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Aluminum AC2B-F (As fabricated)

Temper · default condition

JIS AC2B

Default, lowest-cost condition for general non-critical sand or permanent-mold castings.

Standard cost $$

Values for the F condition

Other AC2B tempers and conditions

AC2B is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at AC2B.

Compare all 4 conditionsHide
Condition · open for datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %HardnessConductivity
FDefaultThis page
As fabricated
Default, lowest-cost condition for general non-critical sand or permanent-mold castings.110180270 HB27 % IACS
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged
Cheap strength/stability bump without solution treatment; used to stabilize dimensions before machining.1502001.580 HB28 % IACS
Solution heat treated and overaged (stabilized)
Use where dimensional stability at elevated temperature matters more than peak strength.1652302.582 HB30 % IACS
Solution heat treated and artificially aged
Pick when maximum strength and hardness are needed from an AC2B casting; JIS minimum 240 MPa.200270295 HB29 % IACS

What is AC2B-F?

AC2B-F is AC2B in the F temper — default, lowest-cost condition for general non-critical sand or permanent-mold castings. AC2B-F has a yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 180 MPa (26.1 ksi) — weaker than 81% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 74 GPa (10.7 Msi). AC2B-F has a density of 2.77 g/cm³ (0.1 lb/in³), heavier than 71% of aluminum grades. It melts at 516°C (961 °F).

Limitations

  • Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 94% of aluminum grades
  • Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 91% of aluminum grades
  • Poor heat conductor — 109 W/m·K (63 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of aluminum grades
  • Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 87% of aluminum grades
  • Low electrical conductivity — 27 % IACS, worse than 86% of aluminum grades

AC2B-F properties

Typical room-temperature values for AC2B-F; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are AC2B reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.

Physical3

AC2B-F has a density of 2.77 g/cm³ (0.1 lb/in³), heavier than 71% of aluminum grades. It melts at 516°C (961 °F).

Density2.77 g/cm³0.1 lb/in³
Melting Point (Solidus)516°C961 °F
Liquidus Temperature604°C1,119 °F

Mechanical13

AC2B-F has a yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 180 MPa (26.1 ksi) — weaker than 81% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 74 GPa (10.7 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus74 GPa10.7 Msi
Shear Modulus28 GPa4.1 Msi
Bulk Modulus71 GPa10.3 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.33
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)180 MPa26.1 ksi
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)110 MPa16 ksi
Elongation at Break2%
Compressive Strength115 MPa16.7 ksi
Shear Strength145 MPa21 ksi
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)70 MPa10.2 ksi
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)17 MPa·√m15.5 ksi·√in
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)4 J3 ft·lbf
Hardness, Brinell70 HB

Thermal6

AC2B-F is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 109 W/m·K (63 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 21.5 µm/m·K (11.9 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity109 W/m·K63 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity963 J/kg·K0.23 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)21.5 µm/m·K11.9 µin/in·°F
Latent Heat of Fusion389 J/g167 BTU/lb
Max Service Temperature (continuous)150°C302 °F
Min Service Temperature-196°C-321 °F

Electrical3

AC2B-F conducts electricity at 27 % IACS, worse than 86% of aluminum grades.

Electrical Conductivity27 % IACS
Electrical Resistivity6.4×10⁻⁸ Ω·m2.52 µΩ·in
Magnetic Responsenon-magnetic

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 69% of aluminum grades.

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)-0.81 V
Corrosion ResistanceFair42/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryFair in atmosphere and neutral water; copper content raises susceptibility to pitting and galvanic attack in chlorides; poor in strong acids/alkalis; usually painted or chromate/anodized-sealed for outdoor use.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of AC2B-F takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 85%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)200 MJ/kg85,985 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)12 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water1,150 L/kg138 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content85%

Manufacturability8

AC2B-F's machinability is good (65/100, better than 62% of aluminum grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability not recommended (5/100).

MachinabilityGood65/100
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)130%
WeldabilityFair35/100
Formability (cold)Not recommended5/100
CastabilityExcellent85/100
Brazeability / SolderabilityPoor20/100
PolishabilityFair40/100
Anodizing Responsepoor — high Si and Cu give dark, mottled grey films; use only hard-coat or chromate/paint systems for protection, not decorative anodizing

Common Calculations5

Specific Strength (UTS / density)calculated65 kN·m/kg
Specific Stiffness (E / density)calculated26.7 MN·m/kg
Modulus of Resiliencecalculated82 kJ/m³
Thermal Diffusivitycalculated40.9 mm²/s
Thermal Shock Resistance Indexcalculated12

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.

Working with AC2B-F

Is AC2B easy to machine?

Machines freely with carbide/PCD tooling; use high speed, generous coolant and sharp geometry — free Si is abrasive and porosity can smear.

Can AC2B be welded?

Cu content makes it hot-crack prone; repair-weld with 4043/4145 filler, preheat 150–200 °C and keep heat input low; post-weld T6 recovers strength.

Can AC2B be formed, bent or molded?

Casting alloy only — excellent fluidity for thin sand/permanent-mold sections; degas and grain-refine to control shrinkage porosity; no cold forming.

What surface finishes work on AC2B?

Do not use decorative anodizing (dark grey mottling from Si/Cu); prefer shot blast + chromate/conversion coat, powder coat or paint; impregnation often needed for pressure tightness.

AC2B 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.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
Si5 – 76
Cu2 – 43
Mg≤ 0.50.15
Znwider tolerance than AC2A≤ 1—
Fesecondary-ingot impurity≤ 10.7
Mn≤ 0.5—
Ni≤ 0.35—
Tigrain refiner≤ 0.2—
Sn≤ 0.1—
Pb≤ 0.2—
Albalance—

AC2B-F — frequently asked

What is AC2B-F used for?

AC2B-F is typically used for housings, brackets and general castings. In short: low-cost general casting alloy; wide composition tolerance; non-critical parts only.

What is the yield strength of AC2B-F?

AC2B-F has a typical yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 180 MPa (26.1 ksi) — weaker than 81% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.

Is AC2B-F easy to machine?

Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 62% of aluminum grades). Machines freely with carbide/PCD tooling; use high speed, generous coolant and sharp geometry — free Si is abrasive and porosity can smear.

Can AC2B-F be welded?

With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Cu content makes it hot-crack prone; repair-weld with 4043/4145 filler, preheat 150–200 °C and keep heat input low; post-weld T6 recovers strength.

What surface finishes work on AC2B-F?

Do not use decorative anodizing (dark grey mottling from Si/Cu); prefer shot blast + chromate/conversion coat, powder coat or paint; impregnation often needed for pressure tightness.

Can AC2B-F be formed, bent or molded?

Casting alloy only — excellent fluidity for thin sand/permanent-mold sections; degas and grain-refine to control shrinkage porosity; no cold forming.

What is the maximum service temperature of AC2B-F?

AC2B-F 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 AC2B-F and AC2B-T6?

F is the default condition — default, lowest-cost condition for general non-critical sand or permanent-mold castings. T6: pick when maximum strength and hardness are needed from an AC2B casting; JIS minimum 240 MPa. Yield strength is 110 MPa in F versus 200 MPa in T6.

Sources

  1. JIS H 5202 Aluminium alloy castings — JSA (2010)
  2. ASTM B26/B26M Standard Specification for Aluminum-Alloy Sand Castings — ASTM (2018)
  3. ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (319.0) — ASM International (1990)
  4. ASM Handbook Vol.15 — Casting — ASM International (2008)
  5. Aluminum Association Teal Sheets — casting alloy registrations — The Aluminum Association (2015)

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.