ASTM A356 Grade 2 (J12523) Cast Steel
ASTM A356 grade 2 is an alloy steel formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the heat treated (HT) condition. ASTM A356 Grade 2 is the ASTM designation for this material. J12523 is the UNS number.
It has a very low electrical conductivity among cast alloy steels. In addition, it has a very low tensile strength and a moderately low embodied energy.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare ASTM A356 grade 2 to: cast alloy steels (top), all iron 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
150
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
190 GPa 27 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
25 %
Fatigue Strength
200 MPa 28 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.29
Reduction in Area
39 %
Shear Modulus
73 GPa 11 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
510 MPa 74 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
270 MPa 39 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
250 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
410 °C 760 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
1470 °C 2670 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
1430 °C 2600 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
470 J/kg-K 0.11 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
51 W/m-K 30 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
13 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
7.1 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
8.2 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
2.4 % relative
Density
7.9 g/cm3 490 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
1.5 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
20 MJ/kg 8.6 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
47 L/kg 5.6 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
110 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
190 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
13 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
24 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
18 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
18 points
Thermal Diffusivity
14 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
15 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast alloy steels, the composition of ASTM A356 grade 2 is notable for containing comparatively high amounts of molybdenum (Mo) and manganese (Mn). Molybdenum is used to facilitate tempering. In addition, it offers modest bonuses to a wide range of material properties. Manganese is used to improve hardenability and surface quality.
| Fe | 97.7 to 99.55 | |
| Mo | 0.45 to 0.65 | |
| Mn | 0 to 0.7 | |
| Si | 0 to 0.6 | |
| C | 0 to 0.25 | |
| P | 0 to 0.035 | |
| S | 0 to 0.030 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
ASTM A356: Standard Specification for Steel Castings, Carbon, Low Alloy, and Stainless Steel, Heavy-Walled for Steam Turbines