Ever had a project stall due to a simple misunderstanding over aluminum grades? Specifying an alloy like 'LD30' in your design might cause confusion with a supplier who knows it as '6061'. At Worthy Hardware, we know that these small discrepancies can lead to costly delays and material errors. To ensure seamless communication and absolute precision in your CNC machining projects, we've created this essential guide to bridge the gap between old and new aluminum grade standards.

I. Comparison of new and old grades of aluminum and aluminum alloy

Table 3-4-11 Comparison of new and old grades of aluminum and aluminum alloys

New brand	Old license plate	=New brand	Old license plate =	=New brand	Old license plate =	=New brand	Old license plate
1A99	Former LG5	2A20	Used LY20	4043A		6B02	Original LD2-1
1A97	Original LC4	2A21	Used 214	4047		6A51	Used 651
1A95		2A25	Used 225	4047A		6101

1A93	Former LG3	2A49	Used 149	5A01	Used 2101, LF15	6101A
1A90	Original LG2	2A50	Original LD5	5A02	Original LF2	6005
1A85	Original LG1	2B50	Original LD6	5A03	Original LF3	6005A
1080		2A70	Original LD7	5A05	Original LF5	6351
1080A		2B70	Used LD7-1	5B05	Original LF10	6060
1070		2A80	Original LD8	5A06	Original LF6	6061	Original LD30
1070A	L1 generation	2A90	Original LD9	5B06	Original LF14	6063	Original LD31
1370		2004		5A12	Original LF12	6063A
1060	L2	2011		5A13	Original LF13	6070	Original LD2-2
1050		2014		5A30	Used 2103, LF16	6181
1050A	L3	2014A		5A33	Original LF33	6082
1A50	Original LB2	2214		5A41	Original LT41	7A01	Original LB1
1350		2017		5A43	Original LF43	7A03	Original LC3
1145		2017A		5A66	Original LT66	7A04	Original LC4
1035	L4 generation	2117		5005		7A05	Used 705
1A30	Original L4-1	2218		5019		7A09	Original LC9
1100	Original L5-1	2618		5050		7A10	Original LC10
1200	L5 generation	2219	Former LY19,147	5251		7A15	Used LC15,157
1235		2024		5052		7A19	Used 919, LC19
2A01	Original LY1	2124		5154		7A31	Used 183-1
2A02	Original LY2	3A21	Original LF21	5154A		7A33	Used LB733
2A04	Original LY4	3003		5454		7A52	Used LC52,5210
2A06	Original LY6	3103		5554		7003	Original LC12

2A10	Original LY10		3004			5754			7005
2A11	Original LY11		3005			5056	Original LF5-1
									7020
2B11	Original LY8		3105			5356
									7022
2A12	Original LY12		4A01	Original LT1		5456
									7050
2B12	Original LY9		4A11	Original LD11		5082
									7075
2A13	Original LY13		4A13	Original LT13		5182
									7475
2A14	Original LD10		4A17	Original LT17		5083	Original LF4
									8A06	Original L6
2A16	Original LY16		4004			5183
2B16	Former LY16-1		4032			5086			8011	Used LT98
2A17	Original LY17		4043			6A20	Original LD2
									8090

II. What Are the Common Aluminum & Aluminum alloy Grade, Characteristics & Application?

Now that you can navigate between old and new aluminum grades, the next crucial step is choosing the perfect alloy for your application. When does your project need the high plasticity of 1060 versus the superior strength of 7A04? Making the right material choice is as critical as the design itself. This guide breaks down common aluminum alloys, their unique properties, and their ideal applications to ensure your project's success.

Table 3-4-12 Common aluminum and aluminum alloy processed products grade and main characteristics and application examples

the name of a shop		type of production	key property
New brand	Old license plate
10601050A	L2L3	Plate, foil, tube, wire	This is a group of industrial pure aluminum, which have the following characteristics:It has high plasticity, corrosion resistance, electrical and thermal conductivity, but low strength, can not be strengthened by heat treatment, poor cutting performance; can be gas welded, atomic hydrogen welded and resistance welded, easy to withstand various pressure processing and extension, bending
10358A06	L4L6	Bar, Sheet, Tube, Wire, and Profile
3A21	LF21	plate, foil,tube, bar, profile, wire	As an Al-Mn system alloy, it is the most widely used corrosion-resistant aluminum. This alloy has relatively low strength (slightly higher than industrial pure aluminum) and cannot be strengthened through heat treatment, so cold working methods are commonly employed to improve its mechanical properties. It exhibits high plasticity in the annealed state, good plasticity during semi-cold working hardening, and low plasticity during cold working hardening. The alloy demonstrates excellent corrosion resistance, good weldability, but poor machinability.
5A02	LF2	plate, foil,pipe, rod,Type, Wire, Forged	Compared to 3A21, the Al-Mg series corrosion-resistant aluminum 5A02 exhibits higher strength, particularly superior fatigue strength. It demonstrates high plasticity and corrosion resistance, similar to 3A21. While heat treatment cannot enhance its properties, it shows good weldability through resistance welding and atomic hydrogen welding, though prone to crystalline cracking during TIG welding. The alloy maintains excellent machinability in cold-work hardened and semi-cold-work hardened states, but its machinability deteriorates under annealing conditions. Polishing is feasible.
5A03	LF3	plates, bars, profiles, tubes	Al-Mg series corrosion-resistant aluminum alloys exhibit properties similar to 5A02, but with slightly higher magnesium content and a small amount of silicon addition, they demonstrate superior weldability. These alloys perform excellently in gas welding, TIG welding, spot welding, and roll welding, with no significant differences in other properties between the two alloys.

