238.0 (238.0-F) Cast Aluminum
238.0 aluminum is an aluminum alloy formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the as-fabricated (no temper or treatment) condition. 238.0 is the Aluminum Association (AA) designation for this material. Additionally, the UNS number is A02380.
It has the highest density among the ANSI/AA cast aluminums in the database.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare 238.0 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
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
76 GPa 11 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
1.5 %
Fatigue Strength
110 MPa 17 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
28 GPa 4.1 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
210 MPa 30 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
170 MPa 24 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
430 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
170 °C 340 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
600 °C 1110 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
510 °C 950 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
840 J/kg-K 0.2 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
100 W/m-K 60 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
21 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
25 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
67 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
12 % relative
Density
3.4 g/cm3 210 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
7.4 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
140 MJ/kg 59 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
1040 L/kg 120 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
2.9 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
180 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
12 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
42 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
17 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
23 points
Thermal Diffusivity
37 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
9.1 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast aluminum alloys, the composition of 238.0 aluminum is notable for containing comparatively high amounts of copper (Cu) and iron (Fe). Copper is used to improve strength. This comes at the cost of a decrease in corrosion resistance and weldability. Most of the time, iron is an impurity in aluminum alloys. However, it may be added in quantity to improve strength (particularly at high temperatures) without much impact on electrical properties.
| Al | 81.9 to 84.9 | |
| Cu | 9.5 to 10.5 | |
| Si | 3.6 to 4.4 | |
| Fe | 1.0 to 1.5 | |
| Zn | 1.0 to 1.5 | |
| Mg | 0 to 0.25 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
Handbook of Aluminum Bonding Technology and Data, J. D. Minford, 1993
Aluminum: Properties and Physical Metallurgy, John E. Hatch (editor), 1984
Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, ASM Handbook vol. 2, ASM International, 1993