Aluminum EN AC-46500
EN AC-46500
EN AC-46500 (AlSi9Cu3(Fe)(Zn), close to US 383.0) is a secondary-grade Al-Si-Cu die casting alloy that tolerates the iron and zinc residuals carried by recycled scrap, supplied as F, T5 and F-GDC.
Reference datasheet — EN AC-46500 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-46500 tempers and conditions
EN AC-46500 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. F is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F | Occasional low-volume route (sand or gravity die); slower solidification coarsens the structure so strength and ductility fall below HPDC values. | 120 | 190 | 1 | 75 HB | 24 % IACS |
FDefault As fabricated | Standard supply condition for essentially all EN AC-46500 parts: as-cast HPDC, no heat treatment. | 160 | 300 | 1.5 | 85 HB | 23 % IACS |
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Choose when machined die castings must stay dimensionally stable or when a modest hardness gain is wanted without the blistering risk of solution treatment. | 190 | 310 | 1 | 95 HB | 25 % IACS |
What is EN AC-46500?
EN AC-46500 (AlSi9Cu3(Fe)(Zn), close to US 383.0) is a secondary-grade Al-Si-Cu die casting alloy that tolerates the iron and zinc residuals carried by recycled scrap, supplied as F, T5 and F-GDC. It is the economical choice for high-volume cold-chamber die casting and offers the highest as-cast strength in this group: 160 MPa yield, 300 MPa tensile, 1.5 % elongation and 85 HB. Trade-offs are the lowest thermal and electrical conductivity of the family (96 W/m·K, 23 % IACS), a weldability rating of only 22 and service limited to 150 °C. Choose EN AC-47000 instead when thin walls, pressure tightness or weldability dominate. EN AC-46500 has a density of 2.75 g/cm³ (0.0994 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of aluminum grades. It melts at 516°C (961 °F). EN AC-46500 has a yield strength of 160 MPa (23.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) — weaker than 61% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
What is EN AC-46500 used for?
- engine covers
- transmission housings
- general die castings
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 9.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 97% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 23 % IACS, worse than 97% of aluminum grades
- Poor heat conductor — 96 W/m·K (55.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of aluminum grades
- Limited ductility — 1.5%, worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Limited formability — 8/100, worse than 88% of aluminum grades
EN AC-46500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for EN AC-46500-F; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
EN AC-46500 has a density of 2.75 g/cm³ (0.0994 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of aluminum grades. It melts at 516°C (961 °F).
Mechanical12
EN AC-46500 has a yield strength of 160 MPa (23.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) — weaker than 61% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
EN AC-46500 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 96 W/m·K (55.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 21 µm/m·K (11.7 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
EN AC-46500 conducts electricity at 23 % IACS, worse than 97% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 69% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EN AC-46500 takes about 155 MJ of energy and emits 9.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 94% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 92%.
Manufacturability8
EN AC-46500's machinability is good (62/100, better than 55% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (22/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
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-46500 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with EN AC-46500
Is EN AC-46500 easy to machine?
Machines freely with sharp PCD or coated carbide at high speed; primary Si and Fe-rich needles abrade HSS quickly, so use PCD for volume and flood coolant to avoid built-up edge.
Can EN AC-46500 be welded?
Not recommended as a structural joining method for HPDC parts — entrapped gas causes porosity and blowholes; use mechanical fastening, adhesive bonding, or localized TIG/FSW repair on vacuum-cast material.
Can EN AC-46500 be formed, bent or molded?
Designed for cold-chamber high-pressure die casting: excellent fluidity for 1–2 mm walls, low die soldering thanks to Fe content; avoid solution treatment (T6) as gas porosity causes blistering.
EN AC-46500 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 |
| Fehigh tolerance typical of scrap-based alloy; ≥0.7 % aids die release | ≤ 1.3 | 0.9 |
| Cu | 2 – 4 | 3 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.55 | 0.3 |
| Mg | 0.05 – 0.55 | 0.25 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Ni | ≤ 0.55 | |
| Znkey difference vs EN AC-46000 (Zn ≤1.2 %) | ≤ 3 | 1.2 |
| Pb | ≤ 0.35 | |
| Sn | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Ti | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Others (each)total ≤0.25 % | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on EN AC-46500?
Best finished by chromate-free conversion coating + powder/wet paint or e-coat; decorative anodizing is poor (dark, patchy) — only functional hard anodize, and shot blasting/vibratory finishing are common.
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-46500 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- AC-46500
- Similar grades
- 383.0
How much does EN AC-46500 cost?
EN AC-46500 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-46500 — frequently asked
What is EN AC-46500 used for?
EN AC-46500 is typically used for engine covers, transmission housings and general die castings. In short: cheapest high-volume die casting; highest as-cast strength here; scrap-tolerant secondary alloy.
What is the yield strength of EN AC-46500?
EN AC-46500 has a typical yield strength of 160 MPa (23.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) — weaker than 61% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is EN AC-46500 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 55% of aluminum grades). Machines freely with sharp PCD or coated carbide at high speed; primary Si and Fe-rich needles abrade HSS quickly, so use PCD for volume and flood coolant to avoid built-up edge.
Can EN AC-46500 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (22/100). Not recommended as a structural joining method for HPDC parts — entrapped gas causes porosity and blowholes; use mechanical fastening, adhesive bonding, or localized TIG/FSW repair on vacuum-cast material.
What surface finishes work on EN AC-46500?
Best finished by chromate-free conversion coating + powder/wet paint or e-coat; decorative anodizing is poor (dark, patchy) — only functional hard anodize, and shot blasting/vibratory finishing are common.
Can EN AC-46500 be formed, bent or molded?
Designed for cold-chamber high-pressure die casting: excellent fluidity for 1–2 mm walls, low die soldering thanks to Fe content; avoid solution treatment (T6) as gas porosity causes blistering.
What is the maximum service temperature of EN AC-46500?
EN AC-46500 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-46500-F and EN AC-46500 F-GDC?
F is the default condition — standard supply condition for essentially all EN AC-46500 parts: as-cast HPDC, no heat treatment. F-GDC: occasional low-volume route (sand or gravity die); slower solidification coarsens the structure so strength and ductility fall below HPDC values. Yield strength is 160 MPa in F versus 120 MPa in F-GDC.
How much does EN AC-46500 cost?
EN AC-46500 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)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (383.0 die casting alloy) — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM B85/B85M — Aluminum-Alloy Die Castings — ASTM (2018)
- NADCA Product Specification Standards for Die Castings — North American Die Casting Association (2018)
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.