group	the name of a shop		type of production	key property	Example
	New brand	Old license plate
commercially pure aluminium	10601050A	L2L3	Plate, foil, tube, wire	This is a group of industrial pure aluminum, which have the following characteristics:It has high plasticity, corrosion resistance, electrical and thermal conductivity, but low strength, can not be strengthened by heat treatment, poor cutting performance; can be gas welded, atomic hydrogen welded and resistance welded, easy to withstand various pressure processing and extension, bending	Aluminum foil is used for structural components that do not bear loads but require specific properties such as high plasticity, good weldability, high corrosion resistance, or high electrical and thermal conductivity. Examples include aluminum foil for making gaskets and capacitors, while other semi-finished products are used to produce vacuum tube isolation covers, wire protective sleeves, cable and wire cores, and aircraft ventilation system parts.
	10358A06	L4L6	Bar, Sheet, Tube, Wire, and Profile
Rust-proof aluminum	3A21	LF21	plate, foil,tube, bar, profile, wire	As an Al-Mn system alloy, it is the most widely used corrosion-resistant aluminum. This alloy has relatively low strength (slightly higher than industrial pure aluminum) and cannot be strengthened through heat treatment, so cold working methods are commonly employed to improve its mechanical properties. It exhibits high plasticity in the annealed state, good plasticity during semi-cold working hardening, and low plasticity during cold working hardening. The alloy demonstrates excellent corrosion resistance, good weldability, but poor machinability.	For parts requiring high plasticity and good weldability, such as oil tanks, gasoline or lubricating oil conduits, various liquid containers and other small load parts made by deep drawing, and wire is used as rivets
	5A02	LF2	plate, foil,pipe, rod,Type, Wire, Forged	Compared to 3A21, the Al-Mg series corrosion-resistant aluminum 5A02 exhibits higher strength, particularly superior fatigue strength. It demonstrates high plasticity and corrosion resistance, similar to 3A21. While heat treatment cannot enhance its properties, it shows good weldability through resistance welding and atomic hydrogen welding, though prone to crystalline cracking during TIG welding. The alloy maintains excellent machinability in cold-work hardened and semi-cold-work hardened states, but its machinability deteriorates under annealing conditions. Polishing is feasible.	Used for welding containers and components that operate in liquid environments (such as oil tanks, gasoline and lubricant conduits) and other parts with medium loads, as well as interior trim components for vehicles and ships. Wire is used as welding rods and for making rivets.
	5A03	LF3	plates, bars, profiles, tubes	Al-Mg series corrosion-resistant aluminum alloys exhibit properties similar to 5A02, but with slightly higher magnesium content and a small amount of silicon addition, they demonstrate superior weldability. These alloys perform excellently in gas welding, TIG welding, spot welding, and roll welding, with no significant differences in other properties between the two alloys.	Used for medium-strength welded parts, cold-stamped parts, and frames that operate in liquid environments.
Rust-proof aluminum		5A05	LF5	Plate, bar, tube	This aluminum-magnesium alloy (5B05, with slightly higher magnesium content than 5A05) exhibits strength comparable to 5A03 but cannot be strengthened through heat treatment. It demonstrates high plasticity in annealed condition and moderate plasticity during semi-cold working hardening. The material shows good weldability for hydrogen atom welding, spot welding, gas welding, and TIG welding. While it offers excellent corrosion resistance, its machinability is poor in annealed state and improves during semi-cold working hardening. For rivet manufacturing, anodizing treatment is required.		5A05 is used to manufacture welded parts, pipes, and containers for use in liquid environments, as well as other components.5B05 is used as structural rivets for aluminum alloy and magnesium alloy structures, which are riveted into the structure in an annealed state.
		5B05	LF10	wire stock
		5A06	LF6	Sheet,bar,tube,Forged parts and moldsforging	As a rust-resistant aluminum-magnesium alloy, it exhibits high strength and corrosion resistance. The alloy maintains good plasticity during annealing and extrusion processes. Argon arc welding produces joints with adequate airtightness and plasticity, while spot welding and gas welding result in joint strength equivalent to 90% to 95% of the base material's strength. The material also demonstrates excellent machinability.		For welding containers, stressed parts, aircraft skins, and structural components
duralumin		2A01	LY1	wire stock	This low-alloy, low-strength hard aluminum serves as the primary rivet material for aluminum alloy structures. The alloy features a low degree of α solid solution supersaturation and minimal non-dissolvable second phases, resulting in relatively low strength after quenching and natural aging. However, it exhibits excellent plasticity and good workability (high plasticity in hot state, satisfactory plasticity in cold state), with weldability comparable to 2A11. While possessing acceptable machinability, its corrosion resistance remains limited. Riveting operations are performed after quenching and aging, with no time constraints imposed by heat treatment requirements during the process.		This alloy is widely used as a rivet material for structural rivets with medium strength and operating temperatures not exceeding 100℃. Due to its low corrosion resistance, the rivets should undergo anodic oxidation treatment in sulfuric acid before being riveted into structures, followed by filling the oxide film with potassium dichromate.
	duralumin	2A02	LY2	Bar, strip, stamped blade	This is a high-strength alloy of hard aluminum, characterized by high strength at room temperature and excellent thermal strength, making it a heat-resistant hard aluminum. The alloy exhibits high plasticity during hot deformation and tends to form coarse-grained rings in extruded semi-finished products. It can be strengthened through heat treatment and is suitable for quenching and artificial aging. Compared to 2A70 and 2A80 heat-resistant forged aluminum, it demonstrates better corrosion stability but shows a tendency to develop stress corrosion cracking. Its weldability is slightly superior to 2A70, while maintaining good machinability.			It is used for axial compressor blades of turbojet engines and other forging parts working at 200 ~ 300℃ and whose alloy properties can meet the structural requirements. It is generally used as the main load-bearing structural material.
