Zinc alloy CA4
CA4 zinc alloy is a high-quality material with a wide range of applications across various industries. CA4 alloy contains approximately 4% aluminum and 0.1% copper, giving it unique properties such as high strength and corrosion resistance. This material is ideal for use under high loads and extreme temperatures. CA4 alloy is used in the production of various products, such as castings, engine parts, electrical equipment housings and enclosures, as well as in architectural and building structures.
Although zinc is a heavy metal, its brittleness prevents its widespread use. However, zinc is highly resistant to corrosion and readily alloys. Therefore, zinc-aluminum alloys, as well as copper alloys, are common.
Approximately half of all zinc produced is used to coat iron and steel to protect against corrosion. After galvanizing, pipelines, machine parts, metal wire, and other products become not only mechanically but also chemically more resistant.
CA4 is produced in crucible and induction furnaces using pure metals as the base. Zinc grades PVO, TsV, TsO, and Ts1 are used for the alloy. First, the charge is heated to 400-450°C, and approximately two-thirds of the zinc is added. After the metal melts and heats to 460-480°C, aluminum is added and mixed. After the aluminum dissolves, the remaining zinc is added, and the remaining alloying elements are added before casting.
The finished alloy is refined with ammonium chloride or zinc and then cast into 20 kg ingots (piglets).
CA4 is manufactured in accordance with GOST 19424-74 standards. The ingots are marked with two red stripes on the end face to distinguish the alloy from other zinc supplies.
Chemical composition of CA4
The chemical basis of CA4 is zinc. The percentage content of other elements is shown in the table below.
| Content of substances, % | ||||||||
| Zinc | Aluminum | Copper | Silicon | Lead | Magnesium | Tin | Iron | Cadmium |
| 95.28 − 96.48 | 3.5 − 4.5 | up to 0.06 | up to 0.015 | up to 0.01 | 0.02 − 0.06 | up to 0.002 | up to 0.07 | up to 0.005 |
Properties and applications of the CA4 alloy
Zinc casting alloy CA4 exhibits good ductility and corrosion resistance. It boasts excellent technological and mechanical properties: tensile strength is 256 MPa, and elongation at break is 1.8%. CA4 melts at 381–387°C.
The alloy's primary application is the production of dimensionally stable parts, using die casting.