512.0 (512.0-F, formerly B514.0, SG42A, A05120) Cast Aluminum
512.0 aluminum is an aluminum alloy formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the as-fabricated (no temper or treatment) condition. 512.0 is the Aluminum Association (AA) designation for this material. A05120 is the UNS number. Older literature may refer to this material as ASTM SG42A or B514.0.
It has a moderately low tensile strength among the ANSI/AA cast aluminums in the database.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare 512.0 aluminum to: ANSI/AA cast aluminums (top), all aluminum alloys (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Brinell Hardness
50
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
69 GPa 10 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
2.0 %
Fatigue Strength
58 MPa 8.4 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
26 GPa 3.8 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
130 MPa 19 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
83 MPa 12 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
420 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
180 °C 350 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
630 °C 1170 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
590 °C 1090 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
900 J/kg-K 0.22 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
150 W/m-K 85 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
23 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
38 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
130 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
9.5 % relative
Density
2.7 g/cm3 170 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
8.8 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
150 MJ/kg 66 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
1160 L/kg 140 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
2.3 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
50 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
14 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
51 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
14 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
22 points
Thermal Diffusivity
60 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
6.1 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast aluminum alloys, the composition of 512.0 aluminum is notable for containing a comparatively high amount of magnesium (Mg) and including chromium (Cr). Magnesium promotes hardenability through both heat treatment and strain hardening mechanisms. It also increases susceptibility to intergranular corrosion. Chromium is used to limit grain growth during hot working or heat treatment, which improves ductility and toughness. Chromium also reduces the alloy's susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking. If the alloy is anodized, the presence of chromium will tend to add a yellow tint to the film.
| Al | 90.6 to 95.1 | |
| Mg | 3.5 to 4.5 | |
| Si | 1.4 to 2.2 | |
| Mn | 0 to 0.8 | |
| Fe | 0 to 0.6 | |
| Zn | 0 to 0.35 | |
| Cu | 0 to 0.35 | |
| Cr | 0 to 0.25 | |
| Ti | 0 to 0.25 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.15 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
ASTM B26: Standard Specification for Aluminum-Alloy Sand Castings
Handbook of Aluminum Bonding Technology and Data, J. D. Minford, 1993
Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, ASM Handbook vol. 2, ASM International, 1993