Aluminum ER4643-AW (As-welded deposit)
Heat-treated state · default condition
ASTM AWS A5.10 ER4643
Default condition for field/production welds on 6000 series where no post-weld heat treatment is applied.
Values for the AW condition
Other ER4643 tempers and conditions
ER4643 is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at ER4643.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As fabricated | The product as sold: drawn and cleaned MIG spool wire or straight TIG rod; strength values apply to the wire itself, not to a joint. | 95 | 165 | 15 | 45 HB | 41 % IACS |
AWDefaultThis page As-welded deposit | Default condition for field/production welds on 6000 series where no post-weld heat treatment is applied. | 115 | 186 | 8 | 45 HB | 40 % IACS |
post-weld solution heat treated and artificially aged | Pick when the whole weldment can be re-solutionized and aged — this is where 4643 beats 4043, recovering most of the 6061-T6 joint strength. | 220 | 290 | 5 | 80 HB | 42 % IACS |
What is ER4643-AW?
ER4643-AW is ER4643 heat treated to AW — default condition for field/production welds on 6000 series where no post-weld heat treatment is applied. ER4643-AW has a yield strength of 115 MPa (16.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 186 MPa (27 ksi) — weaker than 79% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi). ER4643-AW has a density of 2.69 g/cm³ (0.0972 lb/in³), lighter than 67% of aluminum grades. It melts at 574°C (1,065 °F).
Advantages
- Readily welded — 92/100, better than 95% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 160 W/m·K (92.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 76% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 115 MPa (16.7 ksi), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
ER4643-AW properties
Typical room-temperature values for ER4643-AW; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are ER4643 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
ER4643-AW has a density of 2.69 g/cm³ (0.0972 lb/in³), lighter than 67% of aluminum grades. It melts at 574°C (1,065 °F).
Mechanical10
ER4643-AW has a yield strength of 115 MPa (16.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 186 MPa (27 ksi) — weaker than 79% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi).
Thermal6
ER4643-AW is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 160 W/m·K (92.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 76% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 22 µm/m·K (12.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ER4643-AW conducts electricity at 40 % IACS, better than 72% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), better than 67% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of ER4643-AW takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 10%.
Manufacturability8
ER4643-AW's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 72% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (92/100); formability good (55/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with ER4643-AW
Is ER4643 easy to machine?
Weld beads machine like soft Al-Si: use sharp polished carbide, high speed, low feed and flood coolant to avoid built-up edge; Si particles cause moderate tool wear.
Can ER4643 be welded?
GMAW/GTAW filler for 6061/6063/6082 and Al-Si-Mg castings; run DCEP spray or AC TIG, keep interpass below ~120 °C, and plan post-weld T6 to realize the strength advantage over 4043.
Can ER4643 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as drawn wire or straight rod; keep spools dry and free of oil, and re-clean or replace wire showing hydrated oxide to prevent weld porosity.
What surface finishes work on ER4643?
Do not use where anodized color match matters — the Si-bearing deposit anodizes dark gray; paint, powder coat or chemical conversion coating give uniform appearance.
ER4643 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sireduced vs 4043 so that Mg2Si can strengthen after PWHT | 3.6 – 4.6 | 4.1 |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.8 | — |
| Cu | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Mn | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Mgprecipitation-hardening addition | 0.1 – 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Tigrain refiner | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Berestricted in most specifications | ≤ 3×10⁻⁴ | — |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
ER4643-AW — frequently asked
What is ER4643-AW used for?
ER4643-AW is typically used for automotive 6000-series body and chassis welds, structural aluminum frames, 6061 frame and tube weldments, 6063 extrusion space-frame joints, al-Si-Mg casting to extrusion joints and heat-treated 6000-series assemblies requiring post-weld T6. In short: stronger than ER4043; low-crack 6000-series filler; best with post-weld T6.
What is the yield strength of ER4643-AW?
ER4643-AW has a typical yield strength of 115 MPa (16.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 186 MPa (27 ksi) — weaker than 79% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is ER4643-AW easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 72% of aluminum grades). Weld beads machine like soft Al-Si: use sharp polished carbide, high speed, low feed and flood coolant to avoid built-up edge; Si particles cause moderate tool wear.
Can ER4643-AW be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (92/100). GMAW/GTAW filler for 6061/6063/6082 and Al-Si-Mg castings; run DCEP spray or AC TIG, keep interpass below ~120 °C, and plan post-weld T6 to realize the strength advantage over 4043.
What surface finishes work on ER4643-AW?
Do not use where anodized color match matters — the Si-bearing deposit anodizes dark gray; paint, powder coat or chemical conversion coating give uniform appearance.
Can ER4643-AW be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as drawn wire or straight rod; keep spools dry and free of oil, and re-clean or replace wire showing hydrated oxide to prevent weld porosity.
What is the maximum service temperature of ER4643-AW?
ER4643-AW 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 ER4643-AW and ER4643 AW-T6?
AW is the default condition — default condition for field/production welds on 6000 series where no post-weld heat treatment is applied. AW-T6: pick when the whole weldment can be re-solutionized and aged — this is where 4643 beats 4043, recovering most of the 6061-T6 joint strength. Yield strength is 115 MPa in AW versus 220 MPa in AW-T6.
Sources
- AWS A5.10/A5.10M — Specification for Bare Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Welding Electrodes and Rods — American Welding Society (2021)
- AWS D1.2/D1.2M — Structural Welding Code, Aluminum — American Welding Society (2014)
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Aluminum Filler Alloy Selection and Weld Metal Property Data — AlcoTec Wire Corporation (2020)
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.