Aluminum EN AC-46500-F (As fabricated)
Temper · default condition
EN AC-46500
Standard supply condition for essentially all EN AC-46500 parts: as-cast HPDC, no heat treatment.
Values for the F condition
Other EN AC-46500 tempers and conditions
EN AC-46500 is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at EN AC-46500.
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 |
FDefaultThis page 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-F?
EN AC-46500-F is EN AC-46500 in the F temper — standard supply condition for essentially all EN AC-46500 parts: as-cast HPDC, no heat treatment. EN AC-46500-F 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). EN AC-46500-F 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).
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-F properties
Typical room-temperature values for EN AC-46500-F; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are EN AC-46500 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
EN AC-46500-F 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-F 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-F 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-F 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-F 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-F'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. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with EN AC-46500-F
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.
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.
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 | — |
EN AC-46500-F — frequently asked
What is EN AC-46500-F used for?
EN AC-46500-F 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-F?
EN AC-46500-F 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-F 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-F 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-F?
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-F 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-F?
EN AC-46500-F 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.