Glossary
Alloy — definition
A metal with alloying elements added within defined ranges, giving the part its mechanical and casting properties.
An alloy is not a description, it is a specification. “Aluminium” says little; a designation such as EN AC-46000 or Zamak 5 states precisely which elements are present in what quantities, and therefore what the part will withstand.
The alloy choice affects everything: tensile strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, how well the metal flows in the die, whether the part can be heat treated and whether it can be anodised.
Practical advice: always ask for the alloy designation on the quotation, not a material description. Then you know what you are getting, and you can compare two suppliers on equal terms.