515.0 (515.0-F) Cast Aluminum
515.0 aluminum is an aluminum alloy formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the as-fabricated (no temper or treatment) condition. 515.0 is the Aluminum Association (AA) designation for this material. Additionally, the UNS number is A05150.
It has a moderately high melting temperature among the ANSI/AA cast aluminums in the database.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare 515.0 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
70 GPa 10 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
10 %
Fatigue Strength
130 MPa 19 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
26 GPa 3.8 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
190 MPa 27 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
280 MPa 41 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
470 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
170 °C 340 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
620 °C 1150 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
620 °C 1150 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
900 J/kg-K 0.22 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Expansion
23 µm/m-K
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
9.5 % relative
Density
2.6 g/cm3 160 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
8.4 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
150 MJ/kg 64 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
1120 L/kg 130 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
15 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
52 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
30 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
36 points
Thermal Shock Resistance
13 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast aluminum alloys, the composition of 515.0 aluminum is notable for containing a comparatively high amount of magnesium (Mg). Magnesium promotes hardenability through both heat treatment and strain hardening mechanisms. It also increases susceptibility to intergranular corrosion.
| Al | 93.6 to 96.6 | |
| Si | 0.5 to 10 | |
| Mg | 2.5 to 4.0 | |
| Fe | 0 to 1.3 | |
| Mn | 0.4 to 0.6 | |
| Cu | 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
Iron in Aluminium Alloys: Impurity and Alloying Element, N. A. Belov et al., 2002
Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, ASM Handbook vol. 2, ASM International, 1993