Aluminum AC2B-T6
Temper
JIS AC2B
T6 = solution heat treated and artificially aged
Pick when maximum strength and hardness are needed from an AC2B casting; JIS minimum 240 MPa.
Values for the T6 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 datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDefault As fabricated | Default, lowest-cost condition for general non-critical sand or permanent-mold castings. | 110 | 180 | 2 | 70 HB | 27 % IACS |
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Cheap strength/stability bump without solution treatment; used to stabilize dimensions before machining. | 150 | 200 | 1.5 | 80 HB | 28 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and overaged (stabilized) | Use where dimensional stability at elevated temperature matters more than peak strength. | 165 | 230 | 2.5 | 82 HB | 30 % IACS |
T6This page Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Pick when maximum strength and hardness are needed from an AC2B casting; JIS minimum 240 MPa. | 200 | 270 | 2 | 95 HB | 29 % IACS |
What is AC2B-T6?
AC2B-T6 is AC2B in the T6 temper — pick when maximum strength and hardness are needed from an AC2B casting; JIS minimum 240 MPa. AC2B-T6 has a yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) and a tensile strength of 270 MPa (39.2 ksi) — stronger than 53% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 74 GPa (10.7 Msi). AC2B-T6 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). F is the default condition FabDigit quotes; T6 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High service temperature — 175°C (347 °F), better than 83% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 94% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Low fracture toughness — 16 MPa·√m (14.6 ksi·√in), worse than 89% of aluminum grades
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 87% of aluminum grades
- Poor heat conductor — 116 W/m·K (67 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of aluminum grades
AC2B-T6 properties
Typical room-temperature values for AC2B-T6; 12 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-T6 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).
Mechanical13
AC2B-T6 has a yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) and a tensile strength of 270 MPa (39.2 ksi) — stronger than 53% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 74 GPa (10.7 Msi).
Thermal6
AC2B-T6 is rated for continuous service to 175°C (347 °F). It conducts heat at 116 W/m·K (67 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 21.5 µm/m·K (11.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
AC2B-T6 conducts electricity at 29 % IACS, worse than 78% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 69% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of AC2B-T6 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 85%.
Manufacturability8
AC2B-T6's machinability is very good (70/100, better than 72% of aluminum grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with AC2B-T6
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.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Si | 5 – 7 | 6 |
| Cu | 2 – 4 | 3 |
| Mg | ≤ 0.5 | 0.15 |
| Znwider tolerance than AC2A | ≤ 1 | — |
| Fesecondary-ingot impurity | ≤ 1 | 0.7 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Ni | ≤ 0.35 | — |
| Tigrain refiner | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| Sn | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Pb | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
AC2B-T6 — frequently asked
What is AC2B-T6 used for?
AC2B-T6 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-T6?
AC2B-T6 has a typical yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) and a tensile strength of 270 MPa (39.2 ksi) — stronger than 53% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is AC2B-T6 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (70/100, better than 72% 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-T6 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-T6?
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-T6 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-T6?
AC2B-T6 is rated for continuous use to about 175°C (347 °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
- JIS H 5202 Aluminium alloy castings — JSA (2010)
- ASTM B26/B26M Standard Specification for Aluminum-Alloy Sand Castings — ASTM (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (319.0) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.15 — Casting — ASM International (2008)
- 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.