Materials database

Magnesium-alloyed aluminum casting alloy with excellent corrosion resistance, particularly in marine and chemical environments. No silicon addition — relies on Mg 2.5-3.5% for solid solution strengthening. Good weldability and anodizing response. Lower castability than AlSi alloys due to absence of Si. Used for marine fittings, chemical process equipment, food industry components, and architectural castings requiring superior corrosion resistance and anodic finish.

Versatile aluminum casting alloy with excellent castability and good mechanical properties. THE standard alloy for metal 3D printing (SLM/DMLS/L-PBF) due to its excellent processability with laser powder bed fusion. Also widely used in conventional sand casting and gravity die casting. Si 9-11% provides outstanding fluidity and low shrinkage. Used for automotive structural parts, aerospace components, 3D-printed functional prototypes and series parts, heat exchangers, and complex thin-walled castings.

Eutectic aluminum-silicon casting alloy with excellent fluidity and castability. Si 10.5-13.5% near the eutectic point provides the best mould-filling capability among all Al casting alloys. Good corrosion resistance and weldability. NOT heat-treatable (no Mg). Used for complex thin-walled castings, marine components, food industry equipment, cooking utensils, and architectural castings. Equivalent to ASTM A413.0 and DIN G-AlSi12.

Eutectic aluminum die casting alloy with copper addition for improved hot-tear resistance compared to EN AC-46000. Si ~12% provides excellent castability. Cu ~1% improves strength and machinability. Higher Fe tolerance for HPDC anti-soldering. Used for complex thin-walled die castings, automotive transmission and structural components requiring good hot-tear resistance, electronics housings, and industrial die cast parts. Equivalent to ASTM A383.0.

The most important aluminum sand and gravity die casting alloy worldwide. Excellent castability, good mechanical properties after T6 heat treatment, and outstanding weldability. Si 6.5-7.5% provides excellent fluidity, Mg 0.25-0.45% enables precipitation hardening. Used for automotive wheels, suspension components, aerospace structural castings, engine brackets, and high-integrity safety-critical castings. Equivalent to ASTM A356.0 and DIN G-AlSi7Mg.

Higher-strength variant of AlSi7Mg0.3 with increased Mg content (0.45-0.70%) for superior T6 heat treatment response. Achieves higher tensile and yield strength than EN AC-42100 after precipitation hardening. Used for safety-critical aerospace castings, high-performance automotive suspension knuckles, wheels, and structural components requiring maximum strength from the AlSi7Mg system. Equivalent to ASTM A357.0.

General-purpose aluminum sand and gravity die casting alloy with copper addition for improved strength. Si 7.5-9.5% and Cu 2.0-3.5% provide good castability and moderate strength without heat treatment. Used for general-purpose engine components, industrial housings, pump bodies, and medium-duty structural castings where machinability is important. Lower Fe tolerance than EN AC-46000 makes it suitable for sand/gravity casting.

The most widely used aluminum high-pressure die casting alloy in Europe. Si 8-11% and Cu 2-4% provide excellent castability and good strength without heat treatment. Higher Fe tolerance (up to 1.3%) prevents die soldering in HPDC. NOT heat-treatable (Cu and Fe form insoluble phases). Used for engine blocks, transmission housings, structural automotive die castings, power tool housings, and industrial die cast components. Equivalent to ASTM A380.0.

Commercially pure aluminium (99.5% min Al). Excellent corrosion resistance, thermal and electrical conductivity. Very soft and easily formed. Used for chemical plant equipment, food industry, reflectors, heat exchangers, electrical conductors, and decorative trim.

Commercially pure aluminum (99.5% Al minimum). Excellent corrosion resistance, highest thermal and electrical conductivity among Al alloys, and outstanding formability. Low strength (UTS ~100 MPa annealed) limits structural use. Non-heat-treatable — strengthened only by cold work (H14/H24 tempers). Used for chemical processing equipment, food packaging foil, reflectors, heat exchangers, electrical busbars, capacitor foils, and architectural cladding/roofing. The baseline aluminum for conductivity applications.

Commercially pure aluminum (99.0% min Al). Excellent corrosion resistance, highest thermal and electrical conductivity among common alloys, and outstanding formability. Very low strength — not for structural applications. Used for chemical equipment, heat exchangers, fin stock, name plates, reflectors, and food/pharmaceutical packaging.

