Aluminum AlSiC-9
EN AlSiC-9
AlSiC-9 is an aluminum-silicon carbide composite made by pressureless or pressure infiltration of a SiC preform, giving a coefficient of thermal expansion tailored to semiconductor packages; it is cataloged in F, T6, MACH, NiP and NiAu conditions.
Reference datasheet — AlSiC-9 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 F condition
AlSiC-9 tempers and conditions
AlSiC-9 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. F is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDefault As fabricated | Standard commercial condition for IGBT baseplates and packages delivered straight from preform infiltration with minimal machining. | 190 | 210 | 0.4 | 20 HRC | 14 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Choose when the Al-Si-Mg matrix must carry higher stress (bolted flanges, structural heat spreaders); slightly lowers thermal conductivity. | 230 | 250 | 0.3 | 24 HRC | 13 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways AlSiC-9 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
MACH | Machined / ground-lapped baseplate | Surface finish |
NiAu | Ni/Au plated | Surface finish |
NiP | Electroless nickel plated | Surface finish |
What is AlSiC-9?
AlSiC-9 is an aluminum-silicon carbide composite made by pressureless or pressure infiltration of a SiC preform, giving a coefficient of thermal expansion tailored to semiconductor packages; it is cataloged in F, T6, MACH, NiP and NiAu conditions. It is used as a net-shape substrate or baseplate material, with 190 W/m·K thermal conductivity, 350 °C maximum service temperature, 190 MPa yield and 210 MPa tensile. Elongation of 0.4 % and a machinability score of 8 mean the material behaves like a ceramic and must be designed net-shape. A359/SiC/20p castings are the alternative when geometry allows conventional casting. AlSiC-9 has a density of 3.01 g/cm³ (0.109 lb/in³), heavier than 100% of aluminum grades. It melts at 557°C (1,035 °F). AlSiC-9 has a yield strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 210 MPa (30.5 ksi) — weaker than 52% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 0.4% and the elastic modulus is 188 GPa (27.3 Msi).
What is AlSiC-9 used for?
- power electronics substrates
- RF/microwave packages
- IGBT baseplates
- LED heat spreaders
Advantages
- Stiff — 188 GPa (27.3 Msi), better than 100% of aluminum grades
- High service temperature — 350°C (662 °F), better than 100% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 190 W/m·K (109.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 89% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 0.4%, worse than 100% of aluminum grades
- Low fracture toughness — 8.5 MPa·√m (7.74 ksi·√in), worse than 100% of aluminum grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 14 % IACS, worse than 100% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to machine — 8/100, worse than 100% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to weld — 8/100, worse than 100% of aluminum grades
AlSiC-9 properties
Typical room-temperature values for AlSiC-9-F; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
AlSiC-9 has a density of 3.01 g/cm³ (0.109 lb/in³), heavier than 100% of aluminum grades. It melts at 557°C (1,035 °F).
Mechanical16
AlSiC-9 has a yield strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 210 MPa (30.5 ksi) — weaker than 52% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 0.4% and the elastic modulus is 188 GPa (27.3 Msi).
Thermal5
AlSiC-9 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 190 W/m·K (109.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 89% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 8.5 µm/m·K (4.72 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
AlSiC-9 conducts electricity at 14 % IACS, worse than 100% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 51% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of AlSiC-9 takes about 250 MJ of energy and emits 18 kg of CO₂ — more than 98% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability8
AlSiC-9's machinability is not recommended (8/100, worse than 100% of aluminum grades); weldability not recommended (8/100); formability not recommended (3/100).
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. AlSiC-9 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with AlSiC-9
Is AlSiC-9 easy to machine?
Treat as a ceramic-like material: diamond grinding, lapping, waterjet or EDM; carbide tooling wears out almost immediately, so design for net-shape infiltration with minimal post-machining.
Can AlSiC-9 be welded?
Not fusion weldable in practice — SiC reacts with molten Al to form Al4C3; join by soldering/brazing over an electroless-Ni layer or by mechanical fastening.
Can AlSiC-9 be formed, bent or molded?
No cold or hot forming; geometry (fins, cavities, cast-in inserts) is created in the SiC preform before pressure infiltration.
AlSiC-9 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SiC≈60–65 vol% SiC particulate preform | 62 – 72 | 68 |
| Sifrom Al-Si infiltration alloy (A356/AlSi7-type) | 1.5 – 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Mgwetting/aging addition in matrix | 0.05 – 0.35 | 0.15 |
| Almatrix alloy, ~28–35 wt% | balance |
What surface finishes work on AlSiC-9?
Electroless Ni (3–8 µm) is the default finish, optionally Ni/Au for wire bonding; anodizing is unreliable because SiC particles do not convert.
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 AlSiC-9 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- Al-SiC
How much does AlSiC-9 cost?
AlSiC-9 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.
AlSiC-9 — frequently asked
What is AlSiC-9 used for?
AlSiC-9 is typically used for power electronics substrates, RF/microwave packages, IGBT baseplates and LED heat spreaders. In short: CTE matched to semiconductors; net-shape infiltrated composite; 190 W/m·K heat spreader.
What is the yield strength of AlSiC-9?
AlSiC-9 has a typical yield strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 210 MPa (30.5 ksi) — weaker than 52% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is AlSiC-9 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (8/100, worse than 100% of aluminum grades). Treat as a ceramic-like material: diamond grinding, lapping, waterjet or EDM; carbide tooling wears out almost immediately, so design for net-shape infiltration with minimal post-machining.
Can AlSiC-9 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (8/100). Not fusion weldable in practice — SiC reacts with molten Al to form Al4C3; join by soldering/brazing over an electroless-Ni layer or by mechanical fastening.
What surface finishes work on AlSiC-9?
Electroless Ni (3–8 µm) is the default finish, optionally Ni/Au for wire bonding; anodizing is unreliable because SiC particles do not convert.
Can AlSiC-9 be formed, bent or molded?
No cold or hot forming; geometry (fins, cavities, cast-in inserts) is created in the SiC preform before pressure infiltration.
What is the maximum service temperature of AlSiC-9?
AlSiC-9 is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between AlSiC-9-F and AlSiC-9-T6?
F is the default condition — standard commercial condition for IGBT baseplates and packages delivered straight from preform infiltration with minimal machining. T6: choose when the Al-Si-Mg matrix must carry higher stress (bolted flanges, structural heat spreaders); slightly lowers thermal conductivity. Yield strength is 190 MPa in F versus 230 MPa in T6.
How much does AlSiC-9 cost?
AlSiC-9 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
- AlSiC Metal Matrix Composite Baseplates and Packages — CPS Technologies (2022)
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 21: Composites — ASM International (2001)
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Metal Matrix Composite thermal management materials review (IMAPS proceedings) — IMAPS (2015)
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.