A360 / A383 / A384 / A413 / 319 / 390 / EN AC-AlSi9Cu3 / AlSi12 / AlSi10Mg parts with controlled blasting and powder/anodize, plus CMM inspection.
→ Upload your drawing for a 24-hour alloy × process × finish shortlist and a quote path.
FAQs
Is ZA-27 stronger than Zamak 5?
Generally yes—ZA-27 (higher Al) trades some fluidity for strength and wear, often in gravity/permanent-mold parts; Zamak 5 is a HPDC staple for small precision parts.
Can A356 be used like A380 in HPDC?
Typically no. A356 is usually sand/squeeze/investment cast and then heat-treated; A380/A360/A383/A413 are the HPDC mainstays for housings.
What Mg alloy suits impact energy absorption?
AM50A/AM60B are popular for improved ductility and crash energy management in steering wheels and interior frames.
Which copper alloys are best for bearings?
Classics include C93200 (bearing bronze) and C93600, while C95400/C95500 (aluminum bronzes) serve high-load wear in harsher environments.
Why not die-cast titanium or nickel superalloys?
Their melting/flow/chemistry and required properties drive investment/sand/forging, not HPDC; they are used for high-temp/chemical service instead.
