Wrought alloys: Wrought-zinc alloys are available in rolled sheet, strip, foil, and as drawn rod or wire. With controlled rolling, zinc alloys can be tailored to meet a wide range of hardness, luster, and ductility requirements. Rolled zinc can be worked by common fabricating methods, and then polished, lacquered, painted, or plated.

When zinc alloys are formed in progressive presses, as in battery-shell manufacture, they are self annealing. After successive forming operations in nonprogressive presses, however, the alloys work harden and break. This can be overcome, in copper-free alloys, by intermediate annealing for 5 min in boiling water to which 20% glycerine has been added. Copper-bearing alloys should be heated 5 to 10 min at 350°F. The copper and titanium-containing alloy should be held at 390°F for about 15 min to bring about crystallization. Excessive exposure to higher temperatures should be avoided, however, to prevent grain growth, cleavage cracks, and property deterioration.

Highly workable and highly forgeable wrought-zinc alloys containing Ti, Al, Pb, Cd, Cu, or Fe in various quantities are easily machined. Forged or extruded parts are free from porosity and have good detail.