		2A04	LY4	wire stock	The rivet is made of an alloy that matches 2A12 in shear strength, heat resistance, pressure workability, machinability, and corrosion resistance. However, it shows less tendency to intergranular corrosion at 150-250°C compared to 2A12. The alloy can be heat-treated for strengthening, and maintains good plasticity in both annealed and quenched states. Riveting should be performed within 2-6 hours after quenching, depending on the rivet diameter.		Rivets for structural applications operating at temperatures of 125 to 250°C
		2B11	LY8	wire stock	The rivet is made of alloy with medium shear strength and good plasticity under annealing, hardening and hot state. It can be strengthened by heat treatment. The rivet must be riveted within 2h after hardening.		For medium-strength rivets
		2B12	LY9	wire stock	The rivet is made of alloy with shear strength equivalent to 2A04 and similar properties to 2B11. However, riveting must be completed within 20 minutes after quenching, making the process technically challenging and limiting its application scope.		For rivets with high strength requirements
duralumin		2A10	LY10	wire stock	The alloy rivets exhibit high shear strength and maintain sufficient plasticity for riveting under annealing, quenching, aging, and hot working conditions. Unlike 2B12,2A11, and 2A12 alloys, these quenched and aged rivets eliminate time constraints in the riveting process. Their weldability matches 2A11, while corrosion resistance is comparable to 2A01 and 2A11. However, due to limited corrosion resistance, the rivets must undergo anodic oxidation in sulfuric acid before being inserted into structures, followed by potassium dichromate filling of the oxide film.		This alloy is designed for manufacturing rivets requiring high strength. However, it is prone to intergranular corrosion when heated above 100°C, so the operating temperature should not exceed 100°C. It can replace alloy grades such as 2A11,2A12,2B12, and 2A01 for rivet production.
		2A11	LY11	Board, stick,pipes, fittings, and forgings	This is one of the earliest application types of hard aluminum, commonly known as standard hard aluminum. It has medium strength and good plasticity under annealing, quenching, and hot working conditions. It can be strengthened through heat treatment and is suitable for use in quenched and naturally aged states. It exhibits good spot welding properties, though there is a tendency for cracking when using 2A11 as filler metal in gas or TIG welding. Aluminum-clad sheets demonstrate excellent corrosion resistance, while non-clad versions show lower corrosion resistance and a tendency to develop intergranular corrosion when heated above 100°C. Surface anodizing and painting can reliably protect extruded and forged parts from corrosion. Machinability remains good in quenched and aged states but deteriorates in annealed conditions.		Suitable for medium-strength components, stamped connectors, air propeller blades, and locally swaged parts such as screws and rivets. Rivets must be installed within 2 hours after quenching.
	duralumin	2A12	LY12	Board, stick,pipes, profiles, foils, wires		This high-strength hard aluminum alloy undergoes heat treatment for enhanced performance. It exhibits moderate plasticity in annealed and quenched states, with good spot welding characteristics. However, it shows a tendency to develop intergranular cracks during gas or TIG welding. The alloy maintains relatively good machinability after quenching and cold working hardening, though its machinability decreases after annealing. Due to its limited corrosion resistance, the material is typically treated through anodizing, painting, or surface aluminum cladding to improve its corrosion resistance.		This material is used to manufacture various high-load components (excluding stamped and forged parts), such as aircraft skeleton parts, skins, spacers, wing ribs, wing beams, and rivets, etc., for applications requiring service temperatures below 150℃. There is a growing trend to replace 7A04 with other alloys when producing ultra-high-load components.
		2A06	LY6	panel	This high-strength aluminum alloy matches 2A12 in pressure forming and machinability, with good plasticity in both annealed and quenched states. It can undergo quenching and aging treatment, maintaining comparable corrosion resistance to 2A12. When heated to 150-250°C, it shows less tendency to intergranular corrosion than 2A12. Its spot welding performance is comparable to 2A12 and 2A16, while argon arc welding outperforms 2A12 but underperforms 2A16.			It can be used as structural sheet metal for applications requiring operation at 150 to 250°C. However, for sheet metal that has undergone natural aging and subsequent cold hardening through quenching, prolonged heating at 200°C for over 100 hours is not recommended.
		2A16	LY16	plates, bars, profiles, and forgings	This heat-resistant hard aluminum alloy exhibits the following characteristics: While its strength remains relatively low at room temperature, it demonstrates high creep strength comparable to 2A02 at elevated temperatures. The alloy maintains excellent plasticity in hot conditions without extrusion effects, and can be strengthened through heat treatment. It shows favorable weldability for spot welding, roll welding, and TIG welding, with minimal tendency to form cracks and good weld airtightness. However, its corrosion resistance is relatively poor. Aluminum-clad sheets exhibit better corrosion stability, while extruded semi-finished products show limited corrosion resistance. To prevent corrosion, protective measures such as anodizing or painting should be applied. The material also maintains good machinability.		Suitable for components operating at 250-350°C, such as axial compressor blades and discs, and for welded parts used in both normal and high-temperature environments, including containers and airtight chambers.

