Aluminum 224.0
AA 224.0
224.0 is a high-strength Al-Cu casting alloy in the ANSI/AA 2xx.x family, strengthened by copper and supplied in the overaged T7 and T72 tempers.
Reference datasheet — 224.0 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 T72 condition
224.0 tempers and conditions
224.0 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. T72 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution heat treated and overaged (stabilized) | Choose for sand-cast high-strength structural parts where dimensional stability and reduced SCC sensitivity matter more than peak strength. | 270 | 350 | 6 | 112 HB | 38 % IACS |
T72Default Solution heat treated and overaged to a controlled (stabilized)… | Standard commercial condition for 224.0 permanent-mold castings — best combination of strength, ductility and stability; the temper most data are published for. | 275 | 380 | 10 | 123 HB | 38 % IACS |
What is 224.0?
224.0 is a high-strength Al-Cu casting alloy in the ANSI/AA 2xx.x family, strengthened by copper and supplied in the overaged T7 and T72 tempers. Engineers specify it for structural sand and permanent-mold castings that need 275 MPa yield, 380 MPa tensile, 10% elongation, 123 HB and good fatigue resistance, with 71 GPa modulus and 130 W/m·K thermal conductivity. It is effectively not fusion weldable (weldability score 25), corrosion resistance is limited (score 35) and service is capped near 175 °C, so parts require conversion coating or paint. Where casting ease and repairability matter more than strength, 295.0 is the simpler Al-Cu choice. 224.0 has a density of 2.81 g/cm³ (0.102 lb/in³), heavier than 86% of aluminum grades. It melts at 570°C (1,058 °F). 224.0 has a yield strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) — stronger than 70% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
What is 224.0 used for?
- Aerospace structural castings
- Airframe fittings and load-bearing brackets
- Fatigue-loaded machinery castings
- Gearbox and pump housings needing high strength
- Ordnance and missile component housings
- HIP-treated high-integrity sand castings
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 78/100, better than 89% of aluminum grades
- High service temperature — 175°C (347 °F), better than 83% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 35/100, worse than 85% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
224.0 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 224.0-T72; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
224.0 has a density of 2.81 g/cm³ (0.102 lb/in³), heavier than 86% of aluminum grades. It melts at 570°C (1,058 °F).
Mechanical12
224.0 has a yield strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) — stronger than 70% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
224.0 is rated for continuous service to 175°C (347 °F). It conducts heat at 130 W/m·K (75.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 65% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 22.5 µm/m·K (12.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
224.0 conducts electricity at 38 % IACS, better than 61% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (35/100), worse than 85% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 224.0 takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability7
224.0's machinability is very good (78/100, better than 89% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (25/100).
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. 224.0 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 224.0
Is 224.0 easy to machine?
Machines very well in T7/T72 with sharp PCD or polished carbide tooling, high speed and light feed; chips are short and finishes are excellent, but watch for porosity exposure on sealing faces.
Can 224.0 be welded?
Essentially not weldable by fusion processes — high Cu content makes it severely hot-crack sensitive; weld repair generally prohibited on aerospace castings, use mechanical fastening or adhesive joining.
Can 224.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Foundry-critical alloy: needs high-purity charge, degassing, grain refinement, chills and generous risering to avoid hot tearing and shrinkage; permanent-mold and controlled sand practice with HIP is common for premium castings.
224.0 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cuprincipal strengthening element | 4.5 – 5.5 | 5 |
| Mn | 0.2 – 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Simax — high-purity base required | ≤ 0.06 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Mg | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Tigrain refinement; verify limits against current AA Teal Sheets | 0.1 – 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Vdispersoid former for elevated-temperature stability | 0.05 – 0.15 | 0.1 |
| Zrdispersoid former; verify against current AA Teal Sheets | 0.1 – 0.25 | 0.18 |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 224.0?
Prefer chromate-free conversion coating plus primer/topcoat or hard anodize for wear; standard sulfuric anodize gives dark, uneven color due to Cu, and bare surfaces need protection in humid or chloride environments.
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
How much does 224.0 cost?
224.0 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.
224.0 — frequently asked
What is 224.0 used for?
224.0 is typically used for aerospace structural castings, airframe fittings and load-bearing brackets, fatigue-loaded machinery castings, gearbox and pump housings needing high strength, ordnance and missile component housings and HIP-treated high-integrity sand castings. In short: highest-strength cast aluminum; aerospace Al-Cu casting alloy; strong but non-weldable.
What is the yield strength of 224.0?
224.0 has a typical yield strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) — stronger than 70% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is 224.0 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (78/100, better than 89% of aluminum grades). Machines very well in T7/T72 with sharp PCD or polished carbide tooling, high speed and light feed; chips are short and finishes are excellent, but watch for porosity exposure on sealing faces.
Can 224.0 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Essentially not weldable by fusion processes — high Cu content makes it severely hot-crack sensitive; weld repair generally prohibited on aerospace castings, use mechanical fastening or adhesive joining.
What surface finishes work on 224.0?
Prefer chromate-free conversion coating plus primer/topcoat or hard anodize for wear; standard sulfuric anodize gives dark, uneven color due to Cu, and bare surfaces need protection in humid or chloride environments.
Can 224.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Foundry-critical alloy: needs high-purity charge, degassing, grain refinement, chills and generous risering to avoid hot tearing and shrinkage; permanent-mold and controlled sand practice with HIP is common for premium castings.
What is the maximum service temperature of 224.0?
224.0 is rated for continuous use to about 175°C (347 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 224.0-T72 and 224.0-T7?
T72 is the default condition — standard commercial condition for 224.0 permanent-mold castings — best combination of strength, ductility and stability; the temper most data are published for. T7: choose for sand-cast high-strength structural parts where dimensional stability and reduced SCC sensitivity matter more than peak strength. Yield strength is 275 MPa in T72 versus 270 MPa in T7.
How much does 224.0 cost?
224.0 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
- Registration Record of Aluminum Association Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Aluminum Alloys in the Form of Castings and Ingot (Pink Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys — ASM International (1993)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM B26/B26M — Aluminum-Alloy Sand Castings; ASTM B108/B108M — Aluminum-Alloy Permanent Mold Castings — ASTM International (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
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.