Aluminum 852.0-T5
Temper · default condition
AA 852.0 · UNS A08520
T5 = 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.
Values for the T5 condition
Other 852.0 tempers and conditions
852.0 is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at 852.0.
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 |
T5DefaultThis page 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-T5?
852.0-T5 is 852.0 in the T5 temper — standard supply condition for heavily loaded engine bearings: highest strength and fatigue life of the Al-Sn bearing family. 852.0-T5 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). 852.0-T5 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).
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-T5 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 852.0-T5; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 852.0 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
852.0-T5 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-T5 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-T5 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-T5 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-T5 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-T5'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. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 852.0-T5
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.
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.
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 | — |
852.0-T5 — frequently asked
What is 852.0-T5 used for?
852.0-T5 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-T5?
852.0-T5 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-T5 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-T5 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-T5?
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-T5 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-T5?
852.0-T5 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.