	wrought aluminium	6A02	LD2	Board, stick,pipes, fittings, and forgings	This is a widely used industrial forged aluminum alloy, characterized by moderate strength (though lower than other forged aluminum alloys). It exhibits high plasticity in annealed state, with satisfactory plasticity after quenching and natural aging, and exceptionally high plasticity in hot state, making it easy to forge and stamp. In quenched and naturally aged states, its corrosion resistance matches that of 3A21 and 5A02. However, the alloy shows intergranular corrosion tendency under artificial aging. Alloys with wcu <0.1% demonstrate superior corrosion resistance during artificial aging. The alloy is easy to spot weld and atomic hydrogen weld, while gas welding performs satisfactorily. Its machinability is poor in annealed state but improves after quenching and aging.	For the manufacture of parts requiring high plasticity and high corrosion resistance, and subjected to medium loads, complex shaped forgings and die forgings, such as air-cooled engine crankcase, helicopter blade
		2A50	LD5	Bar, Forged	High-strength forged aluminum exhibits excellent workability in hot condition, being easily forgeable and stampable. It can be strengthened through heat treatment, achieving strength comparable to hard aluminum after quenching and artificial aging. While demonstrating good machinability, it shows extrusion effects resulting in differential performance between longitudinal and transverse directions. The material demonstrates superior corrosion resistance but has a tendency to intergranular corrosion. It possesses favorable machinability and performs well in resistance welding, spot welding, and seam welding, though its arc welding and gas welding performance is subpar.	For the manufacture of complex shaped and medium strength forgings and stamped parts
		2B50	LD6	forging	High-strength aluminum alloy. Its composition and properties are similar to 2A50, and it can be used interchangeably. However, it has higher plasticity in hot state than 2A50.	Forging and die forging of complex shapes, such as compressor impellers and fan impellers
		New brand	Old license plate
wrought aluminium		2A70	LD7	Bar, board,Forged parts and moldsforging	Heat-resistant forged aluminum shares similar composition to 2A80 but contains trace titanium, resulting in a finer microstructure. With lower silicon content, it exhibits superior thermal strength compared to 2A80. The alloy can be strengthened through heat treatment, demonstrating slightly better workability and high plasticity at elevated temperatures. As it contains no manganese or chromium, it avoids the extrusion effect. It performs well in resistance welding, spot welding, and seam welding, though arc welding and gas welding show poor results. The alloy offers decent corrosion resistance and good machinability.	The sheet can be used as a structural material for manufacturing piston and complex forgings such as compressor impeller and blower impeller which work at high temperature. The application is more extensive than 2A80.
		2A80	LD8	Bars, forgings, and die forgings	Heat-resistant forged aluminum. It has slightly lower plasticity in hot state, but can be strengthened by heat treatment. It has high strength at high temperature and no extrusion effect. Its weldability is the same as 2A70. It has good corrosion resistance, but has a tendency to stress corrosion. Its machinability is acceptable.	Used to manufacture piston, compressor blades, impellers, discs and other high-temperature engine components for internal combustion engines
		2A90	LD9	Bars, forgings, and die forgings	This is an early application of heat-resistant forged aluminum, with good thermal strength, good plasticity in hot state, can be heat-treated for strengthening, corrosion resistance, welding and cutting properties close to 2A70	Its application is identical to that of 2A70 and 2A80. It has now been replaced by 2A70 and 2A80, which exhibit superior thermal strength and excellent plasticity in the hot state.
		2A14	LD10	Bars, forgings, and die forgings	From the composition and properties of 2A14, it can be classified as either a hard aluminum alloy or a 2A50 forged aluminum alloy. The key difference between 2A14 and 2A50 lies in its higher copper content, which results in greater strength and better thermal strength. However, its hot workability is inferior to 2A50's. The alloy exhibits excellent machinability and performs well in resistance welding, spot welding, and seam welding, but shows poor performance in arc welding and gas welding. It can be strengthened through heat treatment and demonstrates extrusion effects, leading to variations in longitudinal and transverse properties. Its corrosion resistance is relatively low, and in artificially aged conditions, it tends to exhibit intergranular corrosion and stress corrosion cracking.	Designed for high-load applications and simple-shaped forgings and die-forged parts. The alloy's use is limited due to difficulties in hot-pressing.
superduralumin		7A03	LC3	wire stock	This super-hard aluminum rivet alloy features excellent plasticity from quenching and artificial aging, ensuring secure riveting. It undergoes heat treatment for enhanced strength, delivering high shear resistance at room temperature, good corrosion resistance, and acceptable machinability. Riveted components are not limited by heat treatment duration.	Rivets used as load-bearing structures. When the operating temperature is below 125℃, they can be used as a substitute for 2A10 rivet alloy.
		7A04	LC4	Board, stick,pipes, fittings, and forgings	This ultra-hard aluminum alloy, a high-strength material, exhibits moderate plasticity in both annealed and quenched states. It can be strengthened through heat treatment and is typically used in quenched artificial aging conditions, yielding significantly higher strength than conventional hard aluminum while maintaining lower plasticity. Extruded semi-finished products with moderate thickness and aluminum-clad plates demonstrate excellent corrosion resistance. The alloy tends to concentrate stresses, requiring smooth transitions in all joints to minimize eccentricity. While it shows good spot-welding performance, gas welding proves challenging. Post-heat-treated machinability remains favorable, though it becomes less effective in the annealed state.	Manufacture load-bearing components and high-load partsComponents such as aircraft beams, struts, stiffeners, skins, wing ribs, joints, and landing gear parts are typically used to replace 2A12.
		2A09	LC9	Bars, Slabs, Pipes, Shapes	High-strength aluminum alloy exhibits slightly lower plasticity than 2A12 in both annealed and quenched states, yet slightly better than 7A04. Its plasticity drops significantly after quenching and artificial aging. The alloy sheet demonstrates slightly superior static fatigue resistance, notch sensitivity, and stress corrosion resistance compared to 7A04, while its bar stock matches 7A04 in these properties.	Manufacture aircraft skin and other structural parts and main force parts
Special aluminum		4A01	LT1	wire stock	This is a binary aluminum-silicon alloy with 5% silicon content, which has low strength but high corrosion resistance and good pressure processing.	Make welding rods and rods for welding aluminum alloy parts

