Aluminum 222.0
AA 222.0 · UNS A02220
222.0 (UNS A02220) is a high-copper Al-Cu permanent mold casting alloy, with about 10 % Cu and stock conditions O, T61, T551 and T65 in the ANSI/AA 2xx.x family.
Reference datasheet — 222.0 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the T61 condition
222.0 tempers and conditions
222.0 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. T61 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Pick when maximum dimensional stability and lowest residual stress matter more than strength. | 138 | 186 | 1 | 80 HB | 38 % IACS |
Permanent mold cast, stabilized | Permanent-mold condition without solution treatment — good hardness with better dimensional stability and lower distortion risk. | 241 | 255 | 0.5 | 115 HB | 35 % IACS |
T61Default T6 variant, underaged | Standard sand-cast condition: highest strength/hardness combination normally supplied for 222.0. | 275 | 283 | 0.5 | 115 HB | 33 % IACS |
Permanent mold cast, solution heat treated and fully artificially aged | Highest strength and hardness available in 222.0 — choose for wear/bearing surfaces where near-zero ductility is acceptable. | 331 | 331 | 0.5 | 140 HB | 31 % IACS |
What is 222.0?
222.0 (UNS A02220) is a high-copper Al-Cu permanent mold casting alloy, with about 10 % Cu and stock conditions O, T61, T551 and T65 in the ANSI/AA 2xx.x family. It was used historically where high hardness and strength after heat treatment were needed: the default values are 275 MPa yield, 283 MPa tensile, 115 HB and a machinability score of 80, with service to 200 °C and 129 W/m·K thermal conductivity. The trade-offs are very low ductility (0.5 % elongation), poor fusion weldability and limited corrosion resistance, so most current designs move to 319.0 or 354.0 for cast engine hardware. 222.0 has a density of 2.95 g/cm³ (0.107 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of aluminum grades. It melts at 521°C (970 °F). 222.0 has a yield strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 283 MPa (41 ksi) — stronger than 70% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 0.5% and the elastic modulus is 74 GPa (10.7 Msi).
What is 222.0 used for?
- cylinder heads (legacy)
- engine brackets
- high-hardness machinery parts
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 80/100, better than 92% of aluminum grades
- High service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), better than 90% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 25/100, worse than 100% of aluminum grades
- Limited ductility — 0.5%, worse than 99% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 89% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
222.0 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 222.0-T61; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
222.0 has a density of 2.95 g/cm³ (0.107 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of aluminum grades. It melts at 521°C (970 °F).
Mechanical10
222.0 has a yield strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 283 MPa (41 ksi) — stronger than 70% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 0.5% and the elastic modulus is 74 GPa (10.7 Msi).
Thermal6
222.0 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 129 W/m·K (74.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 69% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 22.6 µm/m·K (12.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
222.0 conducts electricity at 33 % IACS, worse than 57% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (25/100), worse than 100% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 222.0 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.
Manufacturability6
222.0's machinability is very good (80/100, better than 92% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (20/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the aluminum family
Yield strength against density for every aluminum grade FabDigit runs. 222.0 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 222.0
Is 222.0 easy to machine?
Machines very well with sharp carbide tools and light lubrication; hard CuAl2 phase gives short, easily broken chips and good surface finish.
Can 222.0 be welded?
Poor fusion weldability — high Cu promotes hot cracking and loss of aged strength; repair by brazing/adhesive or mechanical fastening where possible.
Can 222.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Casting only, no cold forming; low fluidity and high hot-tear sensitivity demand generous fillets, chills and well-fed risers, plus careful post-cast heat treatment to avoid distortion.
222.0 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Siimpurity limit | ≤ 2 | 1 |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 1.5 | 0.8 |
| Cuprincipal strengthening element | 9.2 – 10.7 | 10 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Mgaids age hardening | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Ni | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.8 | |
| Tigrain refiner | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.35 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 222.0?
Do not rely on anodizing (dark, non-protective); use chromate/phosphate conversion, primer + paint or plating, and avoid galvanic couples with steel or copper in humid service.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on aluminum parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Organic Coating
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Aluminum 222.0 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A02220
How much does 222.0 cost?
222.0 is a premium-cost aluminum ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
222.0 — frequently asked
What is 222.0 used for?
222.0 is typically used for cylinder heads (legacy), engine brackets and high-hardness machinery parts. In short: highest-hardness Al-Cu casting; very low ductility; legacy permanent-mold alloy.
What is the yield strength of 222.0?
222.0 has a typical yield strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 283 MPa (41 ksi) — stronger than 70% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is 222.0 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (80/100, better than 92% of aluminum grades). Machines very well with sharp carbide tools and light lubrication; hard CuAl2 phase gives short, easily broken chips and good surface finish.
Can 222.0 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Poor fusion weldability — high Cu promotes hot cracking and loss of aged strength; repair by brazing/adhesive or mechanical fastening where possible.
What surface finishes work on 222.0?
Do not rely on anodizing (dark, non-protective); use chromate/phosphate conversion, primer + paint or plating, and avoid galvanic couples with steel or copper in humid service.
Can 222.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Casting only, no cold forming; low fluidity and high hot-tear sensitivity demand generous fillets, chills and well-fed risers, plus careful post-cast heat treatment to avoid distortion.
What is the maximum service temperature of 222.0?
222.0 is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 222.0-T61 and 222.0-O?
T61 is the default condition — standard sand-cast condition: highest strength/hardness combination normally supplied for 222.0. O: pick when maximum dimensional stability and lowest residual stress matter more than strength. Yield strength is 275 MPa in T61 versus 138 MPa in O.
How much does 222.0 cost?
222.0 is a premium-cost aluminum ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Aluminum Association Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Aluminum Alloys in the Form of Castings and Ingot (Pink Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASTM B26/B26M — Aluminum-Alloy Sand Castings — ASTM International (2018)
- ASTM B108/B108M — Aluminum-Alloy Permanent Mold Castings — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys — ASM International (1993)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.