ABS vs Zinc die-casting alloy
ABS and Zinc die-casting alloy are genuine alternatives to one another — a choice somebody actually makes — and differ on 2 measured properties, density most clearly.
ABS vs Zinc die-casting alloy
These are different kinds of thing (material, alloy). Fewer properties mean the same thing across both, so a like-for-like reading may not be available.
ABS
Three monomers doing three jobs — the tough, opaque plastic of appliance housings, car interiors and the LEGO brick.
Zinc die-casting alloy
The alloy behind almost every small metal part in a consumer product — cast to shape in seconds, and rarely noticed.
| Property | ABS | Zinc die-casting alloy |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.04–1.07 g/cm³ | 6.6–6.7 g/cm³ higher |
| Melting point Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | Not known | 381–387 °C |
| Tensile strength | 40–50 MPa | 280–330 MPa higher |
| Young's modulus Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare. | 1.8–2.5 GPa | Not known |
Choosing between them
Zinc die-casting alloy is recorded as a substitute for ABS — better at temperature, stronger.
What it gives up: Roughly six times the density, and it cannot be coloured through.
In this application, on the evidence cited above.