ASTM A356 Grade 5 (J12540) Cast Steel
ASTM A356 grade 5 is an alloy steel formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the heat treated (HT) condition. ASTM A356 Grade 5 is the ASTM designation for this material. J12540 is the UNS number.
It has a very low electrical conductivity among cast alloy steels. In addition, it has a moderately low embodied energy and a fairly low tensile strength.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare ASTM A356 grade 5 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
170
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
190 GPa 27 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
25 %
Fatigue Strength
230 MPa 33 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.29
Reduction in Area
39 %
Shear Modulus
73 GPa 11 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
550 MPa 80 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
310 MPa 45 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
250 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
420 °C 780 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
1470 °C 2670 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
1420 °C 2600 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
470 J/kg-K 0.11 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
49 W/m-K 29 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
13 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
7.2 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
8.3 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
2.6 % relative
Density
7.9 g/cm3 490 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
1.5 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
20 MJ/kg 8.7 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
49 L/kg 5.9 gal/lb
Common Calculations
PREN (Pitting Resistance)
2.2
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
120 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
250 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
13 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
24 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
20 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
19 points
Thermal Diffusivity
13 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
16 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast alloy steels, the composition of ASTM A356 grade 5 is notable for containing comparatively high amounts of chromium (Cr) and molybdenum (Mo). Chromium is used to improve corrosion resistance and most mechanical properties (particularly at higher temperatures). Molybdenum is used to facilitate tempering. In addition, it offers modest bonuses to a wide range of material properties.
| Fe | 97.1 to 99.2 | |
| Cr | 0.4 to 0.7 | |
| Mo | 0.4 to 0.6 | |
| 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