Aluminum 852.0
AA 852.0 · UNS A08520
852.0 (A08520) is a higher-copper Al-Sn-Cu-Ni bearing casting alloy and the strongest of the 85x.x bearing group at 152 MPa yield, 221 MPa tensile and 70 HB.
Reference datasheet — 852.0 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
852.0 tempers and conditions
852.0 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 bearings are machined and mechanically bonded without ageing. | 115 | 180 | 6 | 55 HB | 39 % IACS |
T5 | Sand-cast bushings and large bearing shells; coarser structure gives somewhat lower strength than permanent mold. | 145 | 186 | 3 | 65 HB | 39 % IACS |
T5Default Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Standard supply condition for heavily loaded engine bearings: highest strength and fatigue life of the Al-Sn bearing family. | 152 | 221 | 5 | 70 HB | 40 % IACS |
What is 852.0?
852.0 (A08520) is a higher-copper Al-Sn-Cu-Ni bearing casting alloy and the strongest of the 85x.x bearing group at 152 MPa yield, 221 MPa tensile and 70 HB. It is used for heavily loaded diesel engine bearings and bushings where fatigue strength matters more than conformability, machines freely (rating 88) and conducts heat at 159 W/m·K. Elongation is 5%, the tin phase makes it effectively unweldable and service temperature is capped at 150 °C; 850.0 or 851.0 give better embeddability at lower load. 852.0 has a density of 2.88 g/cm³ (0.104 lb/in³), heavier than 97% of aluminum grades. It melts at 215°C (419 °F). 852.0 has a yield strength of 152 MPa (22 ksi) and a tensile strength of 221 MPa (32.1 ksi) — weaker than 64% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
What is 852.0 used for?
- Diesel engine bearings
- High-load bushings
- Main and connecting rod bearing shells
- Turbocharged engine bearing inserts
- Compressor and pump journal bearings
- Steel-backed bimetal bearing strip
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 88/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 12/100, worse than 98% of aluminum grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 80% of aluminum grades
852.0 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 852.0-T5; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
852.0 has a density of 2.88 g/cm³ (0.104 lb/in³), heavier than 97% of aluminum grades. It melts at 215°C (419 °F).
Mechanical10
852.0 has a yield strength of 152 MPa (22 ksi) and a tensile strength of 221 MPa (32.1 ksi) — weaker than 64% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
852.0 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 159 W/m·K (91.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 74% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 24 µm/m·K (13.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
852.0 conducts electricity at 40 % IACS, better than 72% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 69% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 852.0 takes about 210 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 88% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
852.0's machinability is excellent (88/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); 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. 852.0 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 852.0
Is 852.0 easy to machine?
Excellent free-machining behaviour from the tin phase; use sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, light finishing cuts and generous coolant to avoid smearing the soft Sn on bore surfaces.
Can 852.0 be welded?
Essentially unweldable — the low-melting tin phase causes severe hot cracking and liquation; repair by mechanical means or re-casting.
Can 852.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Permanent-mold (chill) casting is preferred for a fine tin dispersion; degas the melt, avoid slow solidification and hold ageing at roughly 165–200 °C for the T5 temper.
852.0 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 | 1.7 – 2.3 | 2 |
| Ni | 0.9 – 1.5 | 1.2 |
| Mgage-hardening addition | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.7 | |
| Mn | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Ti | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 852.0?
Bearing bores are bored/burnished and often tin- or lead-plated over a nickel dam; anodizing is unsuitable, and chemical brighteners attack the tin phase.
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 852.0 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A08520
How much does 852.0 cost?
852.0 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.
852.0 — frequently asked
What is 852.0 used for?
852.0 is typically used for diesel engine bearings, high-load bushings, main and connecting rod bearing shells, turbocharged engine bearing inserts, compressor and pump journal bearings and steel-backed bimetal bearing strip. In short: strongest 85x.x bearing alloy; high fatigue load capacity; free-machining tin phase.
What is the yield strength of 852.0?
852.0 has a typical yield strength of 152 MPa (22 ksi) and a tensile strength of 221 MPa (32.1 ksi) — weaker than 64% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 852.0 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (88/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades). Excellent free-machining behaviour from the tin phase; use sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, light finishing cuts and generous coolant to avoid smearing the soft Sn on bore surfaces.
Can 852.0 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). Essentially unweldable — the low-melting tin phase causes severe hot cracking and liquation; repair by mechanical means or re-casting.
What surface finishes work on 852.0?
Bearing bores are bored/burnished and often tin- or lead-plated over a nickel dam; anodizing is unsuitable, and chemical brighteners attack the tin phase.
Can 852.0 be formed, bent or molded?
Permanent-mold (chill) casting is preferred for a fine tin dispersion; degas the melt, avoid slow solidification and hold ageing at roughly 165–200 °C for the T5 temper.
What is the maximum service temperature of 852.0?
852.0 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 852.0-T5 and 852.0-F?
T5 is the default condition — standard supply condition for heavily loaded engine bearings: highest strength and fatigue life of the Al-Sn bearing family. F: as-cast condition, used when bearings are machined and mechanically bonded without ageing. Yield strength is 152 MPa in T5 versus 115 MPa in F.
How much does 852.0 cost?
852.0 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 / Aluminum Association Registration Record of Cast Alloys — Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASTM B26/B26M — Aluminum-Alloy Sand Castings; ASTM B108 — Permanent Mold Castings — ASTM International (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (cast Al bearing alloys 850.0–853.0) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 18 — Friction, Lubrication, and Wear Technology (aluminium-tin bearing materials) — ASM International (2017)
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.