Aluminum 324.0
AA 324.0
324.0 is an Al-Si-Cu-Mg permanent-mold casting alloy developed for automotive wheels, supplied as-cast (F) or heat treated to T5 or T62.
Reference datasheet — 324.0 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 T5 condition
324.0 tempers and conditions
324.0 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. T5 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As fabricated | Lowest-cost condition for non-critical castings where dimensional stability and moderate strength suffice. | 110 | 207 | 4 | 70 HB | 34 % IACS |
T5Default Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Standard wheel/structural condition: aging only, so distortion and quench cracking are avoided while strength rises well above F. | 193 | 248 | 3 | 90 HB | 36 % IACS |
T6, heat treated by the user | Pick when maximum yield strength and hardness are required and the part tolerates quench distortion and the extra heat-treat cost. | 248 | 296 | 3 | 105 HB | 38 % IACS |
What is 324.0?
324.0 is an Al-Si-Cu-Mg permanent-mold casting alloy developed for automotive wheels, supplied as-cast (F) or heat treated to T5 or T62. Engineers select it for cast wheels and structural automotive castings because the Cu+Mg addition raises strength to 193 MPa yield and 248 MPa tensile at 3% elongation and 90 HB while keeping 151 W/m·K thermal conductivity. Limits are a machinability rating of 55, service temperature around 175 °C, hot-crack sensitivity on repair welding and limited availability outside wheel foundries; A356.0-T6 is the common alternative where higher ductility is needed. 324.0 has a density of 2.72 g/cm³ (0.0983 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of aluminum grades. It melts at 549°C (1,020 °F). 324.0 has a yield strength of 193 MPa (28 ksi) and a tensile strength of 248 MPa (36 ksi) — weaker than 51% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
What is 324.0 used for?
- Cast automotive wheels
- Structural automotive castings
- Suspension knuckles and control-arm castings
- Chassis brackets
- Motorcycle and truck wheel rims
- Cast pedal and linkage bodies
Advantages
- High service temperature — 175°C (347 °F), better than 83% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 80% of aluminum grades
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 79% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
324.0 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 324.0-T5; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
324.0 has a density of 2.72 g/cm³ (0.0983 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of aluminum grades. It melts at 549°C (1,020 °F).
Mechanical12
324.0 has a yield strength of 193 MPa (28 ksi) and a tensile strength of 248 MPa (36 ksi) — weaker than 51% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
324.0 is rated for continuous service to 175°C (347 °F). It conducts heat at 151 W/m·K (87.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 63% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 21.5 µm/m·K (11.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
324.0 conducts electricity at 36 % IACS, better than 55% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 62% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 324.0 takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 70%.
Manufacturability7
324.0's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 59% of aluminum grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
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. 324.0 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 324.0
Is 324.0 easy to machine?
Machines cleanly with PCD or polished-flute carbide tooling and flood coolant; abrasive eutectic Si wears HSS quickly — T5/T62 gives better chip break than F.
Can 324.0 be welded?
TIG/MIG repairable with 4043/4145 filler but the Cu+Mg content makes it hot-crack sensitive; preheat 150–200 °C and re-age locally after repair.
Can 324.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Permanent-mold (gravity/low-pressure) alloy — good fluidity and feeding at 700–730 °C, degas and Sr/Na modify the eutectic, grain refine with Al-Ti-B; not a wrought/formable alloy.
324.0 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Siprimary fluidity/strength former | 7 – 8 | 7.5 |
| Femax; permanent-mold tolerance, forms needle Al-Fe-Si | ≤ 1.2 | 0.6 |
| Cuage-hardening addition | 0.4 – 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Mnmax; modifies Fe phases | ≤ 0.5 | 0.25 |
| MgMg2Si precipitation | 0.4 – 0.7 | 0.55 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Ni | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Zn | ≤ 1 | |
| Timax; grain refinement | ≤ 0.2 | 0.12 |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 324.0?
Chromate or phosphate conversion coat plus powder/liquid paint is the normal route; hard anodizing works but appears dark grey; mirror polishing limited by Si particles.
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 324.0 cost?
324.0 is a standard-cost aluminum ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
324.0 — frequently asked
What is 324.0 used for?
324.0 is typically used for cast automotive wheels, structural automotive castings, suspension knuckles and control-arm castings, chassis brackets, motorcycle and truck wheel rims and cast pedal and linkage bodies. In short: purpose-built wheel alloy; heat-treatable Al-Si-Cu-Mg casting; strength with good castability.
What is the yield strength of 324.0?
324.0 has a typical yield strength of 193 MPa (28 ksi) and a tensile strength of 248 MPa (36 ksi) — weaker than 51% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 324.0 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 59% of aluminum grades). Machines cleanly with PCD or polished-flute carbide tooling and flood coolant; abrasive eutectic Si wears HSS quickly — T5/T62 gives better chip break than F.
Can 324.0 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). TIG/MIG repairable with 4043/4145 filler but the Cu+Mg content makes it hot-crack sensitive; preheat 150–200 °C and re-age locally after repair.
What surface finishes work on 324.0?
Chromate or phosphate conversion coat plus powder/liquid paint is the normal route; hard anodizing works but appears dark grey; mirror polishing limited by Si particles.
Can 324.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Permanent-mold (gravity/low-pressure) alloy — good fluidity and feeding at 700–730 °C, degas and Sr/Na modify the eutectic, grain refine with Al-Ti-B; not a wrought/formable alloy.
What is the maximum service temperature of 324.0?
324.0 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 324.0-T5 and 324.0-F?
T5 is the default condition — standard wheel/structural condition: aging only, so distortion and quench cracking are avoided while strength rises well above F. F: lowest-cost condition for non-critical castings where dimensional stability and moderate strength suffice. Yield strength is 193 MPa in T5 versus 110 MPa in F.
How much does 324.0 cost?
324.0 is a standard-cost aluminum ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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
- Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Aluminum Alloys in the Form of Castings and Ingot (Pink Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASTM B108 / B108M — Aluminum-Alloy Permanent Mold Castings — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — 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.