Aluminum EN AC-46100
EN AC-46100
EN AC-46100 (AlSi11Cu2(Fe)) is a high-silicon Al-Si-Cu high-pressure die casting alloy supplied in F and T5, with the added Fe holding it clear of die soldering.
Reference datasheet — EN AC-46100 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
EN AC-46100 tempers and conditions
EN AC-46100 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 and essentially only commercial condition: as-cast HPDC parts, no heat treatment. | 150 | 260 | 1.5 | 85 HB | 23 % IACS |
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Optional low-temperature age used to stabilise dimensions and slightly raise yield strength without blistering the die casting. | 175 | 265 | 1.2 | 95 HB | 25 % IACS |
What is EN AC-46100?
EN AC-46100 (AlSi11Cu2(Fe)) is a high-silicon Al-Si-Cu high-pressure die casting alloy supplied in F and T5, with the added Fe holding it clear of die soldering. Its wide-freezing-range fluidity fills thin walls economically, and default properties are 150 MPa yield, 260 MPa tensile, 1.5 % elongation, 85 HB, 110 W/m·K and 23 % IACS. Service is limited to 150 °C, machinability is 62 — the lowest of this group because of the higher silicon — and structural welding is not recommended; EN AC-46000 is the nearest alternative where slightly better machinability and higher strength are wanted. EN AC-46100 has a density of 2.75 g/cm³ (0.0994 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of aluminum grades. It melts at 520°C (968 °F). EN AC-46100 has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — weaker than 65% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 75 GPa (10.9 Msi).
What is EN AC-46100 used for?
- thin-wall housings
- die-cast covers
- small brackets
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 14 MPa·√m (12.7 ksi·√in), worse than 97% of aluminum grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 23 % IACS, worse than 97% of aluminum grades
- Limited ductility — 1.5%, worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Poor heat conductor — 110 W/m·K (63.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of aluminum grades
EN AC-46100 properties
Typical room-temperature values for EN AC-46100-F; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
EN AC-46100 has a density of 2.75 g/cm³ (0.0994 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of aluminum grades. It melts at 520°C (968 °F).
Mechanical14
EN AC-46100 has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — weaker than 65% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 75 GPa (10.9 Msi).
Thermal6
EN AC-46100 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 110 W/m·K (63.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 88% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 21 µm/m·K (11.7 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
EN AC-46100 conducts electricity at 23 % IACS, worse than 97% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), worse than 75% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EN AC-46100 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-46100's machinability is good (62/100, better than 55% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
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. EN AC-46100 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with EN AC-46100
Is EN AC-46100 easy to machine?
Machines freely with PCD or polished-flute carbide at high speed; eutectic Si is abrasive so avoid HSS, and expect porosity to break through on deep pockets and sealing faces.
Can EN AC-46100 be welded?
Not recommended for structural welds — entrapped die-cast gas blisters and Cu promotes hot cracking; use 4047/4145 filler, laser or friction stir only on vacuum/high-integrity castings.
Can EN AC-46100 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent HPDC alloy: wide freezing-range fluidity fills 1–2 mm walls, Fe content prevents die soldering; keep melt clean and degassed, and do not solution treat standard castings.
EN AC-46100 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sinear-eutectic, gives fluidity | 10 – 12 | 11 |
| Cu | 1.5 – 2.5 | 2 |
| Fedeliberate minimum to prevent die soldering in HPDC | 0.45 – 1 | 0.8 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.55 | 0.3 |
| Mg | ≤ 0.3 | 0.15 |
| Ni | ≤ 0.45 | |
| Zntolerant of scrap-borne Zn | ≤ 1.7 | 0.6 |
| Pb | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Sn | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Ti | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Crnot always specified | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Others (each)total 0.25 max | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on EN AC-46100?
Best finished with chromate-free conversion coating plus powder coat or e-coat; decorative anodizing is dark and blotchy, hard anodizing only for wear; shot blast and impregnate porous parts before plating.
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 EN AC-46100 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- AC-46100
How much does EN AC-46100 cost?
EN AC-46100 is a standard-cost aluminum ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
EN AC-46100 — frequently asked
What is EN AC-46100 used for?
EN AC-46100 is typically used for thin-wall housings, die-cast covers and small brackets. In short: best fluidity for thin walls; fe-tolerant HPDC alloy; lowest machinability of group.
What is the yield strength of EN AC-46100?
EN AC-46100 has a typical yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — weaker than 65% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is EN AC-46100 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 55% of aluminum grades). Machines freely with PCD or polished-flute carbide at high speed; eutectic Si is abrasive so avoid HSS, and expect porosity to break through on deep pockets and sealing faces.
Can EN AC-46100 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Not recommended for structural welds — entrapped die-cast gas blisters and Cu promotes hot cracking; use 4047/4145 filler, laser or friction stir only on vacuum/high-integrity castings.
What surface finishes work on EN AC-46100?
Best finished with chromate-free conversion coating plus powder coat or e-coat; decorative anodizing is dark and blotchy, hard anodizing only for wear; shot blast and impregnate porous parts before plating.
Can EN AC-46100 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent HPDC alloy: wide freezing-range fluidity fills 1–2 mm walls, Fe content prevents die soldering; keep melt clean and degassed, and do not solution treat standard castings.
What is the maximum service temperature of EN AC-46100?
EN AC-46100 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-46100-F and EN AC-46100-T5?
F is the default condition — standard and essentially only commercial condition: as-cast HPDC parts, no heat treatment. T5: optional low-temperature age used to stabilise dimensions and slightly raise yield strength without blistering the die casting. Yield strength is 150 MPa in F versus 175 MPa in T5.
How much does EN AC-46100 cost?
EN AC-46100 is a standard-cost aluminum ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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
- 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 — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys — ASM International (1993)
- European secondary die-casting alloy datasheets (AlSi11Cu2(Fe) / EN AC-46100) — Rheinfelden / Trimet / Raffmetal (2022)
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.