AlSi10Mg aluminum is a widely used high-performance alloy known for its excellent casting performance and ability to accurately shape complex shapes. It combines lightweight characteristics with excellent mechanical strength, good corrosion resistance, and thermal conductivity, making it an ideal material for high-demand applications in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and electronics.
This article will explore the reasons why AlSi10Mg has become the preferred choice for manufacturers, covering various aspects from its composition and mechanical properties to its advantages, applications, and heat treatment capabilities.
Please continue reading to learn about the differences between AlSi10Mg and other aluminum alloys, as well as how to benefit your next project.
AlSi10Mg Aluminum Composition
AlSi10Mg aluminum is designed to achieve a strong balance between durability, lightweight characteristics, and excellent casting properties.
The special combination of various elements in AlSi10Mg makes it perform well in critical industries. The following is the composition of its main elements:
- Aluminum (Al):85% – 91%
- Silicon (Si):0% – 11.0%
- Magnesium (Mg):2% – 0.45%
- Iron (Fe):≤ 0.55%
- Copper (Cu):≤ 0.05%
- Manganese (Mn):≤ 0.35%
- Titanium (Ti):≤ 0.15%
AlSi10Mg Aluminum Mechanical Properties
AlSi10Mg is widely praised for its impressive mechanical properties.
These characteristics ensure that the alloy maintains its integrity under stress, pressure, and different environmental conditions.
The following is an overview of its main mechanical characteristics:
|
Mechanical Properties |
Values |
|
Tensile Strength |
230 – 280 MPa |
|
Yield Strength |
160 – 230 MPa |
| Elongation |
5 – 10% |
| Hardness |
70 – 90 HB |
AlSi10Mg Aluminum Advantages
AlSi10Mg aluminum comes with a series of advantages that make it stand out among other alloys:
Superior Castability
Due to its high silicon content, AlSi10Mg flows smoothly during melting.
This makes manufacturing complex shapes and thin-walled structures easier with high precision.
Enhancing fluidity helps reduce casting defects such as porosity, shrinkage, and cracks, thereby producing higher-quality parts and reducing production problems.
Cost Effective
Superior castability means fewer machining processes are required, thereby reducing overall production costs.
In addition, the reduced material waste makes AlSi10Mg an economical choice for mass production.
High Strength–to-Weight Ratio
AlSi10Mg combines low density and good tensile strength, producing lightweight components without compromising durability.
This is particularly advantageous for industries such as automotive and aerospace, as reducing weight can improve fuel efficiency and overall performance.
Excellent Corrosion Resistance
The magnesium element in AlSi10Mg significantly enhances its corrosion resistance, making it suitable for components exposed to harsh environments.
This extends the service life of the components, reduces maintenance costs, and ensures long-term reliability.
High Thermal Conductivity
The efficient thermal conductivity of AlSi10Mg is another key advantage, especially for applications that require rapid heat dissipation.
This makes it a popular choice for components such as heat sinks and casings in the electronics industry.
AlSi10Mg Aluminum Applications
The unique properties of AlSi10Mg make it an important material in various industries:
Automotive Industry
In the automotive industry, AlSi10Mg is commonly used to manufacture lightweight engine components, gearbox housings, cylinder heads, oil pans, pistons, and turbocharger components.
Its high strength-to-weight ratio helps improve fuel efficiency without sacrificing durability.
Aerospace Sector
The aerospace industry relies on AlSi10Mg to manufacture components such as frame parts, structural supports, brackets, shells, and ventilation ducts.
The lightweight characteristics of AlSi10Mg are crucial for reducing aircraft weight, while its high strength ensures structural integrity under high stress.
3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing
AlSi10Mg is the preferred material for metal 3D printing. Its superior castability can be well translated into additive manufacturing, creating complex prototypes, functional components, molds, and detailed geometric shapes.
Its fine-grained structure provides excellent mechanical performance for printed components.
Industrial Machinery
AlSi10Mg is highly popular in the field of industrial machinery and can be used for robot arms, automation components, and other high-precision machinery.
