2. Characteristics of plastic deformation of zinc alloys

2.1 Structure and crystallography

All wrought zinc alloys contain more than 98% zinc, and their forming behaviour is very similar.

The zinc matrix, optionally containing other elements in solid solution, has a compact hexagonal crystal structure, whose c/a ratio, equal to 1.856, is greater than the value of that of an ideal compact hexagonal structure [1] .

Finally, its density is slightly lower than that of carbon steels: 7.1 kg/dm ³ instead of 7.8 kg/dm ³ for standard steels.