240.0 (240.0-F) Cast Aluminum
240.0 aluminum is an aluminum alloy formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the as-fabricated (no temper or treatment) condition. 240.0 is the Aluminum Association (AA) designation for this material. Additionally, the UNS number is A02400.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare 240.0 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
72 GPa 10 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
1.0 %
Fatigue Strength
140 MPa 20 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
27 GPa 3.9 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
240 MPa 34 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
200 MPa 29 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
380 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
180 °C 350 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
600 °C 1120 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
520 °C 960 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
860 J/kg-K 0.21 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
96 W/m-K 55 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
22 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
23 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
65 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
12 % relative
Density
3.2 g/cm3 200 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
8.7 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
150 MJ/kg 62 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
1100 L/kg 130 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
2.2 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
280 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
12 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
43 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
20 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
26 points
Thermal Diffusivity
35 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
11 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast aluminum alloys, the composition of 240.0 aluminum is notable for containing comparatively high amounts of copper (Cu) and magnesium (Mg). Copper is used to improve strength. This comes at the cost of a decrease in corrosion resistance and weldability. Magnesium promotes hardenability through both heat treatment and strain hardening mechanisms. It also increases susceptibility to intergranular corrosion.
| Al | 81.7 to 86.9 | |
| Cu | 7.0 to 9.0 | |
| Mg | 5.5 to 6.5 | |
| Mn | 0.3 to 0.7 | |
| Ni | 0.3 to 0.7 | |
| Si | 0 to 0.5 | |
| Fe | 0 to 0.5 | |
| Ti | 0 to 0.2 | |
| Zn | 0 to 0.1 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.15 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
Handbook of Aluminum vol. 2: Alloy Production and Materials Manufacturing, George Totten and D. Scott MacKenzie (editors), 2003
ASM Specialty Handbook: Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys, J. R. Davis (editor), 1993
CRC Materials Science and Engineering Handbook, 4th ed., James F. Shackelford et al. (editors), 2015