A380 aluminum stands out as one of the most widely used cast aluminum alloys, praised for its high strength, corrosion resistance, and excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. Its versatility makes it indispensable in industries such as automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial machinery, where durability and performance are important.
In this article, we conducted an in-depth study of A380 aluminum, exploring its composition, mechanical properties, and practical advantages across various applications.
We also compared it to other alloys like 6061 aluminum and highlighted the advanced squeeze casting process using A380 aluminum employed by CEX Casting to further enhance its performance.
A380 Aluminum Composition
A380 aluminum is a precisely engineered alloy with a well-balanced composition, designed to meet the rigorous demands of high-volume die casting while preserving its mechanical strength. Here’s a closer look at its key elements:
● Aluminum (Al): 83.3-88.3%
● Silicon (Si): 7.5-9.5%
● Iron (Fe): ≤2.0%
● Copper (Cu): 3.0-4.0%
● Manganese (Mn): ≤0.5%
● Magnesium (Mg): 0.1 – 0.35%
● Zinc (Zn): ≤3.0%
● Lead (Pb): ≤0.1%
● Tin (Sn): ≤0.35%
● Nickel (Ni): ≤0.5%
● Other Elements: ≤0.5%
● Total Other Elements: ≤1.0%
A380 Aluminum Mechanical Properties
The mechanical properties of A380 aluminum make it widely used and suitable for various demanding applications. The following will provide a detailed introduction to its properties:
|
Mechanical Properties |
Values |
|
Tensile Strength |
210 – 250 MPa |
| Yield Strength |
120 – 170 MPa |
|
Elongation |
3 – 8% |
| Hardness |
60 – 80 HB |
A380 Aluminum Advantages
A380 aluminum comes with numerous advantages that distinguish it from other materials used in aluminum casting. These advantages make it a popular choice across various industries:
Superior Castability
The reason why A380 aluminum has excellent casting performance is mainly because its composition contains silicon (Si).
Silicon can enhance the fluidity of molten alloys, making them easy to flow into molds and fill complex cavities, and forming thin-walled complex shapes, enabling precise and detailed parts to be produced directly from molds, thereby reducing the possibility of casting defects.
High Strength-to-Weight Ratio
The high strength-to-weight ratio of A380 aluminum is achieved through the alloying of aluminum (Al) with elements such as copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn).
Copper can increase tensile strength, magnesium can improve hardness and mechanical properties, and zinc can enhance overall strength.
This combination of elements can provide significant structural strength without adding excessive weight.
Excellent Corrosion Resistance
When exposed to air, the aluminum alloy will form a protective oxide layer on its surface.
This oxide layer has a self-healing function, which can protect the alloy from further oxidation and corrosion even in harsh environments.
The presence of a small amount of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) can also enhance the corrosion resistance of the alloy.
Good Thermal and Electrical Conductivity
A380 Aluminum has excellent thermal and electrical conductivity due to its high aluminum (Al) content, which is inherently electrically conductive, ensuring the efficient transfer of heat and electricity.
This property is essential for applications requiring efficient energy transfer, such as heat exchangers, electronic housings, and automotive cooling systems.
Cost-Effective Production
The excellent castability of A380 aluminum achieves high yield and minimal defects, which means that more parts can be produced in a shorter amount of time while reducing waste.
This, combined with ease of casting and minimal requirements for post-machining, makes A380 aluminum an economically efficient solution for mass production.
A380 Aluminum Applications
The advantages of A380 aluminum allow it to meet the needs of various industries, making it a go-to material for manufacturing durable, reliable, and cost-effective products. Here are some of the most common uses across various industries:
Automotive Industry
A380 aluminum is widely used in components such as engine sets, gearbox housings, and chassis parts.
Its lightweight and high strength contribute to improving automotive performance, fuel efficiency, and safety.
For example, A380 aluminum is often used for suspension components and brackets that require both lightweight and high-stress resistance.