III. How About Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy Heat Treatment Process Parameters?

You've selected the right aluminum alloy – but your job isn't done. The true strength and performance of your parts are unlocked through heat treatment. Specifying '6061' is one thing, but achieving the robust properties of '6061-T6' requires a precise, controlled process. This table provides the essential heat treatment parameters, turning raw material into finished components with the exact temper and durability your project demands.

Table 3-4-13 Heat treatment process parameters of aluminum and its alloys

the name of a shop	anneal ①		hardening temperature /℃	effectiveness for a given period of time
	temperature /℃	time /h		temperature /℃	time /h
1060、1050A、1035、8A063A215A02、5A035A05、5A06	350 ~ 500350 ~ 500350 ~ 420310 ~ 335	For walls thinner than 6mm, thermal insulation is sufficient; for walls thicker than 6mm, 30 minutes of thermal insulation is required.	————	————	————
2A012A022A062A102A112A122A162A17	370 ~ 450 380 ~ 430370 ~ 450390 ~ 450390 ~ 450390 ~ 450390 ~ 450	2~3	495 ~ 505495 ~ 505500 ~ 510515 ~ 520500 ~ 510495 ~ 503530 ~ 540520 ~ 530	room temperature165 ~ 175Room temperature or 125 to 13570 ~ 80room temperatureRoom temperature or 185 to 195160 ~ 170180 ~ 190	9616120 or 12 to 14249696 or 6 to 121616
7A03 7A04 7A05	350 ~ 370 390 ~ 430 390 ~ 430	2~3	460 ~ 470 465 ~ 480 465 ~ 475	Level 1 validity period: 115~125Level 2160 to 170120 to 140 grade aging 1 grade 115 to 125Level 2155 to 165135 to 145 grade aging 1 grade 95 to 105Level 2155 to 165	3~43~512 ~ 2433164 ~ 58~9
6A202A50、2B502A702A802A902A14	380 ~ 430350 ~ 400350 ~ 480350 ~ 480350 ~ 480390 ~ 410	2~3	515 ~ 530505 ~ 520525 ~ 540525 ~ 535510 ~ 520495 ~ 505	150 to 165 or room temperature150 to 165 or room temperature185 to 195 or stabilized at 240 165  to 180 or stabilized at 240 165  to 175 or stabilized at 225 150  to 165 or room temperature	6 to 15 or 966 to 15 or 96 8  to 12 or 1 to 38 to 14 or 1 to 36 to 16 or 3 to 105 to 15 or 96

