Aluminum Cast 5083-F (As fabricated)
Temper
Choose F for raw cast blanks/slabs that will be heavily machined or fully welded and where no guaranteed mechanical properties or low residual stress are required.
Values for the F condition
What is Cast 5083-F?
Cast 5083-F is Cast 5083 in the F temper — choose F for raw cast blanks/slabs that will be heavily machined or fully welded and where no guaranteed mechanical properties or low residual stress are required. Cast 5083-F has a yield strength of 115 MPa (16.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) — weaker than 79% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi). Cast 5083-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).
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 9.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 97% of aluminum grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 75/100, better than 88% of aluminum grades
- Readily welded — 88/100, better than 85% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 97% of aluminum grades
- Poor heat conductor — 117 W/m·K (67.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of aluminum grades
- Low strength — 115 MPa (16.7 ksi), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 29 % IACS, worse than 78% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
Cast 5083-F properties
Typical room-temperature values for Cast 5083-F; 7 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Cast 5083 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
Cast 5083-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).
Mechanical10
Cast 5083-F has a yield strength of 115 MPa (16.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) — weaker than 79% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
Cast 5083-F is rated for continuous service to 65°C (149 °F). It conducts heat at 117 W/m·K (67.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.8 µm/m·K (13.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Cast 5083-F conducts electricity at 29 % IACS, worse than 78% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (75/100), better than 88% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Cast 5083-F takes about 155 MJ of energy and emits 9.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 94% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
Cast 5083-F's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 59% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (88/100); formability fair (35/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Cast 5083-F
Is Cast 5083 easy to machine?
Machines cleanly and with very little distortion because the plate is essentially stress-free; use sharp polished-flute carbide, high speed, generous coolant to avoid gummy build-up on the Mg-rich matrix.
Can Cast 5083 be welded?
Excellent GMAW/GTAW weldability with 5183 or 5356 filler; no post-weld heat treatment, but expect weld-zone strength near O-temper and keep interpass temperature low.
Can Cast 5083 be formed, bent or molded?
Not a forming grade — supplied as thick cast plate for machining; bending or deep drawing should use rolled 5083-O/H sheet instead.
What surface finishes work on Cast 5083?
Clear and hard anodizing are practical though the cast structure may look slightly mottled; not brazeable/solderable, and paint or powder coat over a chromate-free conversion coat gives the best marine appearance.
Cast 5083 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 | ≤ 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Mn | 0.4 – 1 | 0.7 |
| Mgprincipal strengthening element | 4 – 4.9 | 4.45 |
| Cr | 0.05 – 0.25 | 0.12 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.25 | 0.05 |
| Tigrain refiner in cast plate | ≤ 0.15 | 0.03 |
| Others (each)0.15 total | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Al | balance |
Cast 5083-F — frequently asked
What is Cast 5083-F used for?
Cast 5083-F is typically used for thermoforming and vacuum forming mold plates, fixture and jig base plates, marine machined base and mounting plates, welded machined bases and frames, vacuum platens and inspection fixture plates. In short: precision flat; stable cast plate.
What is the yield strength of Cast 5083-F?
Cast 5083-F has a typical yield strength of 115 MPa (16.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) — weaker than 79% of aluminum grades.
Is Cast 5083-F easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 59% of aluminum grades). Machines cleanly and with very little distortion because the plate is essentially stress-free; use sharp polished-flute carbide, high speed, generous coolant to avoid gummy build-up on the Mg-rich matrix.
Can Cast 5083-F be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (88/100). Excellent GMAW/GTAW weldability with 5183 or 5356 filler; no post-weld heat treatment, but expect weld-zone strength near O-temper and keep interpass temperature low.
What surface finishes work on Cast 5083-F?
Clear and hard anodizing are practical though the cast structure may look slightly mottled; not brazeable/solderable, and paint or powder coat over a chromate-free conversion coat gives the best marine appearance.
Can Cast 5083-F be formed, bent or molded?
Not a forming grade — supplied as thick cast plate for machining; bending or deep drawing should use rolled 5083-O/H sheet instead.
What is the maximum service temperature of Cast 5083-F?
Cast 5083-F is rated for continuous use to about 65°C (149 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in Cast 5083-F?
Yes — Cast 5083-F is available for CNC machining; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Aluminum Association Teal Sheets — International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASTM B209 / B928 — Aluminum Alloy Plate and Sheet, High-Magnesium Marine Alloys — ASTM International (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
- Cast aluminium tooling plate (5083-type, ALCA 5 class) technical data — Vista Metals / Alimex (2022)
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.