Commercially pure aluminum (99.0% min Al) — the European variant of 1100. Slightly different Si/Fe impurity limits. Same excellent corrosion resistance, conductivity, and formability. Used for heat exchanger fins, foil, chemical equipment, and general sheet applications where high conductivity and corrosion resistance matter more than strength.

The original free-cutting aluminum alloy. Al-Cu with Pb+Bi additions for chip-breaking — the highest machinability rating of any Al alloy. Being phased out in EU for RoHS compliance (Pb content). Replaced by 6026 (Bi only) or 6082 in new designs. Still widely used in US/Asia. Used for high-volume screw machine products, precision bushings, fittings, and instruments.

High-strength Al-Cu alloy, heat-treatable to high strength levels. Good machinability in T6. Poor corrosion resistance (needs cladding or anodizing). Used for heavy-duty forgings, truck wheels, aircraft structures, and general high-strength structural applications. One of the oldest aerospace Al alloys.

The original "Duralumin" — historically the first high-strength aluminium alloy. Cu-Mg composition with natural aging (T4). Good machinability and moderate strength. Largely superseded by 2024 and 7xxx alloys for aerospace, but still widely used for screw-machine parts, hydraulic fittings, and structural rivets.

Heat-treatable Al-Cu-Mg alloy (Duralumin family). Higher strength than 6xxx series in T4 condition (UTS ~430 MPa) with excellent machinability. Not suitable for welding due to Cu content. Limited corrosion resistance — usually anodized or clad. Standard material for turned parts, screw machine products, fittings and structural components requiring high strength. One of the original aerospace aluminum alloys.

THE aerospace aluminum alloy — Al-Cu-Mg, introduced by Alcoa in 1931 as "Dural". Excellent fatigue resistance and damage tolerance. T3: UTS 400-470 MPa, good natural aging. Not weldable, poor corrosion resistance (often Alclad). Used for aircraft fuselage skins, wing skins, structural members under tension, ribs, and frames. Also: hydraulic valve bodies, gears, computer parts.

Classic high-strength aerospace aluminium alloy (Al-Cu-Mg). Excellent fatigue resistance — the standard choice for aircraft fuselage skins and wing tension members. Poor corrosion resistance and weldability. Often supplied with Alclad cladding for corrosion protection. In use since 1931.

THE weldable aerospace Al-Cu alloy — Cu 5.8-6.8%, no Mg. Unique among 2xxx: fully weldable (unlike 2024/2014). Retains strength from -250°C to +315°C. Used for Space Shuttle external tank, Saturn V fuel tanks, and cryogenic vessels. T87: UTS 455 MPa. Also used for supersonic aircraft skins and high-temperature structural applications up to 315°C.

The most widely used manganese aluminium alloy. ~20% stronger than 1050A with similar formability and corrosion resistance. Non-heat-treatable. Used for heat exchangers, cooking utensils, pressure vessels, chemical equipment, and architectural trim.

Al-Mn general purpose alloy — Mn 1.0-1.5%. ~20% stronger than 1100 pure Al with similar excellent formability, corrosion resistance, and weldability. Non-heat-treatable. THE cooking/food industry aluminum: pots, pans, beverage cans, heat exchangers, chemical equipment, and general sheet metal. Also used for roofing, siding, and storage tanks.

Al-Mn-Mg alloy — THE beverage can body material. Mn 1.0-1.5% + Mg 0.8-1.3% give moderate strength (UTS 240-280 H19) with excellent formability for deep drawing and ironing. ~200 billion cans/year worldwide. Also used for roofing sheet, color-coated panels, and storage tanks. Stronger than 3003 due to Mg addition.

Al-Mn-Mg alloy with slightly higher strength than 3003. Good formability and corrosion resistance. Not heat-treatable. Commonly used for building products, mobile homes/trailers, bottle caps, and general sheet metal applications. Intermediate between 3003 and 5005 in the strength hierarchy.

Near-eutectic Al-Si brazing alloy — Si 11-13%. Lowest melting point (~577°C eutectic) in the Al-Si system = ideal brazing filler. Superior fluidity and joint fill vs 4043 (5% Si). Used as brazing sheet clad layer and wire for CAB (Controlled Atmosphere Brazing) of heat exchangers, radiators, evaporators, and condensers. Also used for welding Al-Si castings.