Aluminum AC3A-F (As fabricated)
Temper · default condition
JIS AC3A · ASTM 443.0 · EN AC-44100
Standard supplied condition for sand-cast AC3A parts; no heat treatment because the alloy has no Cu/Mg for age hardening.
Values for the F condition
Other AC3A tempers and conditions
AC3A is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at AC3A.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Used only to relieve casting/machining stresses and stabilise dimensions; slightly lowers strength and raises ductility. | 65 | 150 | 9 | 45 HB | 36 % IACS |
FDefaultThis page As fabricated | Standard supplied condition for sand-cast AC3A parts; no heat treatment because the alloy has no Cu/Mg for age hardening. | 75 | 165 | 6 | 50 HB | 33 % IACS |
F | Choose when maximum ductility and pressure tightness are needed: Sr or Na modification converts the coarse eutectic Si to a fine fibrous form. | 80 | 190 | 11 | 55 HB | 32 % IACS |
F | Chill/permanent-mould casting refines the eutectic and raises strength and elongation over sand cast at the same chemistry. | 85 | 200 | 8 | 60 HB | 34 % IACS |
What is AC3A-F?
AC3A-F is AC3A in the F temper — standard supplied condition for sand-cast AC3A parts; no heat treatment because the alloy has no Cu/Mg for age hardening. AC3A-F has a yield strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 165 MPa (23.9 ksi) — weaker than 91% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi). AC3A-F has a density of 2.66 g/cm³ (0.0961 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of aluminum grades. It melts at 574°C (1,065 °F).
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 15 MPa·√m (13.7 ksi·√in), worse than 93% of aluminum grades
- Low strength — 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to machine — 40/100, worse than 81% of aluminum grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 80% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
AC3A-F properties
Typical room-temperature values for AC3A-F; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are AC3A reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
AC3A-F has a density of 2.66 g/cm³ (0.0961 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of aluminum grades. It melts at 574°C (1,065 °F).
Mechanical12
AC3A-F has a yield strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 165 MPa (23.9 ksi) — weaker than 91% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
AC3A-F is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 130 W/m·K (75.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 65% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 20.5 µm/m·K (11.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
AC3A-F conducts electricity at 33 % IACS, worse than 57% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (58/100), better than 57% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of AC3A-F takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 70%.
Manufacturability8
AC3A-F's machinability is fair (40/100, worse than 81% of aluminum grades); weldability very good (80/100); 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 AC3A-F
Is AC3A easy to machine?
Use PCD or polished carbide tooling with high speed and flood coolant — the eutectic Si is highly abrasive and steel tools wear fast.
Can AC3A be welded?
Readily TIG/MIG welded and weld-repaired with ER4047/ER4043 filler; low hot-cracking tendency due to the narrow freezing range.
Can AC3A be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent fluidity for thin walls (2 mm and below) in sand, permanent-mould and low-pressure casting; degas and Sr/Na modify the melt, and keep pouring temperature ~700–730 °C.
What surface finishes work on AC3A?
Anodising gives a dark grey, non-decorative film; prefer chromate/phosphate conversion coating, powder coat or paint, and shot blast rather than mirror polish.
AC3A 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sieutectic-forming element | 10 – 13 | 11.5 |
| Fehigher limit allowed for die/permanent-mould practice | ≤ 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.25 | 0.1 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.35 | 0.15 |
| Mg | ≤ 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Ni | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Ti | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Pb | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Sn | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
AC3A-F — frequently asked
What is AC3A-F used for?
AC3A-F is typically used for thin-wall housings, pump impellers, cookware and marine fittings. In short: best-flowing casting alloy; thin-wall pressure-tight castings; weldable cast aluminum.
What is the yield strength of AC3A-F?
AC3A-F has a typical yield strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 165 MPa (23.9 ksi) — weaker than 91% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is AC3A-F easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, worse than 81% of aluminum grades). Use PCD or polished carbide tooling with high speed and flood coolant — the eutectic Si is highly abrasive and steel tools wear fast.
Can AC3A-F be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Readily TIG/MIG welded and weld-repaired with ER4047/ER4043 filler; low hot-cracking tendency due to the narrow freezing range.
What surface finishes work on AC3A-F?
Anodising gives a dark grey, non-decorative film; prefer chromate/phosphate conversion coating, powder coat or paint, and shot blast rather than mirror polish.
Can AC3A-F be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent fluidity for thin walls (2 mm and below) in sand, permanent-mould and low-pressure casting; degas and Sr/Na modify the melt, and keep pouring temperature ~700–730 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of AC3A-F?
AC3A-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 AC3A-F and AC3A F-PM?
F is the default condition — standard supplied condition for sand-cast AC3A parts; no heat treatment because the alloy has no Cu/Mg for age hardening. F-PM: chill/permanent-mould casting refines the eutectic and raises strength and elongation over sand cast at the same chemistry. Yield strength is 75 MPa in F versus 85 MPa in F-PM.
Sources
- JIS H5202 Aluminium alloy castings — JSA (2010)
- GB/T 1173 (ZL102) — SAC (2013)
- EN 1706 Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Castings (EN AC-44000) — CEN (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (A413.0/443.0) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.15 — Casting — ASM International (2008)
- Aluminum Association Pink Sheets — Designations and chemical composition limits for aluminum alloys in the form of castings and ingot — The Aluminum Association (2018)
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.