Aluminum 851.0
AA 851.0 · UNS A08510
851.0 (A08510) is a nickel-modified Al-Sn-Cu bearing casting alloy developed from 850.0 to raise load capacity while keeping the soft tin phase that provides embeddability and low friction.
Reference datasheet — 851.0 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
851.0 tempers and conditions
851.0 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 | As-cast condition, used when bearing shells are machined immediately and no dimensional stabilization is required. | 62 | 125 | 8 | 40 HB | 44 % IACS |
T5Default Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Standard supply condition for 851.0 bearing castings — stabilizes dimensions and raises yield strength without a separate solution treatment. | 76 | 140 | 5 | 45 HB | 45 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Choose when the highest load capacity and yield strength are needed from 851.0, at the cost of some ductility and extra heat-treat cost. | 90 | 150 | 4 | 50 HB | 42 % IACS |
What is 851.0?
851.0 (A08510) is a nickel-modified Al-Sn-Cu bearing casting alloy developed from 850.0 to raise load capacity while keeping the soft tin phase that provides embeddability and low friction. Typical forms are cast bushings, bearing shells and heavy-duty plain bearings finished by boring and honing, with 76 MPa yield, 140 MPa tensile, 5% elongation, 45 HB and 71 GPa modulus. Elongation is lower than 850.0, fusion welding is not possible and service is limited to 150 °C; step up to 852.0 for the highest fatigue duty. 851.0 has a density of 2.83 g/cm³ (0.102 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of aluminum grades. It melts at 227°C (441 °F). 851.0 has a yield strength of 76 MPa (11 ksi) and a tensile strength of 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) — weaker than 90% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
What is 851.0 used for?
- Heavy-duty plain bearings
- Bushings
- Bearing shells
- Diesel and industrial engine bearings
- Gearbox and pump journal bearings
- Steel-backed bearing liners
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 88/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 45 % IACS, better than 86% 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
851.0 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 851.0-T5; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
851.0 has a density of 2.83 g/cm³ (0.102 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of aluminum grades. It melts at 227°C (441 °F).
Mechanical12
851.0 has a yield strength of 76 MPa (11 ksi) and a tensile strength of 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) — weaker than 90% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
851.0 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 155 W/m·K (89.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 71% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 22.9 µm/m·K (12.7 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
851.0 conducts electricity at 45 % IACS, better than 86% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 62% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 851.0 takes about 180 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 91% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
851.0'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. 851.0 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 851.0
Is 851.0 easy to machine?
Very free-cutting: soft Sn phase breaks chips; use sharp polished carbide tools, high speed, light feed and flood coolant to avoid smearing on bearing surfaces.
Can 851.0 be welded?
Essentially unweldable by fusion methods — tin promotes severe hot cracking; repair by mechanical means or replace the casting.
Can 851.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Permanent-mold (gravity die) and sand casting both practical; avoid slow cooling that coarsens the tin network, and pour clean, degassed metal to keep bearing surface porosity low.
851.0 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 | 6.25 |
| Si | 2 – 3 | 2.5 |
| Cu | 0.7 – 1.3 | 1 |
| Niload-carrying intermetallics | 0.3 – 0.7 | 0.5 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.7 | |
| Mn | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Mg | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Ti | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Others (each)each | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total)total | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 851.0?
Machine and hone to final size; anodizing is not recommended, chemical conversion or tin/lead overlay plating is used, and bores may be bonded to steel backing strip.
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 851.0 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A08510
How much does 851.0 cost?
851.0 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.
851.0 — frequently asked
What is 851.0 used for?
851.0 is typically used for heavy-duty plain bearings, bushings, bearing shells, diesel and industrial engine bearings, gearbox and pump journal bearings and steel-backed bearing liners. In short: higher-load 850.0 variant; free-cutting bearing alloy; nickel-modified tin structure.
What is the yield strength of 851.0?
851.0 has a typical yield strength of 76 MPa (11 ksi) and a tensile strength of 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) — weaker than 90% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 851.0 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (88/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades). Very free-cutting: soft Sn phase breaks chips; use sharp polished carbide tools, high speed, light feed and flood coolant to avoid smearing on bearing surfaces.
Can 851.0 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Essentially unweldable by fusion methods — tin promotes severe hot cracking; repair by mechanical means or replace the casting.
What surface finishes work on 851.0?
Machine and hone to final size; anodizing is not recommended, chemical conversion or tin/lead overlay plating is used, and bores may be bonded to steel backing strip.
Can 851.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Permanent-mold (gravity die) and sand casting both practical; avoid slow cooling that coarsens the tin network, and pour clean, degassed metal to keep bearing surface porosity low.
What is the maximum service temperature of 851.0?
851.0 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 851.0-T5 and 851.0-F?
T5 is the default condition — standard supply condition for 851.0 bearing castings — stabilizes dimensions and raises yield strength without a separate solution treatment. F: as-cast condition, used when bearing shells are machined immediately and no dimensional stabilization is required. Yield strength is 76 MPa in T5 versus 62 MPa in F.
How much does 851.0 cost?
851.0 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
- ANSI H35.1 / AA 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)
- ASTM B26/B26M Standard Specification for Aluminum-Alloy Sand Castings; ASTM B108 Permanent Mold Castings — ASTM International (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (aluminum bearing alloys 850.0/851.0/852.0) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys — ASM International (1993)
- MatWeb material property data — Aluminum 851.0-T5 / T6 — MatWeb LLC (2024)
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.