MIL-HDBK-5: Chapter 3.9 — 300.0 Series Cast Alloys
Disclaimer

For reference use only. The formulas, graphs, and values herein are provided in good faith for general engineering guidance. Please verify all data against MIL-HDBK-5J or the applicable superseding document (MMPDS).

3.9300.0 Series Cast Alloys

Casting alloys of the 300.0 series contain silicon with added copper and/or magnesium as the principal alloying elements. They are heat treatable. Because of the high silicon content, they are among the easiest to cast by a variety of techniques. They have high resistance to corrosion.

3.9.1354.0 Alloy
3.9.1.0Comments and Properties

354.0 is a heat-treatable Al-Si-Mg alloy being among the highest strength of commercial casting alloys. It has good casting characteristics; however, its use is generally restricted to permanent mold castings. Refer to Section 3.1.3.4 for comments regarding the weldability.

A material specification for 354.0 aluminum alloy is presented in Table 3.9.1.0(a). Room-temperature mechanical and physical properties are shown in Table 3.9.1.0(b).

Table 3.9.1.0(a). Material Specifications for 354.0 Aluminum Alloy
SpecificationForm
AMS-A-21180Casting

Table 3.9.1.0(b) — Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of 354.0 Aluminum Alloy Casting — pending digitization (dense multi-column property table; MIL-HDBK-5J p. 3-497).

3.9.2355.0 Alloy
3.9.2.0Comments and Properties

355.0 is a heat-treatable Al-Si-Mg alloy that is readily cast and has good pressure tightness. Refer to Section 3.1.3.4 for comments regarding the weldability of the alloy.

A material specification for 355.0 aluminum alloy is presented in Table 3.9.2.0(a). Room-temperature mechanical and physical properties are shown in Table 3.9.2.0(b). The effect of temperature on thermal expansion is shown in Figure 3.9.2.0.

Table 3.9.2.0(a). Material Specification for 355.0 Aluminum Alloy
SpecificationForm
AMS 4281Permanent mold casting

Table 3.9.2.0(b) — Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of 355.0 Aluminum Alloy — pending digitization (dense multi-column property table; MIL-HDBK-5J p. 3-499).

Figure 3.9.2.0. Effect of temperature on the thermal expansion of 355.0 aluminum alloy casting.

3.9.3C355.0 Alloy
3.9.3.0Comments and Properties

C355.0 is an Al-Si-Mg alloy similar to 355.0 but has impurities controlled to lower limits resulting in higher strengths. It has good casting characteristics. Refer to Section 3.1.3.4 for comments regarding the weldability of the alloy.

A material specification for C355.0 aluminum alloy is presented in Table 3.9.3.0(a). Room-temperature mechanical and physical properties are shown in Table 3.9.3.0(b).

Table 3.9.3.0(a). Material Specification for C355.0 Aluminum Alloy
SpecificationForm
AMS-A-21180Casting

Table 3.9.3.0(b) — Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C355.0 Aluminum Alloy Casting — pending digitization (dense multi-column property table; MIL-HDBK-5J p. 3-502).

3.9.4356.0 Alloy
3.9.4.0Comments and Properties

356.0 is among the easiest of alloys to cast by a variety of techniques. It is heat treatable, has intermediate strengths, and has high resistance to corrosion. Refer to Section 3.1.3.4 for comments regarding the weldability of the alloy.

Material specifications for 356.0 aluminum alloy are presented in Table 3.9.4.0(a). Room-temperature mechanical and physical properties are shown in Table 3.9.4.0(b). The effect of temperature on thermal expansion is given in Figure 3.9.4.0.

Table 3.9.4.0(a). Material Specifications for 356.0 Aluminum Alloy
SpecificationForm
AMS 4284Permanent mold casting
AMS 4217Sand casting
AMS 4260Investment casting

Table 3.9.4.0(b) — Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of 356.0 Aluminum Alloy — pending digitization (dense multi-column property table; MIL-HDBK-5J p. 3-504).

Figure 3.9.4.0. Effect of temperature on the thermal expansion of 356.0 aluminum alloy casting.

3.9.5A356.0 Alloy
3.9.5.0Comments and Properties

A356.0 is an Al-Si-Mg alloy similar to 356.0, but with impurities controlled to lower limits resulting in higher strengths and ductility. It has good casting characteristics and high resistance to corrosion. Refer to Section 3.1.3.4 for comments regarding the weldability of the alloy.

Material specifications for A356.0 aluminum alloy are presented in Table 3.9.5.0(a). Room-temperature mechanical and physical properties are shown in Tables 3.9.5.0(b) and (c).

