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.
| Al | 90.6 to 93.1 | |
| Si | 6.5 to 7.5 | |
| Cu | 0.2 to 0.7 | |
| Mg | 0.2 to 0.45 | |
| Fe | 0 to 0.25 | |
| Ti | 0 to 0.2 | |
| Mn | 0 to 0.15 | |
| Zn | 0 to 0.070 | |
| res. | 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