Consumer Electronics
Excellent thermal conductivity and easy castability make A380 aluminum an ideal material for electronic casings, heat sinks, and other components that require effective heat management.
Laptops, smartphones, and other consumer electronics devices typically use A380 aluminum enclosures to protect internal components from overheating.
Industrial Machinery
A380 Aluminum is used in mechanical components, gearboxes, and other industrial applications where durability and corrosion resistance are critical.
Its ability to withstand harsh work environments and maintain performance under stress makes it the material of choice for machinery operating in demanding conditions.
Household Appliances
A380 aluminum is used for components such as motor housings, connectors, and frames in many household appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners.
Its corrosion resistance and strength ensure long-lasting performance for appliances used in humid and temperature-fluctuating environments.
Marine Applications
The corrosion resistance of A380 aluminum in saltwater environments makes it suitable for marine components such as engine parts, propellers, and housings.
These components need to withstand harsh marine environmental conditions, and A380 aluminum can provide necessary rust and corrosion protection.
A380 Aluminum vs 6061 Aluminum
A380 aluminum is designed specifically for casting and is highly suitable for mass production of components with complex geometric shapes.
On the other hand, 6061 aluminum performs well in forging and machining applications, where the formability and machinability of the material are more important than its mold-filling ability.
Table 1: Element Composition Comparison
|
Element |
A380 Aluminum (%) | 6061 Aluminum (%) |
|
Aluminum (Al) |
83.3 – 88.3 | 95.8 – 98.6 |
|
Silicon (Si) |
7.5 – 9.5 |
0.4 – 0.8 |
|
Iron (Fe) |
≤2.0 |
≤0.7 |
|
Copper (Cu) |
3.0 – 4.0 |
0.15 – 0.40 |
|
Manganese (Mn) |
≤0.5 |
≤0.15 |
|
Magnesium (Mg) |
0.1 – 0.35 |
0.8 – 1.2 |
|
Zinc (Zn) |
≤3.0 |
≤0.25 |
|
Lead (Pb) |
≤0.1 |
– |
|
Tin (Sn) |
≤0.35 |
– |
|
Nickel (Ni) |
≤0.5 |
– |
|
Titanium (Ti) |
– |
≤0.15 |
| Other Elements | ≤0.5 |
≤0.05 |
| Total Other Elements | ≤1.0 |
≤0.15 |
Table 2: Mechanical Properties Comparison
|
Property |
A380 Aluminum | 6061 Aluminum |
|
Tensile Strength (MPa) |
210 – 250 | 260 – 310 |
|
Yield Strength (MPa) |
120 – 170 |
240 – 270 |
| Elongation (%) | 3 – 8 |
8 – 12 |
| Hardness (HB) | 60 – 80 |
95 – 105 |
Table 3: Physical and Chemical Properties Comparison
|
Property |
A380 Aluminum |
6061 Aluminum |
|
Density (g/cm³) |
2.68 | 2.70 |
|
Melting Point (°C) |
566 – 632 | 580 – 650 |
|
Electrical Conductivity (% IACS) |
30 – 35 | 40 – 44 |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (10^-6 /°C) | 21.8 |
23.4 |
| Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K) | 96 |
167 |
| Corrosion Resistance | Good |
Good |
Table 4: Applications Comparison
|
Application Fields |
A380 Aluminum | 6061 Aluminum |
|
Automotive Industry |
engine blocks, transmission housings, oil pans | suspension arms, wheels, truck frames |
|
Electronics |
enclosures, connector housings, heat sinks | laptop cases, smartphone frames, heat sinks |
|
Industrial Machinery |
compressor housings, pump casings, valve bodies, brackets, heat exchangers |
robotic arms, machine frames, support brackets |
| Aerospace | brackets, housings, interior fittings |
fuselage panels, wing spars, connectors |
| Construction | window frames, door handles, architectural trim |
structural beams, railings, curtain walls |
| General Machinery | gearbox housings, motor casings, mechanical components |
shafts, gears, couplings |
Can A380 Aluminum be Heat-Treated?
