Aluminum Alca 5 · other
Aluminum Alca 5-STD
Properties of the STD condition, compared with the other Alca 5 tempers.
The only commercially stocked condition: continuous-cast, stress-relieved and precision double-side machined plate for tooling and jig bases.
What is Alca 5-STD?
Alca 5-STD is Alca 5 in the STD condition — the only commercially stocked condition: continuous-cast, stress-relieved and precision double-side machined plate for tooling and jig bases. Alca 5-STD has a yield strength of 83 MPa (12 ksi) and a tensile strength of 152 MPa (22 ksi) — weaker than 89% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi). Alca 5-STD has a density of 2.71 g/cm³ (0.0979 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of aluminum grades. It melts at 575°C (1,067 °F).
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 88/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 35/100, worse than 98% of aluminum grades
- Low strength — 83 MPa (12 ksi), worse than 89% of aluminum grades
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 87% of aluminum grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 81% of aluminum grades
Alca 5-STD properties
Typical room-temperature values for Alca 5-STD — 11 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Alca 5 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
Alca 5-STD has a density of 2.71 g/cm³ (0.0979 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of aluminum grades. It melts at 575°C (1,067 °F).
Mechanical11
Alca 5-STD has a yield strength of 83 MPa (12 ksi) and a tensile strength of 152 MPa (22 ksi) — weaker than 89% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi).
Thermal6
Alca 5-STD is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 140 W/m·K (80.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 52% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.6 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Alca 5-STD conducts electricity at 38 % IACS, better than 61% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 51% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Alca 5-STD takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability8
Alca 5-STD's machinability is excellent (88/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other Alca 5 tempers and conditions
Alca 5 is also supplied in 1 other condition. The full side-by-side table is on the Alca 5 overview.
- STDThe only commercially stocked condition: continuous-cast, stress-relieved and precision double-side machined plate for tooling and jig bases.83 MPa yield · 65 HB
Working with Alca 5-STD
Is Alca 5 easy to machine?
Excellent free-machining behaviour with polished-flute carbide tooling and high speeds; virtually no distortion after heavy pocketing thanks to the stress-relieved cast structure, but expect occasional micro-porosity in finished surfaces.
Can Alca 5 be welded?
TIG/MIG repair with 5356 or 4043 filler is possible for cosmetic fixes; base metal porosity causes gas pick-up and local distortion, so avoid structural welds.
Can Alca 5 be formed, bent or molded?
Not a forming alloy — low ductility (~2 %) means no bending, spinning or roll forming; produce shapes by machining only.
What surface finishes work on Alca 5?
Hard/clear anodize, chromate conversion or paint for corrosion and wear protection; decorative colour anodize will look mottled, and mirror polishing is limited by cast porosity.
Alca 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mgprincipal alloying addition; Al-Mg type cast tooling plate, producer-proprietary limits | 0.5 – 1.3 | 1 |
| Siimpurity/limit | ≤ 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Feimpurity/limit | ≤ 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Cuimpurity/limit | ≤ 0.4 | 0.15 |
| Mnimpurity/limit | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Znimpurity/limit | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Tigrain refiner | ≤ 0.15 | 0.03 |
| Albalance; exact chemistry is proprietary to the cast-plate producer — treat listed limits as indicative | balance | — |
Alca 5-STD — frequently asked
What is Alca 5-STD used for?
Alca 5-STD is typically used for injection mould base plates, index plates, inspection and gauge fixtures, vacuum chuck plates, automation equipment base plates and jig and fixture bodies. In short: cast tool plate, ultra flat.
What is the yield strength of Alca 5-STD?
Alca 5-STD has a typical yield strength of 83 MPa (12 ksi) and a tensile strength of 152 MPa (22 ksi) — weaker than 89% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is Alca 5-STD easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (88/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades). Excellent free-machining behaviour with polished-flute carbide tooling and high speeds; virtually no distortion after heavy pocketing thanks to the stress-relieved cast structure, but expect occasional micro-porosity in finished surfaces.
Can Alca 5-STD be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). TIG/MIG repair with 5356 or 4043 filler is possible for cosmetic fixes; base metal porosity causes gas pick-up and local distortion, so avoid structural welds.
What surface finishes work on Alca 5-STD?
Hard/clear anodize, chromate conversion or paint for corrosion and wear protection; decorative colour anodize will look mottled, and mirror polishing is limited by cast porosity.
Can Alca 5-STD be formed, bent or molded?
Not a forming alloy — low ductility (~2 %) means no bending, spinning or roll forming; produce shapes by machining only.
What is the maximum service temperature of Alca 5-STD?
Alca 5-STD 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in Alca 5-STD?
Yes — Alca 5-STD is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Cast aluminium tooling plate product data (Alca 5 / Alca Max / Mic 6 family) — Alcoa / Arconic cast plate producers (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B: Corrosion — Materials — ASM International (2005)
- Small-lot cast aluminium tooling plate pricing — OnlineMetals / Midwest Steel & Aluminum (2026)
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.