Finding the ideal material for your product, part, or component requires determining your thresholds for castability, strength, and price. At Nu-Cast, all of the castings we make receive non-destructive testing (NDT) such as x-ray and penetrant inspection, which allow us to see if there are any sub-surface defects or variations in the grain structure. NDT is one of the many methods employed by Nu-Cast to ensure that we meet all of the specifications desired by our customers.
The material strength and “castability” of the alloys are pre-determined specifications and they are achieved by adding certain percentages of elements such as silver or silicon to the base. The percentages of particular components are verified through chemical testing and supplier certifications. Specifications are usually given to Nu-Cast by our customers along with the blue print that is submitted with the CAD drawings. As always, our lead technicians are always willing to consult with you to determine the most desirable specification ranges for certain end uses.
Aluminum-Base Alloys
To read the following chart, use the comments to understand the castability, strength of the casting, and some indication as to the amount of heat the part will withstand. As a general rule, high strength castings have a much lower "castability than do lower strength castings.
| Alloy Designation | Preferred Temper | Common Specifications | Tensile (KSI) | Yield (KSI) | Elongation (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A201 | T7 | MIL-A-21180 AMS-4229 |
55/65 | 44/55 | 2/4 |
| Comments: Hot short alloy, very low castabilitiy, configuration sensitive. Applications: Highstrength castings (Design only in consultation with foundry). | |||||
| C355 | T6 | MIL-A-21180 AMS-4215 |
35/44 | 30/33 | 1/3 |
| Comments: Somewhat lower castability than A356 or A357 alloys. Applications: Components exposed to moderate temperatures, such as turbine engine parts, pumps, etc. | |||||
| A356 | T6 | MIL-A-21180 AMS-4218 |
33/42 | 27/32 | 2/5 |
| Comments: Moderate strength, excellent castability, weldability and pressure tightness. Applications: Housings, chassis and castings requiring fine detail. | |||||
| A357 | T6 | MIL-A-21180 AMS-4219 |
36/41 | 28/31 | 3/5 |
| Comments: Excellent castability, moderate high strength, excellent weldability and pressure tightness. Applications: Structural components | |||||
| D712 | T1 | QQ-A-601 QQ-A-596 |
24/32 26/32 |
16/22 20/27 |
1/5 2/3 |
| Comments: Lower castability, used only for its brazing characteristics. | |||||
| F357 | T6 | AMS-4289 | 41 | 32 | 3 |
| Comments: Same as A357 except no beryllium | |||||