IV. What Are The Casting aluminum alloy grade and Mechanical Properties?

While CNC machining from a solid block is ideal for many parts, some complex geometries are best produced through casting. But a cast part isn't a "one-size-fits-all" solution. The final strength, hardness, and ductility of a cast aluminum alloy like ZL101 can vary dramatically based on the casting method and heat treatment. This guide provides the critical data you need to specify and verify the mechanical properties of cast aluminum components.

Table 3-4-14 Alloy castings: Grades, designations and mechanical properties

	Alloy grade	Alloy code	casting method	Alloy status	mechanical property ≥
					Tensile strength σb/Mpa	elongationδ5 （%）
	ZAlSi7Mg	ZL101	S、R、J、KS、R、J、KJBS、R、KJ、JBS、R、KSB、RB、KBSB、RB、KBSB、RB、KBSB、RB、KB	FT2T4T4T5T5T5T6T7T8	155135185175205195195225195155	2244222123
	ZAlSi7MgA	ZL101A	S、R、KJ、JBS、R、KSB、RB、KBJB、JSB、RB、KBJB、J	T4T4T5T5T5T6T6	195225235235265275295	5544423
	ZAlSi12	ZL102	SB、JB、RB、KBJSB、JB、RB、KBJ	FFT2T2	145155135145	4243
ZAlSi9Mg		ZL104	S、J、R、KJSB、RB、KBJ、JB	FT1T6T6	145195225235	21 .522
ZAlSi5CU1Mg		ZL105	S、J、R、KS、R、KJS、R、KS、J、R、K	T1T5T5T6T7	155195235225175	0.510.50.51
ZAlSi5CU1MgA		ZL105A	SB、R、KJ、JB	T5T5	275295	12
ZAlSi8CU1Mg		ZL106	SBJBSBJBSBJBSBJ	FT1T5T5T6T6T7T7	175195235255245265225245	11 .5221222
ZAlSi7CU4		ZL107	SBSBJJ	FT6FT6	165245195275	2222.5
ZAlSi12CU2Mg1		ZL108	JJ	T1T6	195255	——
ZAlSi12CU1Mg1Ni1		ZL109	JJ	T1T6	195245	0.5
ZAlSi5cu6Mg		ZL110	SJSJ	FFT1T1	125155145165	————
ZAlSi9cu2Mg		2L111	JSBJ、JB	FT6T6	205255315	1 .51 .52
ZAlSi7MglA		ZL114A	SBJ、JB	T5T5	290310	23
ZAlSi5Zn1Mn		ZL115	SJSJ	T4T4T5T5	225275275315	463 .53
ZAlSi8MgBe		ZL116	SJSJ	T4T4T5T5	255275295335	4624
ZAlcu5Mn		ZL201	S、J、R、KS、J、R、KS	T4T5T7	295335315	842
ZAlcu5MnA		ZL201A	S、J、R、K	T5	390	8
ZAlcu4		ZL203	S、R、KJS、R、KJ	T4T4T5T5	195205215225	6633
ZAlcu5MncdA		ZL204A	S	T5	440	4
ZAlcu5MncdvA		ZL205A	SSS	T5T6T7	440470460	732
	ZL207	SJ	T1T1	165175	——	7575
	ZL301	S、J、R	T4	280	10	60
	ZL303	S、J、R、K	F	145	1	55
	ZL305	S	T4	290	8	90
	ZL401	S、R、KJ	T1T1	195245	21 .5	8090
	ZL402	JS	T1T1	235215	44	7065

V. What Are the Main Characteristics & Application of Cast Aluminum Alloy?

Table 3-4-15 Main characteristics and application examples of cast aluminum alloys

