Aluminum 515.0
AA 515.0 · UNS A05150
515.0 (A05150) is an Al-Mg permanent mold casting alloy in the ANSI/AA 5xx.x series, used in the as-cast F temper.
Reference datasheet — 515.0 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 F condition
515.0 tempers and conditions
515.0 is supplied in one standard condition, F. F is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
What is 515.0?
515.0 (A05150) is an Al-Mg permanent mold casting alloy in the ANSI/AA 5xx.x series, used in the as-cast F temper. It provides a balance of corrosion resistance (78/100) and moderate strength — 172 MPa tensile, 110 MPa yield, 10% elongation, 55 HB — with 138 W/m·K conductivity for general-purpose gravity die castings. Maximum service temperature is 120 °C, and both fluidity and hot-tear resistance are lower than in Al-Si alloys, so thin restrained sections should be avoided. 513.0 is the nearest permanent-mold alternative when higher as-cast strength is required. 515.0 has a density of 2.65 g/cm³ (0.0957 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of aluminum grades. It melts at 604°C (1,119 °F). 515.0 has a yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 172 MPa (24.9 ksi) — weaker than 81% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
What is 515.0 used for?
- general permanent mold castings
- hardware components
- housings
- decorative parts
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 78/100, better than 94% of aluminum grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 72/100, better than 89% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 110 MPa (16 ksi), worse than 81% of aluminum grades
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
515.0 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 515.0-F; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
515.0 has a density of 2.65 g/cm³ (0.0957 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of aluminum grades. It melts at 604°C (1,119 °F).
Mechanical10
515.0 has a yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 172 MPa (24.9 ksi) — weaker than 81% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
515.0 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 138 W/m·K (79.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 55% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 24.5 µm/m·K (13.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
515.0 conducts electricity at 32 % IACS, worse than 63% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (78/100), better than 94% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 515.0 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 55%.
Manufacturability6
515.0's machinability is good (68/100, better than 67% of aluminum grades); weldability very good (72/100).
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. 515.0 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 515.0
Is 515.0 easy to machine?
Machines freely with sharp, high-rake carbide or PCD tooling and generous coolant; Al-Mg is gummy so use polished flutes and high surface speed to avoid built-up edge.
Can 515.0 be welded?
Readily GTAW/GMAW welded with 5356 (or 5183) filler; preheat only lightly, avoid prolonged 80–150 °C exposure to limit Mg-rich grain-boundary precipitation.
Can 515.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Permanent-mold (chill) casting alloy: needs tight melt protection (cover flux/Ar), Be- or Sr-free degassing, generous gating and chills — fluidity and hot-tear resistance are lower than Al-Si alloys, so avoid thin, restrained sections.
515.0 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Si | 0.5 – 1 | 0.75 |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 1.3 | |
| Cukept low for corrosion resistance | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Mn | 0.4 – 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Mgprincipal strengthening/corrosion element | 2.5 – 4 | 3.2 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 515.0?
Outstanding for clear and colour anodizing and for bright buffing; also accepts chromate/chrome-free conversion coatings and paint with normal alkaline-etch pretreatment (short etch times to avoid Mg pitting).
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 515.0 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A05150
How much does 515.0 cost?
515.0 is a standard-cost aluminum ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
515.0 — frequently asked
What is 515.0 used for?
515.0 is typically used for general permanent mold castings, hardware components, housings and decorative parts. In short: general-purpose Al-Mg chill casting; good weldability for a 5xx.x; bright anodizing without heat treatment.
What is the yield strength of 515.0?
515.0 has a typical yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 172 MPa (24.9 ksi) — weaker than 81% of aluminum grades.
Is 515.0 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (68/100, better than 67% of aluminum grades). Machines freely with sharp, high-rake carbide or PCD tooling and generous coolant; Al-Mg is gummy so use polished flutes and high surface speed to avoid built-up edge.
Can 515.0 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (72/100). Readily GTAW/GMAW welded with 5356 (or 5183) filler; preheat only lightly, avoid prolonged 80–150 °C exposure to limit Mg-rich grain-boundary precipitation.
What surface finishes work on 515.0?
Outstanding for clear and colour anodizing and for bright buffing; also accepts chromate/chrome-free conversion coatings and paint with normal alkaline-etch pretreatment (short etch times to avoid Mg pitting).
Can 515.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Permanent-mold (chill) casting alloy: needs tight melt protection (cover flux/Ar), Be- or Sr-free degassing, generous gating and chills — fluidity and hot-tear resistance are lower than Al-Si alloys, so avoid thin, restrained sections.
What is the maximum service temperature of 515.0?
515.0 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 515.0 cost?
515.0 is a standard-cost aluminum ($$), 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 Handbook Vol.15 — Casting — ASM International (2008)
- 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.