Table 3.9.5.0(a). Material Specifications for A356.0 Aluminum Alloy
SpecificationForm
AMS-A-21180Casting
AMS 4218Casting

The temper index for A356.0 is: Section 3.9.5.1 covers the T6P temper (AMS 4218 castings, Table 3.9.5.0(c)); the T6 temper (AMS-A-21180 castings) is covered by the design properties in Table 3.9.5.0(b).

Table 3.9.5.0(b) — Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of A356.0 Aluminum Alloy Casting (T6) — pending digitization (dense multi-column property table; MIL-HDBK-5J p. 3-507).

Table 3.9.5.0(c) — Design and Physical Properties of A356.0 Aluminum Alloy Casting (T6P) — pending digitization (dense multi-column property table; MIL-HDBK-5J p. 3-508).

3.9.5.1T6P Temper

Tensile stress-strain and full-range stress-strain curves at room temperature are presented in Figures 3.9.5.1.6(a) and (b), respectively.

Figure 3.9.5.1.6(a). Typical tensile and compressive stress-strain and compressive tangent-modulus curves for A356.0-T6P aluminum alloy casting at room temperature.

Figure 3.9.5.1.6(b). Typical tensile stress-strain (full-range) curve for A356.0-T6P aluminum alloy casting at room temperature.

3.9.6A357.0 Alloy
3.9.6.0Comments and Properties

A357.0 is a heat-treatable Al-Si-Mg alloy generally used for permanent mold and premium quality castings in which special properties are developed by careful control of casting and chilling techniques. It has excellent casting characteristics, is heat treatable, and provides high strength, together with good toughness. The alloy also has excellent corrosion resistance. Refer to Section 3.1.3.4 for comments regarding the weldability of the alloy.

A material specification for A357.0 aluminum alloy is presented in Table 3.9.6.0(a). Room-temperature mechanical and physical properties are shown in Table 3.9.6.0(b).

Table 3.9.6.0(a). Material Specification for A357.0 Aluminum Alloy
SpecificationForm
AMS-A-21180Casting

The temper index for A357.0 is: Section 3.9.6.1 covers the T6 temper.

Table 3.9.6.0(b) — Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of A357.0 Aluminum Alloy Casting — pending digitization (dense multi-column property table; MIL-HDBK-5J p. 3-511).

3.9.6.1T6 Temper

Figure 3.9.6.1.6 presents a typical tensile stress-strain curve.

Figure 3.9.6.1.6. Typical tensile stress-strain curve for A357.0-T6 aluminum alloy casting, Class 2, designated area, at room temperature.

3.9.7D357.0 Alloy
3.9.7.0Comments and Properties

D357.0 is a modification of A357.0 with narrower compositional limits and more stringent inspection requirements. These modifications were necessary to reduce variability in mechanical properties to a degree compatible with the determination of A- and B-basis values. D357.0 is a heat-treatable Al-Si-Mg alloy generally used for premium quality castings in which special properties are developed by careful control of casting and chilling techniques. It has excellent casting characteristics and provides high strength together with good toughness. The alloy also has excellent corrosion resistance. Refer to Section 3.1.3.4 for comments regarding the weldability of the alloy.

A material specification for D357.0 aluminum is presented in Table 3.9.7.0(a). Room-temperature mechanical and physical properties are shown in Table 3.9.7.0(b).

Table 3.9.7.0(a). Material Specification for D357.0 Aluminum Alloy
SpecificationForm
AMS 4241Casting

The temper index for D357.0 is: Section 3.9.7.1 covers the T6 temper.

Table 3.9.7.0(b) — Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of D357.0 Aluminum Alloy Casting — pending digitization (dense multi-column property table; MIL-HDBK-5J p. 3-514).

3.9.7.1T6 Temper

Figure 3.9.7.1.6 presents a typical tensile stress-strain curve.

Figure 3.9.7.1.6. Typical tensile stress-strain curve for D357.0-T6 aluminum alloy casting, designated area, at room temperature.

3.9.8359.0 Alloy
3.9.8.0Comments and Properties

359.0 is a relatively high-strength permanent-mold casting alloy. It is heat treatable, and has good corrosion resistance. Refer to Section 3.1.3.4 for comments regarding the weldability of the alloy.

A material specification for 359.0 aluminum alloy is presented in Table 3.9.8.0(a). Room-temperature mechanical and physical properties are shown in Table 3.9.8.0(b).

Table 3.9.8.0(a). Material Specification for 359.0 Aluminum Alloy
SpecificationForm
AMS-A-21180Casting

Table 3.9.8.0(b) — Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of 359.0 Aluminum Alloy Casting — pending digitization (dense multi-column property table; MIL-HDBK-5J p. 3-517).

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