EN AC-45400 (45400-T4, AISi5Cu3) Cast Aluminum
EN AC-45400 aluminum is an aluminum alloy formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the T4 temper. To achieve this temper, the metal is solution heat-treated and naturally aged. 45400 is the EN numeric designation for this material. AISi5Cu3 is the EN chemical designation.
It has a fairly high ductility among Euronorm (EN) cast aluminums. In addition, it has a moderately high density and a moderately low electrical conductivity.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare EN AC-45400 aluminum to: Euronorm (EN) 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
86
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
72 GPa 10 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
6.7 %
Fatigue Strength
55 MPa 8.0 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
27 GPa 3.9 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
260 MPa 37 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
130 MPa 18 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
470 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
170 °C 340 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
630 °C 1170 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
560 °C 1030 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
880 J/kg-K 0.21 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
140 W/m-K 79 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
22 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
30 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
95 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
10 % relative
Density
2.8 g/cm3 180 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
7.8 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
150 MJ/kg 63 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
1100 L/kg 130 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
14 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
110 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
14 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
49 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
25 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
32 points
Thermal Diffusivity
54 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
12 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast aluminum alloys, the composition of EN AC-45400 aluminum is notable for including lead (Pb) and containing a comparatively high amount of copper (Cu). Lead is used to improve machinability at the cost of toxicity and a decrease in weldability. Copper is used to improve strength. This comes at the cost of a decrease in corrosion resistance and weldability.
| Al | 88.4 to 92.9 | |
| Si | 4.5 to 6.0 | |
| Cu | 2.6 to 3.6 | |
| Fe | 0 to 0.6 | |
| Mn | 0 to 0.55 | |
| Ti | 0 to 0.25 | |
| Zn | 0 to 0.2 | |
| Ni | 0 to 0.1 | |
| Pb | 0 to 0.1 | |
| Sn | 0 to 0.050 | |
| Mg | 0 to 0.050 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.15 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
EN 1706: Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Castings. Chemical composition and mechanical properties
Handbook of Aluminum vol. 2: Alloy Production and Materials Manufacturing, George Totten and D. Scott MacKenzie (editors), 2003