Aluminum A356/SiC/10p
also Duralcan F3S.10S
A356/SiC/10p (Duralcan F3S.10S) is a cast aluminum metal-matrix composite: an A356 Al-Si-Mg matrix reinforced with 10 vol% silicon carbide particulate, supplied in F, T5, T6, T61 and T7 conditions.
Reference datasheet — A356/SiC/10p 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 T6 condition
A356/SiC/10p tempers and conditions
A356/SiC/10p is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. T6 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As fabricated | Lowest-cost condition for non-critical wear or stiffness parts where strength is secondary. | 120 | 195 | 2 | 65 HB | 31 % IACS |
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Choose when distortion from solution quenching must be avoided and moderate strength suffices. | 190 | 235 | 1.5 | 75 HB | 32.5 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and overaged (stabilized) | Pick for dimensional stability and elevated-temperature service where some strength can be traded away. | 235 | 265 | 1.6 | 80 HB | 35 % IACS |
T6Default Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Standard supply condition — maximum strength and stiffness for brake rotors, pistons and structural castings. | 285 | 310 | 1 | 90 HB | 33 % IACS |
T6 variant, underaged | Duralcan's recommended MMC aging cycle giving slightly higher strength than generic T6 on permanent-mold parts. | 296 | 331 | 0.6 | 95 HB | 33 % IACS |
What is A356/SiC/10p?
A356/SiC/10p (Duralcan F3S.10S) is a cast aluminum metal-matrix composite: an A356 Al-Si-Mg matrix reinforced with 10 vol% silicon carbide particulate, supplied in F, T5, T6, T61 and T7 conditions. It is used where stiffness and wear resistance must exceed unreinforced A356 at moderate cost, giving 285 MPa yield, 310 MPa tensile, 90 HB (55 HRB), 170 W/m·K, 33% IACS and 200 °C service capability. Elongation is only 1% and machinability rates 25, so PCD tooling and careful fillet design are required. A356/SiC/20p raises wear resistance further; A356-T6 is the cheaper, more ductile fallback. A356/SiC/10p has a density of 2.72 g/cm³ (0.0983 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of aluminum grades. It melts at 557°C (1,035 °F). A356/SiC/10p has a yield strength of 285 MPa (41.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — stronger than 73% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 81.4 GPa (11.8 Msi).
What is A356/SiC/10p used for?
- brake rotors/calipers
- engine brackets
- pulleys
- automotive structural castings
Advantages
- Stiff — 81.4 GPa (11.8 Msi), better than 97% of aluminum grades
- High service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), better than 90% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 170 W/m·K (98.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 82% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 96% of aluminum grades
- Limited ductility — 1%, worse than 95% of aluminum grades
- Limited formability — 8/100, worse than 88% of aluminum grades
- Low fracture toughness — 17 MPa·√m (15.5 ksi·√in), worse than 83% of aluminum grades
A356/SiC/10p properties
Typical room-temperature values for A356/SiC/10p-T6; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
A356/SiC/10p has a density of 2.72 g/cm³ (0.0983 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of aluminum grades. It melts at 557°C (1,035 °F).
Mechanical12
A356/SiC/10p has a yield strength of 285 MPa (41.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — stronger than 73% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 81.4 GPa (11.8 Msi).
Thermal6
A356/SiC/10p is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 170 W/m·K (98.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 82% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 19.5 µm/m·K (10.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
A356/SiC/10p conducts electricity at 33 % IACS, worse than 57% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 51% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of A356/SiC/10p takes about 215 MJ of energy and emits 13.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 93% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability8
A356/SiC/10p's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 96% of aluminum grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
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. A356/SiC/10p is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with A356/SiC/10p
Is A356/SiC/10p easy to machine?
Use polycrystalline diamond (PCD) or thick-film CVD-diamond tooling with high speed and light feed; carbide wears out in minutes and grinding requires diamond wheels.
Can A356/SiC/10p be welded?
TIG/MIG possible with matched MMC or 4043-type filler, but keep heat input low and dwell short to avoid SiC dissolution and brittle Al4C3; friction stir and adhesive joining are preferred.
Can A356/SiC/10p be formed, bent or molded?
Foundry route only — sand, permanent-mold, squeeze and die casting after remelting with continuous stirring to keep particles dispersed; avoid holding above ~750 °C.
A356/SiC/10p 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SiC10 vol% particulate, typically 10–20 µm; wt% equivalent | 10.5 – 13 | 11.8 |
| Simatrix A356 (wt% of matrix) | 6.5 – 7.5 | 7 |
| Mgmatrix A356 | 0.25 – 0.45 | 0.35 |
| Feimpurity | ≤ 0.2 | 0.12 |
| Cuimpurity | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Mnimpurity | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Znimpurity | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Tigrain refiner | ≤ 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Almatrix balance | balance |
What surface finishes work on A356/SiC/10p?
Anodizes to a gray, non-uniform film; chemical conversion coating or painting is more reliable, and lapping/honing with diamond abrasives gives the best wear surfaces.
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 A356/SiC/10p in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Duralcan F3S.10S
How much does A356/SiC/10p cost?
A356/SiC/10p is a high-cost aluminum ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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.
A356/SiC/10p — frequently asked
What is A356/SiC/10p used for?
A356/SiC/10p is typically used for brake rotors/calipers, engine brackets, pulleys and automotive structural castings. In short: entry-level SiC MMC; stiffer and more wear-resistant than A356; requires diamond tooling.
What is the yield strength of A356/SiC/10p?
A356/SiC/10p has a typical yield strength of 285 MPa (41.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — stronger than 73% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is A356/SiC/10p easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 96% of aluminum grades). Use polycrystalline diamond (PCD) or thick-film CVD-diamond tooling with high speed and light feed; carbide wears out in minutes and grinding requires diamond wheels.
Can A356/SiC/10p be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). TIG/MIG possible with matched MMC or 4043-type filler, but keep heat input low and dwell short to avoid SiC dissolution and brittle Al4C3; friction stir and adhesive joining are preferred.
What surface finishes work on A356/SiC/10p?
Anodizes to a gray, non-uniform film; chemical conversion coating or painting is more reliable, and lapping/honing with diamond abrasives gives the best wear surfaces.
Can A356/SiC/10p be formed, bent or molded?
Foundry route only — sand, permanent-mold, squeeze and die casting after remelting with continuous stirring to keep particles dispersed; avoid holding above ~750 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of A356/SiC/10p?
A356/SiC/10p is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between A356/SiC/10p-T6 and A356/SiC/10p-F?
T6 is the default condition — standard supply condition — maximum strength and stiffness for brake rotors, pistons and structural castings. F: lowest-cost condition for non-critical wear or stiffness parts where strength is secondary. Yield strength is 285 MPa in T6 versus 120 MPa in F.
How much does A356/SiC/10p cost?
A356/SiC/10p is a high-cost aluminum ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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
- Duralcan F3S.xxS Aluminum Composite Casting Alloys — property data — Duralcan / Alcan (1996)
- ASM Handbook Vol.21: Composites — Discontinuously Reinforced Aluminum — ASM International (2001)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys (A356 matrix data) — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM B917/B917M — Heat Treatment of Aluminum-Alloy Castings — ASTM (2018)
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.