Grades	key property	Example
ZL101	It has good casting properties, no tendency to hot cracking, low shrinkage, high gas tightness, but slightly prone to porosity and shrinkage, high corrosion resistance, similar to ZL102, can be heat treated to strengthen, has natural aging capacity, high strength and plasticity, good weldability, and average cutting performance	Suitable for casting parts with complex shape and medium load, or requiring high air tightness, high corrosion resistance, high weldability, and the ambient temperature does not exceed 200%, such as water pump, transmission device, housing, water pump housing, instrument housing, etc
ZL101A	The impurity content is lower than ZL101, and the mechanical properties are better than ZL101
ZL102	The casting exhibits excellent castability, low density, and high corrosion resistance, capable of withstanding atmospheric, seawater, carbon dioxide, concentrated nitric acid, ammonia, sulfur, and hydrogen peroxide corrosion. As the wall thickness of the casting increases, the strength reduction is minimal. It cannot be heat-treated for strengthening, but demonstrates good weldability. However, its machinability and heat resistance are poor. The finished product should be used under deterioration treatment.	Suitable for casting thin-walled parts with complex shapes and low loads, as well as parts with high corrosion resistance and air tightness, and working temperature ≤200℃, such as ship parts, instrument housing, machine cover, etc.
ZL104	Good casting properties, no tendency to hot crack, good air tightness, small linear shrinkage, but easy to form needle holes, good mechanical properties at room temperature, can be heat treated for strengthening, good corrosion resistance, general cutting properties and weldability, castings need to be metamorphosis treatment	Suitable for casting complex shapes, thin walls, corrosion resistance and bearing high static load and impact load, working temperature less than 200% of parts, such as cylinder body cover, water cooling or engine crankcase
ZL105	Good casting properties, good air tightness, low tendency to hot crack, can be heat treated for strengthening, high strength, low plasticity and toughness, good cutting properties, good weldability, but corrosion resistance is normal	It is suitable for casting parts with complex shape, high static load, good weldability, high gas tightness and working temperature below 225%. It is also widely used in aviation industry, such as cylinder body, cylinder head, cover and crankcase.
ZL105A	Similar to the ZL105, but with superior mechanical performance.
ZL106	Good casting properties, high air tightness, no tendency to hot crack, small shrinkage, small tendency to shrinkage and porosity, can be heat treated to strengthen, good mechanical properties at high and room temperature, good corrosion resistance, good welding and cutting properties	Suitable for casting parts with complex shapes and high static loads, as well as parts requiring high air tightness and working temperature ≤225℃, such as pump body and engine cylinder head.
ZL107	The casting fluidity and hot cracking tendency are inferior to those of ZL101,102, and 104. It can be strengthened by heat treatment. The mechanical properties are better than 104, and the cutting properties are good, but the corrosion resistance is not high, so it needs to be treated by metamorphosis.	Used to cast parts with complex shapes and high loads, such as frames, diesel engines, carburetor parts and electrical equipment shells
ZL108	This is a commonly used primary aluminum alloy for pistons, featuring low density, low thermal expansion coefficient, excellent heat resistance, and good castability. It has no tendency to thermal cracking, high gas tightness, and minimal linear shrinkage, though it shows a strong tendency to absorb gases. The alloy can be strengthened through heat treatment, maintaining high mechanical properties at both high and room temperatures. However, its machinability is relatively poor, and it requires precipitation treatment.	Mainly used to cast automotive, tractor engine piston and other parts working in high temperature below 250%
ZL109	The performance is comparable to the ZL108, and it also uses commonly available aluminum alloy pistons, though it's less cost-effective than the ZL108.	Compatible with ZL108
ZL110	Good casting and welding performance, medium corrosion resistance, high strength and good high temperature performance	Suitable for pistons and other parts that operate at high temperatures
ZL111	Excellent casting properties, no tendency to hot crack, small linear shrinkage, high gas tightness, excellent mechanical properties in cast state and after heat treatment, high temperature mechanical properties, good machinability and weldability, can be heat treated for strengthening, poor corrosion resistance	Suitable for casting complex shapes, high load and high air tightness of large castings and parts working in high pressure gas and liquid, such as rotor engine cylinder body, cover, large pump impeller and other important castings
ZL114A	The composition and properties are similar to those of ZL101A, but its strength is higher than ZL101A	Suitable for casting complex shape and high strength castings, but its heat treatment process requirements are strict, so that the application is limited
ZL115	It exhibits excellent casting properties and corrosion resistance, along with good strength and ductility. Unlike ZL111 and ZL114A, it does not require heat treatment and is a high-strength aluminum-silicon alloy.	Mainly used for casting complex high strength and corrosion resistant castings
ZL116	It has good casting properties, dense castings, good gas tightness, good mechanical properties of alloy, high corrosion resistance, and is one of the high strength cast aluminum in aluminum-silicon alloy series, and its price is high	Used to manufacture oil pump housings, engine accessories, and parts with complex shapes, high strength, and high corrosion resistance.
ZL201	Poor casting properties, large linear shrinkage, low air tightness, easy to form hot crack and shrinkage hole, after heat treatment, the alloy has high strength and heat resistance, its plasticity and toughness are also very good, good welding and cutting properties, but poor corrosion resistance	Suitable for high temperature (175 ~ 300℃) or room temperature under high load, simple shape parts, can also be used for low temperature (0 ~ -70℃) under high load parts, such as brackets, is a wide range of high strength alloy
ZL201A	The composition and properties are identical to ZL201, with lower impurities and superior mechanical properties.
ZL203	Poor castability, prone to hot cracking and shrinkage porosity, good air tightness, good strength and plasticity after heat treatment, good machinability and weldability, poor corrosion resistance, poor heat resistance, no need for deterioration treatment	Parts that need to be machined, have simple shapes, and are subjected to moderate or impact loads, such as brackets, crankcase, and flywheel cover
ZL204AZL205A	This high-strength heat-resistant alloy exhibits superior thermal stability to ZL204A, with ZL205A demonstrating even better performance.	As a force-bearing structural component, it is widely used in aviation and aerospace industries
ZL207A	It is an aluminum-rare earth metal alloy, which has excellent heat resistance, good casting performance, high gas tightness, and is not easy to produce hot crack and loose, but the mechanical properties at room temperature are poor, and the composition is complex and needs strict control	Suitable for casting parts with complex shapes, low stress, and high-temperature (≤ 400℃) operation
ZL301	This aluminum-magnesium binary alloy casting can be heat-treated for enhanced strength. After quenching, it exhibits high strength with excellent plasticity and toughness. However, prolonged use may lead to natural aging, resulting in reduced plasticity and stress corrosion susceptibility. It demonstrates superior corrosion resistance, ranking among the best in cast aluminum, while maintaining good machinability. The casting process shows poor performance, prone to microstructural porosity, with inadequate heat resistance and weldability. Additionally, its melting and casting techniques are relatively complex.	Designed for castings that must withstand high static and impact loads, with a service temperature ≤200℃ in corrosive environments. It is also suitable for manufacturing components such as radar domes and landing gear.
ZL303	This alloy exhibits superior corrosion resistance comparable to ZL301, while demonstrating enhanced casting performance, reduced tendency to form shrinkage cavities and hot cracking, along with a higher shrinkage rate. Its gas tightness is average, and the castings cannot undergo heat treatment for strengthening. However, it outperforms ZL301 in high-temperature performance and machinability, with significantly improved weldability. The production process is notably simpler.	Suitable for manufacturing parts of ships, aviation, internal combustion engines and other parts that work at temperatures below 200℃ and bear medium loads, as well as some decorative parts
ZL305	This is an improved ZL301 alloy. To address its shortcomings, elements such as Be, Ti, and Zn were added, which enhanced both the alloy's natural aging stability and stress corrosion resistance, while reducing its oxidation tendency during casting. All other properties remain similar to ZL301.	Designed for environments with operating temperatures below 100°C, with the same specifications as ZL301.
ZL401	Commonly known as zinc-silicon-aluminum, it has good casting properties, low tendency to produce shrinkage holes and hot cracks, and low linear shrinkage rate, but has a large tendency to absorb gas. The castings have natural aging ability, good cutting properties and weldability, but need to undergo metamorphic treatment. The corrosion resistance is generally low, and the heat resistance is low. The density is high.	Designed for manufacturing parts with complex geometries and high static loads at temperatures ≤200℃, primarily used in automotive components, medical equipment, instrumentation, and daily-use products.
ZL402	Good castability, high mechanical properties after aging treatment, suitable for working in the temperature range of-70℃ to 150℃, good stress corrosion resistance and corrosion resistance, good cutting properties, average weldability, high density	Suitable for parts subjected to high static or impact loads where heat treatment is impractical, as well as applications requiring corrosion resistance and dimensional stability, such as high-speed integral casting impellers, air compressor pistons, precision machinery, instruments, and meters.

