Aluminum Alloys
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Attributes
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Limitations
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Applications
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A356
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 Very castable; good fluidity, not prone to shrinkage, segregation, cracking, or hot tears
- Excellent weldability; good corrosion resistance
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- Room tensile properties are average
- Low elevated temperature and creep strength
- Used extensively where part is not exposed to temperatures above 200°F
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- Moderate strength
- Engine components
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A357, D357
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- Same as A356 with the exception of higher tensile properties.
- The best of all 300 series aluminum alloys
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- Elevated tensile properties not much better than A356
- Contains 0.04 to 0.07% beryllium (environment concern)
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- Structural aircraft components
- High strength
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C355
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- Castability is similar to A356 and A357
- Good elevated properties to 300°F
- The best aluminum foundry alloy for medium temperature applications
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- Slightly lower room temperature properties than D357, but higher than A356
- Slightly lower corrosion resistance than A356 or A357
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- Fuel controls in jet engines
- Fuel pumps
- Gear box housings
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354
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- Better elevated properties than C355 due to higher Cu and Si content
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- Slightly more difficult to cast
- More difficult to weld than C355, A356, or A357
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- High temperature up to 300°F
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A201, B201
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- The strongest room temperature alloy
- Higher elevated temperature properties than 300 series and good up to 400°F
- Used in the T7 (over-aged) condition to prevent stress corrosion cracking
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- Difficult to cast, poor fluidity, prone to micro shrinkage, cracking, and hot tears
- Difficult to weld
- Poor stress corrosion if not over-aged
- Hipping recommended if used for pressure applications
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- Highest strength aluminum
- High temperature
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203
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- The best of the 200 series alloys for castability
- Good elevated properties up to 500°F
- Good creep resistance
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- Difficult casting alloy
- Lowest room temperature properties compared to 201, 206, and 224
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- High temperature applications with moderate strength
- Engine components
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A206
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- Similar to A201 without the addition of silver
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- Castability like 201
- Lower room temperature properties than 201, but higher than A357
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224
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- Good room temperature properties, but lower than 201 and 206
- Has the highest elevated temperature tensile and creep resistance properties at 500°F
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- The most difficult of the 200 series alloys to cast
- Requires a long precipitation time
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- Highest elevated temperature strength
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