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EN AC-45500 (45500-T6, AISi7Cu0.5Mg) Cast Aluminum

EN AC-45500 aluminum is an aluminum alloy formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the T6 temper. To achieve this temper, the metal is solution heat-treated and artificially aged until it meets standard mechanical property requirements. 45500 is the EN numeric designation for this material. Additionally, the EN chemical designation is AISi7Cu0,5Mg.

It has a moderately high melting temperature among Euronorm (EN) cast aluminums. In addition, it has a moderately high thermal conductivity and a fairly high tensile strength.

The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare EN AC-45500 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

110

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus

70 GPa 10 x 106 psi

Elongation at Break

2.8 %

Fatigue Strength

80 MPa 12 x 103 psi

Poisson's Ratio

0.33

Shear Modulus

26 GPa 3.8 x 106 psi

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)

320 MPa 46 x 103 psi

Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)

250 MPa 36 x 103 psi

Thermal Properties

Latent Heat of Fusion

500 J/g

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical

170 °C 340 °F

Melting Completion (Liquidus)

610 °C 1130 °F

Melting Onset (Solidus)

600 °C 1110 °F

Specific Heat Capacity

900 J/kg-K 0.22 BTU/lb-°F

Thermal Conductivity

150 W/m-K 89 BTU/h-ft-°F

Thermal Expansion

22 µm/m-K

Electrical Properties

Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume

33 % IACS

Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)

110 % 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 64 x 103 BTU/lb

Embodied Water

1110 L/kg 130 gal/lb

Common Calculations

Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)

8.2 MJ/m3

Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)

430 kJ/m3

Stiffness to Weight: Axial

15 points

Stiffness to Weight: Bending

53 points

Strength to Weight: Axial

34 points

Strength to Weight: Bending

40 points

Thermal Diffusivity

65 mm2/s

Thermal Shock Resistance

15 points

Alloy Composition

Among cast aluminum alloys, the composition of EN AC-45500 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.

Aluminum (Al)Al 90.6 to 93.1
Silicon (Si)Si 6.5 to 7.5
Copper (Cu)Cu 0.2 to 0.7
Magnesium (Mg)Mg 0.2 to 0.45
Iron (Fe)Fe 0 to 0.25
Titanium (Ti)Ti 0 to 0.2
Manganese (Mn)Mn 0 to 0.15
Zinc (Zn)Zn 0 to 0.070
Residualsres. 0 to 0.1

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 Bonding Technology and Data, J. D. Minford, 1993