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Die Casting Aluminium Alloy A380: Everything You Should Know

Aluminum alloys are among the most popular materials used in the die casting process. There are several different types of alloys, some more commonly used than others, but the most popular aluminum alloy used in die casting is alloy A380, distinguished by its principal alloying element, manganese.

Aluminum Alloy A380 is one of the longest utilized metals, due mainly to its excellent properties and its versatility. Some of its general properties include:

  • Density: 2.71 g/cm3
  • Hardness: 80 HB
  • Melting Point: 566°C (+/- 50)
  • Shear Strength: 190 MPa
  • Electrical Conductivity: 23%
  • Thermal Conductivity: 96 W/m-K
  • Impact Strength: 4 J

Aluminum alloy A380 has several benefits for die casting that have allowed its popularity to flourish through the present day. The main benefit to this particular alloy is that, compared to other metals, A380 has the best combination of casting, mechanical, and thermal properties. Molten aluminum A380 also has excellent fluidity and pressure tightness, and the final product is especially resistant to cracking at extremely high temperatures.

Parts that are die cast from Aluminum Alloy A380 perform much better than other materials at elevated temperatures, with higher strength even throughout consistent use. This property makes it especially useful in many applications. They also tend to be far more corrosion resistant, and retain complex shapes and high accuracy for longer periods of time.

Parts and tools cast from aluminum A380 also have a benefit in terms of pricing. Like other aluminum alloys, A380 has relatively lower material costs, leading to more competitive prices for the finished products. They also have more options in terms of finishing options, and can be plated, painted, powder coated, anodized, and much more, improving their durability and wear resistance.

All of these benefits together make aluminum alloy A380 a popular and widely-applicable material in die casting. Parts cast from A380 are especially suited to the Aerospace industry, though the alloy can be formed into a variety of parts, including but not limited to:

  • Brake castings
  • Gearbox casings
  • Hand tools
  • Cylinder heads
  • Engine brackets
  • Electronic equipment chassis

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Cast-Rite Corporation has over seventy years of experience as a leading provider of advanced die casting and fabrication. To learn more, check out our website today!

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