It combines strength, machinability, and durability to ensure reliable performance in demanding applications.
Electronics
In the electronics industry, AlSi10Mg is commonly used for heat sinks, electronic enclosures, connectors, and chassis due to its thermal conductivity.
It can effectively dissipate heat and protect sensitive components from overheating.
AlSi10Mg Aluminum vs 6061 Aluminum
AlSi10Mg and 6061 aluminum are both widely used alloys, each with unique advantages.
AlSi10Mg is highly favored for its excellent casting performance, high fluidity, and lightweight characteristics, making it an ideal material for complex casting components and 3D printing.
In contrast, 6061aluminum is known for its mechanical strength, weldability, and versatility in hot forging and machining, making it the preferred choice for structural applications.
The following is a detailed comparison of their elemental composition, mechanical properties, physical and chemical properties, and common applications:
Table 1: Elemental Composition Comparison
|
Element |
AlSi10Mg Aluminum (%) | 6061 Aluminum (%) |
|
Aluminum (Al) |
85 – 91 | 95.8 – 98.6 |
|
Silicon (Si) |
9.0 – 11.0 | 0.4 – 0.8 |
|
Magnesium (Mg) |
0.2 – 0.45 | 0.8 – 1.2 |
|
Copper (Cu) |
≤ 0.05 | 0.15 – 0.40 |
| Zinc (Zn) | – |
≤0.25 |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.55 |
≤0.7 |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤ 0.35 |
≤0.15 |
| Titanium (Ti) | ≤ 0.15 |
≤0.15 |
Table 2: Mechanical Properties Comparison
|
Property |
AlSi10Mg Aluminum | 6061 Aluminum |
|
Tensile Strength (MPa) |
230 – 280 | 260 – 310 |
|
Yield Strength (MPa) |
160 – 230 |
240 – 270 |
| Elongation (%) | 5 – 10 |
8 – 12 |
| Hardness (HB) | 70 – 90 |
95 – 105 |
Table 3: Physical and Chemical Properties Comparison
|
Property |
AlSi10Mg Aluminum | 6061 Aluminum |
|
Density (g/cm³) |
2.68 | 2.70 |
|
Melting Point (°C) |
560 – 610 | 580 – 650 |
|
Electrical Conductivity (% IACS) |
30 – 40 |
40 – 44 |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (10^-6 /°C) | 21 – 23 |
23.4 |
| Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K) | 150 – 180 |
167 |
| Corrosion Resistance | Good |
Good |
Table 4: Applications Comparison
|
Application Fields |
AlSi10Mg Aluminum | 6061 Aluminum |
|
Automotive Industry |
engine components, gearbox housings, cylinder heads, oil pans, pistons | suspension arms, wheels, truck frames |
|
Aerospace |
structural supports, lightweight parts, brackets, housings, air ducts | fuselage panels, wing spars, connectors |
| 3D Printing | prototyping, functional parts, custom molds, complex brackets, fixtures |
functional prototypes, custom fixtures, tooling aids |
| Industrial Machinery | robot arms, valve body, pump housing, motor casing, gearbox housing |
robotic arms, machine frames, support brackets |
| Electronics | heat sinks, electronic housings, enclosures, LED casings, connectors |
laptop cases, smartphone frames, heat sinks |
Can AlSi10Mg Aluminum Be Heat Treated?
Yes, AlSi10Mg aluminum can undergo heat treatment, but its effect is not significant compared to many other aluminum alloys.
Although its performance can be improved through T5 or T6 heat treatment, AlSi10Mg usually comes with sufficient performance in the cast state to meet the requirements of general applications.
Therefore, whether to perform heat treatment should be determined based on the specific performance requirements of the application.
AlSi10Mg is an aluminum-silicon-magnesium alloy primarily used for casting, containing approximately 10% silicon.
This element endows the alloy with good fluidity and reduces the shrinkage rate during the casting process.
Meanwhile, the addition of magnesium enhances the strength of aluminum alloys.
Therefore, AlSi10Mg can meet the performance requirements of most applications in the cast state.
