Aluminum casting alloys
Aluminum casting alloys are aluminum alloys with silicon, copper or magnesium, intended for permanent mold casting, sand casting and high-pressure die casting. Their grades and chemical composition are specified in PN-EN 1706. In our foundry we most often cast five of them – from the versatile EN AC-42000 (AlSi7Mg) to the corrosion-resistant EN AC-51300 (AlMg5).
Casting alloys used by our aluminum foundry
| Alloy per PN-EN 1706 | Group | Process at our foundry | Key characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| EN AC-42000 (AlSi7Mg) | Al-Si-Mg | permanent mold, sand molds | good castability and corrosion resistance; can be solution treated and aged (T6) |
| EN AC-46200 (AlSi8Cu3) | Al-Si-Cu | high-pressure die casting | versatile copper-bearing alloy: good strength and machinability |
| EN AC-46500 (AlSi9Cu3(Fe)(Zn)) | Al-Si-Cu | high-pressure die casting | very good castability, thin walls – a typical alloy for die castings |
| EN AC-47100 (AlSi12Cu1(Fe)) | Al-Si (near-eutectic) | high-pressure die casting | best castability and pressure tightness – complex, thin-walled castings |
| EN AC-51300 (AlMg5) | Al-Mg | permanent mold | high corrosion resistance, good polishability; more difficult to cast |
The alloy is selected to suit the requirements of the part: strength, pressure tightness, corrosion resistance, surface finish and casting process. If the drawing does not specify a grade, we will help you choose one – see also our guide how to choose an aluminum alloy for permanent mold casting.
Charge materials and charge preparation
The foundry mainly melts certified charge material with a composition almost identical to the customer's requirements. We add alloying elements only when a specific order requires it.
We do not use charge material obtained from aluminum scrap. In some melts, to improve process economics, we partially add selected in-house returns – rejects and gating systems – with a composition matching the specified alloy.
Before the molds are filled, the liquid metal undergoes refining and modification to improve its quality. Because the charge material has a significant impact on the quality of the liquid metal, we store it in a way that protects it from contamination, moisture and mixing of grades.
Casting alloy specification
You can select the alloy according to PN, DIN and EN standards. Below we list the designations and chemical composition of the five alloys we cast most often, per PN-EN 1706 – in percent by weight, with aluminum as the balance. A single value indicates the maximum content; other elements and impurities are specified by the standard.
1. EN AC-42000 – AlSi7Mg
| Numerical designation | EN AC-42000 |
|---|---|
| Chemical designation | EN AC-AlSi7Mg |
| AA equivalent | 356 |
| Application | castings in permanent molds and sand molds, also after heat treatment (T6) |
Chemical composition of EN AC-42000 (% by weight)
| Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Zn | Ti | Al |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,5–7,5 | 0,55 | 0,20 | 0,35 | 0,20–0,65 | 0,15 | 0,25 | balance |
2. EN AC-46200 – AlSi8Cu3
| Numerical designation | EN AC-46200 |
|---|---|
| Chemical designation | EN AC-AlSi8Cu3 |
| Application | die castings; the alloy is also suitable for gravity casting |
Chemical composition of EN AC-46200 (wt %)
| Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Zn | Ti | Al |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,5–9,5 | 0,8 | 2,0–3,5 | 0,15–0,65 | 0,05–0,55 | 1,2 | 0,25 | balance |
3. EN AC-46500 – AlSi9Cu3(Fe)(Zn)
| Numerical designation | EN AC-46500 |
|---|---|
| Chemical designation | EN AC-AlSi9Cu3(Fe)(Zn) |
| Application | die castings, including thin-walled parts |
Chemical composition of EN AC-46500 (wt %)
| Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Zn | Ti | Al |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,0–11,0 | 1,3 | 2,0–4,0 | 0,55 | 0,05–0,55 | 3,0 | 0,25 | balance |
4. EN AC-47100 – AlSi12Cu1(Fe)
| Numerical designation | EN AC-47100 |
|---|---|
| Chemical designation | EN AC-AlSi12Cu1(Fe) |
| Application | die castings with complex shapes and thin walls that require pressure tightness |
Chemical composition of EN AC-47100 (wt %)
| Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Zn | Ti | Al |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,5–13,5 | 1,3 | 0,7–1,2 | 0,55 | 0,35 | 0,55 | 0,20 | balance |
5. EN AC-51300 – AlMg5
| Numerical designation | EN AC-51300 |
|---|---|
| Chemical designation | EN AC-AlMg5 |
| Application | permanent mold castings exposed to corrosion or intended for polishing and decorative finishing |
Chemical composition of EN AC-51300 (wt %)
| Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Zn | Ti | Al |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0,55 | 0,55 | 0,10 | 0,45 | 4,5–6,5 | 0,10 | 0,20 | balance |
In short: for permanent mold and sand castings, we most often use EN AC-42000 (AlSi7Mg), also in the T6 temper, and corrosion-resistant EN AC-51300 (AlMg5). For high-pressure die castings, we use the copper-bearing alloys EN AC-46200 and EN AC-46500, as well as the near-eutectic EN AC-47100.
More about technologies and processing: permanent mold casting, sand casting, high-pressure die casting, heat treatment of castings and aluminum casting alloys – properties.
Looking for a casting in a specific aluminum alloy? Send a drawing or 3D model to odlewnia@adjatech.pl or call: +48 61 662 43 37 (Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.).
Scope of services: foundry production capabilities.