Aluminum EN AC-43500-T6
Temper
EN AC-43500
T6 = solution heat treated and artificially aged
Highest strength condition for load-bearing brackets and nodes; requires vacuum/low-gas casting to avoid solution-treat blisters.
Values for the T6 condition
Other EN AC-43500 tempers and conditions
EN AC-43500 is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at EN AC-43500.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution heat treated and naturally aged | Pick when maximum elongation is required for self-pierce riveting, clinching or post-cast bending of the casting. | 115 | 265 | 18 | 68 HB | 22 % IACS |
FDefault As fabricated | Default production condition: good strength/ductility balance straight from the die, no distortion or blister risk. | 135 | 270 | 8 | 85 HB | 25 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and overaged (stabilized) | Standard automotive crash temper: 10–18 % elongation with stable dimensions, ideal for riveted/welded body-in-white castings. | 140 | 220 | 16 | 68 HB | 30 % IACS |
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Cheap strength boost via a single low-temperature age; keeps dimensional accuracy and avoids blistering because no solution soak is used. | 180 | 275 | 6 | 95 HB | 28 % IACS |
T6This page Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Highest strength condition for load-bearing brackets and nodes; requires vacuum/low-gas casting to avoid solution-treat blisters. | 235 | 320 | 9 | 105 HB | 27 % IACS |
What is EN AC-43500-T6?
EN AC-43500-T6 is EN AC-43500 in the T6 temper — highest strength condition for load-bearing brackets and nodes; requires vacuum/low-gas casting to avoid solution-treat blisters. EN AC-43500-T6 has a yield strength of 235 MPa (34.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) — stronger than 61% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 75 GPa (10.9 Msi). EN AC-43500-T6 has a density of 2.65 g/cm³ (0.0957 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of aluminum grades. It melts at 557°C (1,035 °F). F is the default condition FabDigit quotes; T6 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 10.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 95% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 27 % IACS, worse than 86% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
EN AC-43500-T6 properties
Typical room-temperature values for EN AC-43500-T6; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are EN AC-43500 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
EN AC-43500-T6 has a density of 2.65 g/cm³ (0.0957 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of aluminum grades. It melts at 557°C (1,035 °F).
Mechanical13
EN AC-43500-T6 has a yield strength of 235 MPa (34.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) — stronger than 61% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 75 GPa (10.9 Msi).
Thermal6
EN AC-43500-T6 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 150 W/m·K (86.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 58% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 21 µm/m·K (11.7 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
EN AC-43500-T6 conducts electricity at 27 % IACS, worse than 86% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), better than 67% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EN AC-43500-T6 takes about 155 MJ of energy and emits 10.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 94% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
EN AC-43500-T6's machinability is good (68/100, better than 67% of aluminum grades); weldability very good (72/100); formability fair (35/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with EN AC-43500-T6
Is EN AC-43500 easy to machine?
Machines like other eutectic Al-Si die castings — use PCD or diamond-coated carbide, high speed with light feeds and copious coolant; interrupted cuts through porosity are the main tool-life issue.
Can EN AC-43500 be welded?
Good MIG/TIG/laser and CMT weldability with ER4043/ER5356-type filler thanks to near-zero Cu; success depends on low gas porosity, and remote-laser or friction-element joints are standard for casting-to-sheet assemblies.
Can EN AC-43500 be formed, bent or molded?
Designed for vacuum-assisted high-pressure die casting of 2–4 mm walls; keep melt clean and Sr-modified, hold Fe <0.15 %, and use jet cooling/short shot times to allow later solution treatment without blistering.
What surface finishes work on EN AC-43500?
Conversion coating plus e-coat or powder coat is the production standard; hard anodizing is possible for wear zones, while decorative clear anodize turns grey and blotchy because of the silicon.
EN AC-43500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SiSr-modified eutectic | 9 – 11.5 | 10.5 |
| Mnreplaces Fe as anti-soldering element | 0.4 – 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Mg0.1–0.3 % for high-ductility T7, up to 0.6 % for T6 | 0.1 – 0.6 | 0.25 |
| Fekept low for ductility | ≤ 0.15 | 0.1 |
| Culimited for corrosion resistance | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.07 | 0.02 |
| Tigrain refiner | 0.04 – 0.15 | 0.08 |
| Srproducer addition (Silafont-36/Aural-2) | 0.01 – 0.02 | 0.02 |
| others (each)total ≤ 0.10 % | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
EN AC-43500-T6 — frequently asked
What is EN AC-43500-T6 used for?
EN AC-43500-T6 is typically used for structural die castings, crash-relevant automotive parts and shock towers. In short: most ductile Al-Si die-cast; crash-rated structural castings; weldable and heat-treatable.
What is the yield strength of EN AC-43500-T6?
EN AC-43500-T6 has a typical yield strength of 235 MPa (34.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) — stronger than 61% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is EN AC-43500-T6 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (68/100, better than 67% of aluminum grades). Machines like other eutectic Al-Si die castings — use PCD or diamond-coated carbide, high speed with light feeds and copious coolant; interrupted cuts through porosity are the main tool-life issue.
Can EN AC-43500-T6 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (72/100). Good MIG/TIG/laser and CMT weldability with ER4043/ER5356-type filler thanks to near-zero Cu; success depends on low gas porosity, and remote-laser or friction-element joints are standard for casting-to-sheet assemblies.
What surface finishes work on EN AC-43500-T6?
Conversion coating plus e-coat or powder coat is the production standard; hard anodizing is possible for wear zones, while decorative clear anodize turns grey and blotchy because of the silicon.
Can EN AC-43500-T6 be formed, bent or molded?
Designed for vacuum-assisted high-pressure die casting of 2–4 mm walls; keep melt clean and Sr-modified, hold Fe <0.15 %, and use jet cooling/short shot times to allow later solution treatment without blistering.
What is the maximum service temperature of EN AC-43500-T6?
EN AC-43500-T6 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 EN AC-43500-F and EN AC-43500-T6?
F is the default condition — default production condition: good strength/ductility balance straight from the die, no distortion or blister risk. T6: highest strength condition for load-bearing brackets and nodes; requires vacuum/low-gas casting to avoid solution-treat blisters. Yield strength is 135 MPa in F versus 235 MPa in T6.
Sources
- EN 1706 — Aluminium and aluminium alloys: castings — chemical composition and mechanical properties — CEN (2020)
- Silafont-36 (AlSi10MnMg) alloy datasheet — Rheinfelden Alloys (2019)
- Aural-2 structural die casting alloy data — Rio Tinto / Alcan (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 15 — Casting — ASM International (2008)
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.