VI.What is the Heat Treatment Process Specification of Cast Aluminum Alloy?

Table 3-4-16 Aluminum alloy casting heat treatment process specification

Alloy grade	Alloy code	Alloy status	Solid solution treatment		effectiveness for a given period of time
			temperature /℃	time /h	temperature /℃	time /h
ZAlsi7MnA	ZL101A	T4	535 ± 5	6 ~ 12	—	—
		T5			room temperature	Not less than 8
					155 ± 5	2 ~ 12
		T6			room temperature	Not less than 8
					Another 180 ± 5	3~8
ZAlsi5CU1MgA	ZL105A	T5	525 ± 5	4 ~ 12	160 ± 5	3~5
ZAlsi7Mg1A	ZL114A	T5	535 ± 5	10 ~ 14	room temperature	Not less than 8
					160 ± 5	4 ~ 8
ZAlsi5Zn1Mg	ZL115	T4	540 ± 5	10 ~ 12	—	—
		T5			150 ± 5	3~5
ZAlsi8MgBe	ZL116	T4	535 ± 5	10 ~ 14	—	—
		T5			175 ± 5	6
ZAlCU5MnA	ZL201A	T5	535 ± 5	7~9	—	—
			545 ± 5		160 ± 5	6~9
ZAlcu5MncdA	ZL204A	T5	530 ± 5	9	—	—
			540 ± 5		175 ± 5	3~5
ZAlcu5MncdvA	ZL205A	T5	538 ± 5	10 ~ 18	155 ± 5	8 ~ 10
		T6			175 ± 5	4 ~ 5
		T7			190 ± 5	2~4
ZAlRE5cu3si2	ZL207	T1	—	—	200 ± 5	5 ~ 10
ZAlMg8Zn1	ZL305	T4	435 ± 5	8 ~ 10	—	—
			490 ± 5	6~8