Understanding Cast Aluminium Alloys: Properties, Applications, and Benefits

Wallid Guergour

Metallurgy

03/01/2022

The designation of cast aluminium alloys can be done in two forms.

The numerical designation according to NF EN 1706; that of cast alloys is identical to that of wrought alloys.
Five digits instead of four specify the chemical composition.

The conventional designation according to NF A 57 702 for casting alloys; this is of the alphanumeric type according to NF A 02-004.
The method of production and the metallurgical state are designated by the letter Y followed by two digits in accordance with standard NF A 02-002.
This type of designation is still partially used.

Aluminium alloys for casting

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
1	Group of aluminium alloys		Designation			State	Proprieties and uses
2	Group of aluminium alloys		NF EN 1706		NF A 57-702	State	Proprieties and uses
3	Aluminium + Copper		EN AB-20180 [Al Cui8MgTi]		A-U8S	Y23, Y33, Y24, Y34	Good machinability (mechanical parts, high mechanical properties).
4	Aluminium + Copper		EN AB-20180 [Al Cui8MgTi]		A-U8S	Y23, Y33, Y24, Y34
5	Aluminium + Manganese		EN AB-30040[Al Mn1Mg]		A-M1G	Y10	Hardening by work hardening Ingots for rolled products
6	Aluminium + Manganese		EN AB-30040[Al Mn1Mg]		A-M1G	Y10	Hardening by work hardening Ingots for rolled products
7	Aluminium + Silicon		EN AB-42200[Al Si7Mg]		A-S7G06	Y20 Y30	High mechanical properties at room temperature and hot.
8	Aluminium + Silicon		EN AB-42200[Al Si7Mg]		A-S7G06	Y20 Y30	High mechanical properties at room temperature and hot.
9	Aluminium + Magnesium		EN AB-51000[Al Mg3Ti]		A-G3T	Y23 Y30	Excellent corrosion resistance
10	Aluminium + Magnesium		EN AB-51000[Al Mg3Ti]		A-G3T	Y23 Y30	Excellent corrosion resistance
11	Aluminium + Magnesium + Silicon		EN AB-60000[Al Mg1Si]		A-G3Si1	Y20 Y30	Welds well. Good corrosion resistance (car components...)
12	Aluminium + Magnesium + Silicon		EN AB-60000[Al Mg1Si]		A-G3Si1	Y20 Y30	Welds well. Good corrosion resistance (car components...)
13	Aluminium + Zinc		EN AB-71000[Al Zn5Mg]		A-Z5G	Y25 Y29	Good corrosion resistance, welds well.
14	Aluminium + Zinc		EN AB-71000[Al Zn5Mg]		A-Z5G	Y25 Y29	Good corrosion resistance, welds well.
15	Cast products NF A 02-002	Delivery states
16		Designation: Letter followed by two digits, the first specifies the production method, the second indicates the heat treatment. For example: A-U5GT Y23
17
18		Symbol	Production method			Symbol	Delivery state
19		Y0	Not defined			0	No treatment, or treatment not specified
20		Y1	Ingot			1	Annealed
21		Y2	Sand casting			2	Quenched
22		Y3	Chill casting			3	Quenched and tempered
23		Y4	Die casting			4	-
24		Y5	Concretion			5	Stabilized
25		Y6	-			6	Soaked and stabilized
26		Y7	By continuous casting			7	-
27		Y8	By centrifugation			8	-
28		Y9	As prescibed			9	As prescribed
29	Processing symbols	Basic metallurgical state
30		F - Unprocessed		0 - Annealed		H - Hardened		T - Heat Treated
31		Subdivisions of the H-state
32		Condition		Hardened		Hardened and tempered		Hardened and stabilised
33		1/4 dur		H 12		H 22		H 32
34		1/2 dur		H 14		H 24		H 34
35		3/4 dur		H 16		H 26		H 36
36		4/4 dur		H 18		H 28		H 38
37		Extra-dur		H 19		H 29		H 39
38		Subdivisions of the T-state
39		Aluminium et alliages d'aluminium				Cuivre et alliages de cuivre - nickel et alliages de nickel
40		T3 Solution* cold worked and wrought		T6 Solution and tempered		TA Controlled cooling		TC TA and cold forming
41		T3 Solution* cold worked and wrought		T6 Solution and tempered
42		T4 Solution et mûri		T8 Solution, hardened and tempered
43		T4 Solution et mûri		T8 Solution, hardened and tempered		TB Solution and quench		TD TB and cold worked
44		T5 Refroidi et revenu		T10 Cooled, tempered and hardened
45		T5 Refroidi et revenu		T10 Cooled, tempered and hardened