由于压铸过程中的剧烈冷却，以及铝和铜在锌中的固溶性随温度变化，这些合金会发生一些时效变化，其中之一就是尺寸变化。这两种合金在铸造后都会发生轻微的收缩，在室温下，在五周内完成约三分之二的收缩。可以通过稳定退火来加速收缩，之后不会发生进一步的变化。建议的稳定退火时间为100摄氏度（212华氏度）下3至6小时，或85摄氏度（185华氏度）下5至10小时，或70摄氏度（158华氏度）下10至20小时。每种情况下的时间都是从铸件达到退火温度的时间开始测量的。零件退火后可进行空气冷却。这种处理将导致收缩（0.0004英寸/英寸）约占总收缩量的三分之二，剩余收缩将在随后的几周内在室温下发生。 稳定化会导致铸件尺寸比原始尺寸减小约0.0005英寸。当然，如果机器或配件操作可以延迟到铸件在室温下老化五周，则不需要进行稳定。当暴露在不流动的湿气或接触氧气有限的冷凝液中时，锌压铸件上可能会发生不均匀的腐蚀，这通常会导致形成白色腐蚀产物的厚膜。这可能会妨碍汽车锁芯、燃油泵和化油器等部件的工作，严重时会导致锌的迅速流失。各种类型的铬酸盐薄膜都可以令人满意地克服这种情况。这两种合金采用相同的电镀或上漆程序。有机饰面对锌表面的粘附能力差异很大。磷酸盐类型的化学预处理已经得到了最广泛的商业应用，大多数锌压铸件都是经过磷酸盐预处理的，这些锌压铸件将用油漆或搪瓷进行表面处理。 一般来说，可以在预处理的压铸件上使用更广泛的饰面选择。两种SAE合金的相对优点可概述如下:

Because of the drastic chilling involved in die casting and the fact that the solid solubilities of both aluminum and copper in zinc change with temperature, these alloys are subject to some aging changes, one of which is a dimensional change. Both of the alloys undergo a slight shrinkage after casting, which at room temperature is about two-thirds complete in five weeks. It is possible to accelerate this shrinkage by a stabilizing anneal, after which no further changes occur. The recommended stabilizing anneal is 3 to 6 h at 100 Degrees C (212 Degrees F), or 5 to 10 h at 85 Degrees C (185 Degrees F), or 10 to 20 h at 70 Degrees C (158 Degrees F). The time in each case is measured from the time at which the castings reach the annealing temperature. The parts may be air cooled after annealing. Such a treatment will cause a shrinkage (0.0004 in per in) of about two-thirds of the total, and the remaining shrinkage will occur at room temperature during the subsequent few weeks. Stabilizing results in a decrease in dimensions of about 0.0005 in per in from the original size of the casting. Stabilizing is, of course, unnecessary if the machine or fitting operations can be delayed until the castings have aged five weeks at room temperature.When exposed to stagnant moisture or condensation with limited access to oxygen, a nonuniform type of corrosion may occur on zinc die castings, which often results in the formation of a bulky film of white corrosion products. This may hinder the operation of such parts as automobile lock cylinders, fuel pumps, and carburetors, and in severe cases result in rather rapid loss of zinc. Various types of chromate films are available to satisfactorily overcome this condition.The same electroplating or enameling procedure is used with both alloys. Organic finishes are quite variable in their ability to adhere well to zinc surfaces. The phosphate type of chemical pretreatment has received widest commercial utilization, and most zinc die castings which are to be finished with lacquers or enamels are phosphate pretreated. In general, a much wider selection of finishes can be used on pretreated die castings.The relative merits of the two SAE alloys may be outlined as follows: