Aluminum 850.0
AA 850.0 · UNS A08500
850.0 (A08500) is an Al-Sn-Cu bearing casting alloy in which a soft, dispersed tin phase supplies lubricity and embeddability while the aluminum matrix carries the load.
Reference datasheet — 850.0 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
850.0 tempers and conditions
850.0 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. T5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As fabricated | Use for non-critical bushings where the dimensional stabilization of T5 is not required. | 65 | 130 | 10 | 42 HB | 47 % IACS |
T5Default Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Standard supply condition for sand-cast bearing shells and bushings; best dimensional stability in service. | 76 | 138 | 10 | 45 HB | 47 % IACS |
T5 | Choose for higher-volume, thinner-wall bearing parts; finer structure gives slightly higher strength than sand casting. | 76 | 160 | 10 | 45 HB | 47 % IACS |
Permanent-mold cast, partially solution treated and stabilized | Alternative permanent-mold treatment giving somewhat higher strength with slightly lower ductility than T5. | 83 | 160 | 8 | 48 HB | 45 % IACS |
What is 850.0?
850.0 (A08500) is an Al-Sn-Cu bearing casting alloy in which a soft, dispersed tin phase supplies lubricity and embeddability while the aluminum matrix carries the load. It is cast into bushings, bearing shells and engine bearings, machines very freely (rating 88) and moves heat out of the bearing interface at 209 W/m·K. Strength is low at 76 MPa yield, 138 MPa tensile, 10% elongation and 45 HB, the alloy is effectively unweldable and service is capped at 150 °C; 851.0 or 852.0 are the choices when higher load capacity is needed. 850.0 has a density of 2.88 g/cm³ (0.104 lb/in³), heavier than 97% of aluminum grades. It melts at 225°C (437 °F). 850.0 has a yield strength of 76 MPa (11 ksi) and a tensile strength of 138 MPa (20 ksi) — weaker than 90% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
What is 850.0 used for?
- engine bearings
- bushings
- bearing shells
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 88/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 209 W/m·K (120.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 47 % IACS, better than 88% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 76 MPa (11 ksi), worse than 90% 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
850.0 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 850.0-T5; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
850.0 has a density of 2.88 g/cm³ (0.104 lb/in³), heavier than 97% of aluminum grades. It melts at 225°C (437 °F).
Mechanical11
850.0 has a yield strength of 76 MPa (11 ksi) and a tensile strength of 138 MPa (20 ksi) — weaker than 90% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
850.0 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 209 W/m·K (120.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23 µm/m·K (12.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
850.0 conducts electricity at 47 % IACS, better than 88% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (50/100), worse than 56% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 850.0 takes about 190 MJ of energy and emits 11.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 89% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
850.0's machinability is excellent (88/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (15/100).
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. 850.0 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 850.0
Is 850.0 easy to machine?
Very free-machining: the tin phase lubricates the cut, but use sharp tools, high speed, low feed and light finishing passes to avoid smearing soft tin over the bearing surface.
Can 850.0 be welded?
Essentially unweldable by fusion methods — the low-melting tin phase causes severe hot cracking and porosity; repair by re-casting or mechanical replacement.
Can 850.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Foundry alloy only (sand and permanent mold); control pouring temperature and use rapid solidification to keep tin finely dispersed and avoid gravity segregation in thick sections.
850.0 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Snsoft bearing phase | 5.5 – 7 | 6.2 |
| Cu | 0.7 – 1.3 | 1 |
| Ni | 0.7 – 1.3 | 1 |
| Si | ≤ 0.7 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.7 | |
| Mn | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Mg | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Ti | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Others (total)others total per AA registration | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 850.0?
Leave as bored/burnished for bearing duty; anodizing is poor because of the tin phase, so protect non-bearing faces with chromate/paint, and tin or lead-tin flash can be applied for run-in.
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 850.0 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A08500
How much does 850.0 cost?
850.0 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.
850.0 — frequently asked
What is 850.0 used for?
850.0 is typically used for engine bearings, bushings and bearing shells. In short: cast aluminum bearing alloy; high embeddability and lubricity; not fusion weldable.
What is the yield strength of 850.0?
850.0 has a typical yield strength of 76 MPa (11 ksi) and a tensile strength of 138 MPa (20 ksi) — weaker than 90% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is 850.0 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (88/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades). Very free-machining: the tin phase lubricates the cut, but use sharp tools, high speed, low feed and light finishing passes to avoid smearing soft tin over the bearing surface.
Can 850.0 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Essentially unweldable by fusion methods — the low-melting tin phase causes severe hot cracking and porosity; repair by re-casting or mechanical replacement.
What surface finishes work on 850.0?
Leave as bored/burnished for bearing duty; anodizing is poor because of the tin phase, so protect non-bearing faces with chromate/paint, and tin or lead-tin flash can be applied for run-in.
Can 850.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Foundry alloy only (sand and permanent mold); control pouring temperature and use rapid solidification to keep tin finely dispersed and avoid gravity segregation in thick sections.
What is the maximum service temperature of 850.0?
850.0 is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 850.0-T5 and 850.0-F?
T5 is the default condition — standard supply condition for sand-cast bearing shells and bushings; best dimensional stability in service. F: use for non-critical bushings where the dimensional stabilization of T5 is not required. Yield strength is 76 MPa in T5 versus 65 MPa in F.
How much does 850.0 cost?
850.0 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
- 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 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.