The heat treatment process of AlSi10Mg usually includes solid solution treatment and aging treatment.
Solid solution treatment is generally carried out at around 530 ° C (986 ° F), followed by rapid cooling.
Although aging treatment can be carried out to further improve performance, compared with aluminum alloys such as 6061 or 7075, the heat treatment response of AlSi10Mg is relatively weak and the strengthening effect is limited.
During the heat treatment process of AlSi10Mg, T5 and T6 are two common treatment states:
T5 state: After solid solution treatment, the aluminum alloy is rapidly cooled to room temperature and naturally aged at room temperature.
In this state, the strength of AlSi10Mg has increased slightly, but it is usually not as strong as the T6 state.
T6 state: After solid solution treatment, aluminum alloy is rapidly cooled and then subjected to high-temperature artificial aging, usually between 80 ° C and 200 ° C.
In the T6 state, the strength and hardness of AlSi10Mg increase significantly, making it suitable for applications that require high performance.
What is AlSi10Mg Aluminum Equivalent to?
A360.0 (USA)
A comparable aluminum alloy with similar silicon content, known for its excellent castability, corrosion resistance, and ability to accurately shape complex shapes.
EN AC-43400 (Europe)
An aluminum alloy widely used in the automotive industry, with similar lightweight properties, good corrosion resistance, and suitable for pressure casting.
ADC10 (Japan)
An aluminum alloy with comparable silicon and magnesium content, possessing strong mechanical properties and excellent flowability, making it an ideal choice for complex and fine castings in electronic and automotive applications.
Why AlSi10Mg Aluminum Is Suitable for Squeeze Casting?
AlSi10Mg comes with a high aluminum-silicon content and is an ideal material for squeeze casting.
This material comes with excellent fluidity, allowing the molten alloy to accurately fill complex molds even under pressure.
Therefore, defects can be reduced in complex designs produced by squeeze casting.
The use of squeeze casting to process AlSi10Mg can significantly reduce porosity.
The pressure applied during the solidification process can compact the alloy, minimize voids, and make the component denser and stronger, making it highly suitable for demanding applications.
The squeeze casting process can also refine the grain structure of AlSi10Mg.
The fine microstructure enhances the strength and wear resistance of the alloy, making it an ideal choice for parts that require high stress and harsh conditions.
In addition, AlSi10Mg can also produce a smooth surface finish in squeeze casting.
The high pressure and alloy properties eliminate the need for extensive machining, saving time and manufacturing costs while achieving precise results.
AlSi10Mg Aluminum Squeeze Casting by CEX Casting
At CEX Casting, we have successfully manufactured a wide range of AlSi10Mg components through squeeze casting. Below is a typical example:
Roller Guide
One of our customers encountered significant challenges in the production method of roller guides.
They used A356 aluminum with T6 heat treatment, but this method resulted in significant deformation and unacceptable waste rates.
Given the important role of roller guides in electric wheelchairs, their strength and stability are crucial for user safety. To seek more effective solutions, the customer turned to us.
We found that the structure of the roller guide is prone to deformation during T6 heat treatment, which decreases its performance.
To solve this problem, we suggest using AlSi10Mg aluminum and T5 heat treatment instead.
This adjustment not only successfully alleviated the deformation problem, but also retained the necessary mechanical properties.
Therefore, this part now meets high performance and reliability standards, greatly improving its safety and functionality.
Mechanical Properties
The mechanical properties of AlSi10Mg parts produced by CEX Casting using squeeze casting are as follows:
Conclusion
AlSi10Mg aluminum is a multifunctional, high-performance alloy that is highly suitable for applications that require lightweight strength, corrosion resistance, and precision.
Its excellent castability makes it an important choice for the automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries.
At CEX Casting, we use advanced squeeze casting technology to maximize the potential of AlSi10Mg and provide high-quality customized parts that meet strict standards.
With AlSi10Mg, you will achieve the best balance of strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness, all supported by CEX Casting’s expertise.
Contact us immediately to learn how we can support your next project.