359.0 (A03590) Cast Aluminum
359.0 aluminum is an aluminum alloy formulated for casting. 359.0 is the Aluminum Association (AA) designation for this material. A03590 is the UNS number. This material originally entered the market in 1961.
The properties of 359.0 aluminum include two common variations. This page shows summary ranges across both of them. For more specific values, follow the links immediately below. The graph bars on the material properties cards further below compare 359.0 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
90 to 100
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
71 GPa 10 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
3.8 to 4.9 %
Fatigue Strength
100 MPa 15 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
27 GPa 3.8 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
220 to 230 MPa 32 to 34 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
340 to 350 MPa 49 to 51 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
250 to 280 MPa 37 to 40 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
530 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
170 °C 340 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
600 °C 1110 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
570 °C 1060 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
910 J/kg-K 0.22 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
140 W/m-K 79 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
21 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
35 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
120 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
9.5 % relative
Density
2.6 g/cm3 160 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
8.0 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
150 MJ/kg 63 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
1090 L/kg 130 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
12 to 15 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
450 to 540 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
15 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
54 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
37 to 38 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
42 to 43 points
Thermal Diffusivity
59 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
16 to 17 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast aluminum alloys, the composition of 359.0 aluminum is notable for containing a comparatively high amount of silicon (Si). Silicon is used to improve casting fluidity and lower melting temperature. It also has a strengthening effect.
| Al | 88.9 to 91 | |
| Si | 8.5 to 9.5 | |
| Mg | 0.5 to 0.7 | |
| Fe | 0 to 0.2 | |
| Ti | 0 to 0.2 | |
| Cu | 0 to 0.2 | |
| Mn | 0 to 0.1 | |
| 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
ASTM B108: Standard Specification for Aluminum-Alloy Permanent Mold Castings
Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, ASM Handbook vol. 2, ASM International, 1993