Northwest Die Casting
      Minority Owned Die Cast Company
9510 SW Tualatin Rd. Tualatin, Oregon 97062
Tel: 503.885.8200 | sales@nwdiecasting.com

           ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company

 

         High Quality American Die Cast Parts

        "To compete in a world wide market we pride ourselves on
         providing high quality die castings and excellent customer
         service at very competitive prices."
         

          Let us quote your next project!
                      


      
 
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Northwest Die Casting LLC, Die Castings, Tualatin, OR
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Aluminum Technical Information

Aluminum Die Casting has evolved from the original low pressure injection method to techniques including high pressure die casting. Some of the earliest examples ofaluminum die casting by pressure injection occurred in the mid 1800s. Sturges was awarded a patent in 1845 for the first manually operated machine for die casting printing type. By 1892 there were more commercial applications including cash registers, phonographs. By the early 1900s many mass productions parts were being produced.

Aluminum die casting alloys are lightweight, offer good corrosion resistance, ease of coating, and have good mechanical properties and dimensional stability.

Aluminum Castings are best used as cast or with an anodize coating and/or powder coating.

Alloy Description
A380 Aluminum A380 offers the best combination of casting, mechanical and thermal properties. A380 is one of the most common type of specified aluminum alloys.  Aluminum 380 alloy offers very good fluidity, pressure tightness and resistance to hot cracking. Its not common to heat treat pressure die castings because of the possibility of blistering, due to sub-surface porosity when heated to elevated temperatures. There is a way to improve the properties which would be by giving castings a T2 or T5 temper. In most cases the properties of castings given a T5 temper will approach those of T6. Castings that are treated in this manner have excellent internal soundness. The machinability of A380 alloy is considered to be good.


A384


 A384 alloy is a modification of 380. Provides better die filling which improves overall cosmetics.This is particularly important where thin walls or more intricate details exist in the part design. Although it provides better filling it comes with a moderate sacrifice in mechanical properties, such as toughness.

Key Points
A380: Aluminum A380 offers the best combination of casting, mechanical and thermal properties. A380 has good machinability. Good resistance to hot cracking and offers good fluidity and pressure tightness.
One of the most common types of Aluminum alloys used.

A384: Aluminum 384 is a modification of the A380. A384 provides superior die filling capabilities which improves cosmetics.
ALUMINUM ALLOYS
 Chemical Composition Charts
Detailed Composition Aluminum Die Casting Alloys
360
380
384
413
Silicon (Si) 9.0-10.0 7.5-9.5 10.5-12 11.0-13.0
Iron (Fe) 2.0 2.0 1.3 2.0
Copper (Cu) 0.6 3.0-4.0 3.0-4.5 1.0
Magnesium (Mg) 0.4-0.6 0.10 0.10 0.10
Manganese (Mn) 0.35 0.50 0.50 0.35
Nickel (Ni) 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
Zinc (Zn) 0.50 3.0 3.0 0.50
Tin (Sn) 0.15 0.35 0.35 0.15
Total Others   0.25 0.50 0.50 0.25
Aluminum (Al) Balance Balance Balance Balance

* Single value indicates maximum

** All values are percentage by weight


Typical Material Properties

Mechanical Properties
 Aluminum Die Casting Alloys
360
380
384
413
 
Ultimate Tensile Strength ksi (MPa) 44 (303) 46 (317) 48 (330) 43 (300)

Yield Strength

ksi (MPa)

 25 (170) 23 (160) 24 (165) 21 (140)

Elongation 

% in 2in. (51mm)

 2.5 3.5 2.5 2.5

Hardness

BHN

 75 80 85 80

Shear Strength 

ksi (MPa)

 28 (190) 28 (190) 29(200) 25 (170)

Impact Strength

ft-lb

 - - 3 (4) -
Fatigue Strength ksi (MPa) 20 (140) 20 (140) 20 (140) 19 (130)

Young’s Modulus  

psi x 10 6(GPa)

 10.3  (71) 10.3  (71) - 10.3  (71)
Physical Properties

Density

lb / in³(g/cm³)

 0.095
(2.63)

    0.099

(2.74)

 0.102
(2.82)		 0.096
(2.66)

Melting Range

°F

(°C)

 1035-1105 (557-596) 1000-1100 (540-595) 960-1080 (516-582) 1065-1080 (574-582)

Specific Heat

BTU / lb °F

(J/kg °C)

 0.23
(963)		 0.23
(963)		 0.23
(963)		 0.23
(963)

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion 

µ in / in°F

µ m / m°K

11.6
(21.0)		 12.2
(22.0)		 11.6
(21.0)		 11.3
(20.4)

Thermal Conductivity BTU / ft hr°F

(W / m °K)

 65.3
(113)		 55.6
(96.2)		 55.6
(96.2)		 70.1
(121)

Electrical Conductivity

% IACS

 30 27 22 31
Poisson’s Ration 0.33 0.33 - -


 

Die Casting and Other Characteristics: Al Alloys

  Aluminum Die Casting Alloys
360
380
384
413
Resistance to Hot Cracking (a) 1 2 2 1
Pressure Tightness 2 2 2 1
Die-Filling Capacity (b) 3 2 1 1
Anti-Soldering to the Die (c) 2 1 2 1
Corrosion Resistance (d) 2 4 5 2
Machining Easy & Quality (e) 3 3 3 4
Polishing Ease & Quality (f) 3 3 3 5
Electroplating Ease & Quality (g) 2 1 2 3
Anodizing (Appearance) (h) 3 3 4 5
Chemical Oxide Protective Coating (i) 3 4 5 3
Strength at Elevated Temp. (j) 1 3 2 3

(a) Ability of alloy to withstand stresses from contraction while cooling through hot-short or brittle temperature ranges.
(b) Ability of molten alloy to flow readily in die and fill thin sections.
(c) Ability of molten alloy to flow without sticking to the die surfaces. Ratings given for anti-soldering are based on nominal iron compositions of approximately 1%.
(d) Based on resistance of alloy in standard type slat spray test.
(e) Composite rating based on ease of cutting, chip characteristics, quality of finish, and tool life.
(f) Composite rating based on ease and speed of polishing and quality of finish provided by typical polishing procedure.
(g) Ability of the die casting to take and hold an electroplate applied by present standard.
(h) Rated on lightness of color, brightness, and uniformity of clear anodized coating applied in sulphuric acid electrolyte.
(i) Rated on combined resistance of coating and prolonged heating at testing temperature.

1= Most Desirable

5 = Least Desirable


360 - Selected for best corrosion resistance. Special alloys for special applications are available, but their use usually entails significant cost premiums.

380 - An alloy which provides the best combination of utility and cost.  Approximately 95% of aluminum die castings are produced from 380 Aluminum.

383 & 384 - These alloys are a modification of 380. Both provide better die filling, but with a moderate sacrifice in mechanical properties, such as toughness.

413 (A13) - Used for maximum pressure tightness and fluidity.