A380 aluminum can undergo heat treatment, but only to relieve stress and not to alter its mechanical properties.
A380 aluminum is usually not heat-treated in the traditional sense like A356.
The main reason is that A380 is a casting alloy with high silicon content, which gives it excellent casting characteristics but limits the effectiveness of traditional heat treatment.
Heat treatment processes such as T6 (aging after solution heat treatment) are usually not suitable for A380 aluminum because its microstructure is not significantly altered or its mechanical properties are not improved by heat treatment.
On the contrary, A380 aluminum is usually used in the as-cast state or subjected to minimal heat treatment, such as stress relief, which helps to improve dimensional stability and reduce the likelihood of final product warping or cracking.
The as-cast performance of A380 aluminum is usually sufficient to meet the needs of most applications, especially when excellent dimensional stability and good surface finish are required, which is the main reason why it is favored in many die casting applications.
What is A380 Aluminum Equivalent to?
AlSi8Cu3 (EN AC-46000)
This European standard alloy is one of the closest alloys to A380 aluminum.
They have similar composition and mechanical properties, making them a suitable substitute for the A380.
AlSi8Cu3 is often used in automotive and industrial components, especially in Europe.
ADC10
In Japan, ADC10 is a standard die casting alloy that closely matches A380 in terms of composition and properties.
ADC10 is widely used in the Asian market for automotive parts, electronic housings, and various consumer goods.
Its similarity to the A380 aluminum makes it an excellent alternative when sourcing materials in Japan.
A383 Aluminum (AlSi10Cu2)
A383 aluminum is another variant in the same family of die-casting alloys as A380.
It offers slightly better corrosion resistance and fluidity, making it a better choice for parts that require complex details and are exposed to corrosive environments.
However, it has a lower tensile strength compared to the A380, so the choice between these two depends on the specific requirements of the application.
LM24
In the UK, LM24 is equivalent to A380 aluminum and has a comparable balance of mechanical properties.
It is widely used in the manufacturing of automotive parts, mechanical components, and various consumer products in the UK.
Why A380 Aluminum Is Suitable for Squeeze Casting?
A380 aluminum contains elements such as silicon, copper, and iron, providing an appropriate balance of fluidity and solidification characteristics required for squeeze casting.
Its composition allows it to easily flow into the mold under pressure, ensuring that the molten metal fills every detail of the mold before solidification.
In addition, the solidification range of A380 aluminum and the squeeze casting process complement each other perfectly, allowing the alloy to solidify quickly and uniformly under high pressure, which is crucial for producing dense, high-quality, and minimum porosity castings.
A380 Aluminum Squeeze Casting by CEX Casting
At CEX Casting, we focus on the advanced A380 aluminum squeeze casting process, which can produce castings with excellent mechanical properties and minimal defects.
The following is our squeeze casting case study, showing the part we have successfully developed using A380 aluminum and the mechanical properties achieved by our A380 aluminum squeeze castings.
Case Study
Pump Part
This part is used for pumps and requires zero leakage at high pressure under 100 PSI.
By using A380 aluminum in conjunction with our advanced squeeze casting process, we have achieved no porosity inside this part, ensuring strength and airtightness under high pressure.
The following two images show the part and its X-ray inspection image.
It can be seen that the internal structure of this part is dense and free of porosity.
Mechanical Properties
The following figure shows the mechanical property test we conducted, and the results indicate that the A380 aluminum squeeze castings come with excellent mechanical properties that exceed those of traditional aluminum die castings.
These excellent properties make our A380 aluminum squeeze castings an ideal choice for demanding applications in various industries.
Conclusion
The balanced composition, excellent mechanical properties, and cost-effectiveness of A380 aluminum make it the preferred choice for various industries from automotive to consumer electronics.
At CEX Casting, we utilize advanced squeeze casting technology to further enhance the property of A380 aluminum, providing high-performance parts that meet or even exceed industry standards.
With our expertise, CEX can ensure the best results for your project. Contact us immediately for more information on how we can elevate your next project to a higher level.