Kirksite

Kirksite is an alloy of Aluminum and Zinc. Originally developed for making sheet metal dies for low volume manufacturing, new uses have been found.

Characteristics

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Approximately 94 percent Zn (zinc), 6 percent Al (aluminum, aluminium). Medium strength. The primary virtue of this metal is its low melting temperature (~725F) and low cost. Durability is less than that of steel, but the overall costs are much lower as well. The melting temperature is low enough that it can be poured into rubber molds. Kirksite has a reputation for accuracy and low porosity.

Uses

It is almost exclusively used in the die and mold-making industry. Kirksite has long been available for short-run manufacturing and has recently enjoyed new popularity as a RP (Rapid Prototyping) solution.^[1] Typical applications for Kirksite alloys are:

• Stamping Dies
  • Sheet Metal
    • Punches
    • Press dies (car body parts)
  • Tube bending

• Press tools for sheet metal forming

• Molds
  • Injection molds
  • Compression molds

• Other
  • Mandrels for metal spinning Die_(manufacturing)
  • Tools, Non-sparking (petro industry)

Properties

1. ^ Moldmaking Technology "Methods of Rapid Tooling Worldwide". By Philip Dickens, Richard Hague and Terry Wohlers