Aluminum EN AC-46000-T6
Temper
EN AC-46000 · ASTM 380.0
T6 = solution heat treated and artificially aged
Only for low-gas castings (vacuum/high-integrity HPDC, squeeze or gravity cast) where maximum strength and hardness are required; conventional die castings blister.
Values for the T6 condition
Other EN AC-46000 tempers and conditions
EN AC-46000 is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at EN AC-46000.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F | Low-volume or large sand castings; slow cooling coarsens the structure so strength is the lowest of the three routes. | 95 | 150 | 1 | 60 HB | 22 % IACS |
F | Pick for gravity die (permanent mould) castings where wall sections are thicker and pressure tightness matters more than peak strength. | 110 | 200 | 1 | 80 HB | 23 % IACS |
F-DDefault F | Default condition: thin-wall high-pressure die castings used as cast, no heat treatment. | 155 | 270 | 1.5 | 85 HB | 24 % IACS |
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Use when dimensional stability after machining or a modest yield gain is needed without risking blistering of gas-porous die castings. | 190 | 275 | 1 | 95 HB | 25 % IACS |
T6This page Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Only for low-gas castings (vacuum/high-integrity HPDC, squeeze or gravity cast) where maximum strength and hardness are required; conventional die castings blister. | 240 | 300 | 1 | 110 HB | 28 % IACS |
What is EN AC-46000-T6?
EN AC-46000-T6 is EN AC-46000 in the T6 temper — only for low-gas castings (vacuum/high-integrity HPDC, squeeze or gravity cast) where maximum strength and hardness are required; conventional die castings blister. EN AC-46000-T6 has a yield strength of 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) — stronger than 63% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 75 GPa (10.9 Msi). EN AC-46000-T6 has a density of 2.75 g/cm³ (0.0994 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of aluminum grades. It melts at 515°C (959 °F). F-D is the default condition FabDigit quotes; T6 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High service temperature — 170°C (338 °F), better than 80% of aluminum grades
- Easy to machine — 72/100, better than 80% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 1%, worse than 95% of aluminum grades
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 94% of aluminum grades
- Low fracture toughness — 15 MPa·√m (13.7 ksi·√in), worse than 93% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 28 % IACS, worse than 82% of aluminum grades
EN AC-46000-T6 properties
Typical room-temperature values for EN AC-46000-T6; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are EN AC-46000 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
EN AC-46000-T6 has a density of 2.75 g/cm³ (0.0994 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of aluminum grades. It melts at 515°C (959 °F).
Mechanical14
EN AC-46000-T6 has a yield strength of 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) — stronger than 63% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 75 GPa (10.9 Msi).
Thermal6
EN AC-46000-T6 is rated for continuous service to 170°C (338 °F). It conducts heat at 120 W/m·K (69.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 21 µm/m·K (11.7 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
EN AC-46000-T6 conducts electricity at 28 % IACS, worse than 82% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (44/100), worse than 65% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EN AC-46000-T6 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 90%.
Manufacturability8
EN AC-46000-T6's machinability is very good (72/100, better than 80% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with EN AC-46000-T6
Is EN AC-46000 easy to machine?
Machines freely with sharp PCD or uncoated carbide tooling at high speed; the eutectic and primary Si are abrasive, so PCD is standard for high volumes, and porosity can be exposed in machined sealing faces.
Can EN AC-46000 be welded?
Essentially not fusion weldable as a die casting — entrapped gas causes blowholes and the Cu content promotes hot cracking; use mechanical joining, adhesive bonding, self-pierce riveting or friction stir/laser only on high-integrity vacuum castings.
Can EN AC-46000 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding HPDC alloy: fluid at 660–700 °C melt / 200–240 °C die, tolerates 1 % Fe to resist die soldering, wall sections down to ~1.5 mm, and takes high recycled charge.
What surface finishes work on EN AC-46000?
Best finished by chromate-free conversion coating plus e-coat/powder paint; decorative anodizing is poor (dark grey), electroless nickel or zinc-based plating is used for wear/EMI, and shot blasting or vibratory finishing evens the as-cast skin.
EN AC-46000 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 | 8 – 11 | 9.5 |
| Feup to 1.3 % permitted for high pressure die castings | 0.6 – 1.1 | 0.9 |
| Cu | 2 – 4 | 3 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.55 | 0.3 |
| Mg | 0.05 – 0.55 | 0.25 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Ni | ≤ 0.55 | — |
| Zn | ≤ 1.2 | 0.6 |
| Pb | ≤ 0.35 | — |
| Sn | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Ti | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Others (each)total 0.25 % max | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
EN AC-46000-T6 — frequently asked
What is EN AC-46000-T6 used for?
EN AC-46000-T6 is typically used for engine blocks, transmission cases, housings and automotive brackets. In short: most common HPDC alloy; tolerates recycled, high-Fe charge; not fusion weldable as-cast.
What is the yield strength of EN AC-46000-T6?
EN AC-46000-T6 has a typical yield strength of 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) — stronger than 63% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is EN AC-46000-T6 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (72/100, better than 80% of aluminum grades). Machines freely with sharp PCD or uncoated carbide tooling at high speed; the eutectic and primary Si are abrasive, so PCD is standard for high volumes, and porosity can be exposed in machined sealing faces.
Can EN AC-46000-T6 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Essentially not fusion weldable as a die casting — entrapped gas causes blowholes and the Cu content promotes hot cracking; use mechanical joining, adhesive bonding, self-pierce riveting or friction stir/laser only on high-integrity vacuum castings.
What surface finishes work on EN AC-46000-T6?
Best finished by chromate-free conversion coating plus e-coat/powder paint; decorative anodizing is poor (dark grey), electroless nickel or zinc-based plating is used for wear/EMI, and shot blasting or vibratory finishing evens the as-cast skin.
Can EN AC-46000-T6 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding HPDC alloy: fluid at 660–700 °C melt / 200–240 °C die, tolerates 1 % Fe to resist die soldering, wall sections down to ~1.5 mm, and takes high recycled charge.
What is the maximum service temperature of EN AC-46000-T6?
EN AC-46000-T6 is rated for continuous use to about 170°C (338 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between EN AC-46000 F-D and EN AC-46000-T6?
F-D is the default condition — default condition: thin-wall high-pressure die castings used as cast, no heat treatment. T6: only for low-gas castings (vacuum/high-integrity HPDC, squeeze or gravity cast) where maximum strength and hardness are required; conventional die castings blister. Yield strength is 155 MPa in F-D versus 240 MPa in T6.
Sources
- EN 1706 — Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Castings — Chemical composition and mechanical properties — CEN (2020)
- EN 1676 — Aluminium alloy ingots for remelting — CEN (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (A380.0 data) — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM B85 — Aluminum-Alloy Die Castings — ASTM International (2018)
- JIS H5302 — Aluminium alloy die castings (ADC12) — JSA (2006)
- GB/T 15115 — (YL113 / ADC12 equivalents) — SAC (2009)
- Secondary die casting alloy AlSi9Cu3(Fe) technical data — Rheinfelden Alloys / Trimet (2021)
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.