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Aluminum

A380

A380 is the workhorse aluminum die-casting alloy, an Al-Si-Cu composition designed for casting rather than machining or forming. It offers a strong balance of castability, strength, and thermal conductivity at low cost. With low elongation (around 3%) it is not ductile, but it fills thin, complex die-cast geometries exceptionally well.

How A380 machines

Machines moderately well as a casting (rated 3.5/5). The silicon content is abrasive and accelerates tool wear, so coated carbide and adequate speeds help. Cast parts may contain porosity that shows up at machined surfaces. Typically only critical features (sealing faces, bores, threaded holes) are machined after casting.

Manufacturing & processing

Made by high-pressure die casting, where it reproduces thin walls and fine detail at high volume. It is generally not welded (porosity and the cast structure make welds unreliable) and is not heat-treatable in the conventional T-temper sense. Common finishes include powder coating, painting, and plating after suitable surface prep.

Typical applications

Used for high-volume die-cast housings and structural castings: automotive transmission and engine housings, brackets, electronics and connector housings, power-tool bodies, gearbox cases, and lighting enclosures. It is chosen wherever many complex, near-net-shape aluminum parts must be produced cheaply per piece.

When to choose it

Choose A380 when you are die casting complex parts at high volume and want a low-cost, castable alloy with good strength and thermal performance. Pick a wrought alloy like 6061 when you are machining or forming, not casting. Choose a higher-ductility casting alloy if the part must absorb impact or be welded.

Suitable surface finishes

Common finishes for A380: Type II anodizing, chromate/Alodine, powder coating, bead blasting. Use the finish selector →

FAQ

Can A380 be welded?
Generally not reliably. Die-cast A380 typically contains entrapped gas porosity, and the trapped gases expand and cause defects during welding. It is normally joined mechanically. If a casting must be welded, low-porosity or specialty casting alloys are far better suited than standard high-pressure die-cast A380.
Is A380 a machinable alloy?
It machines moderately well (rated 3.5/5), but the silicon content is abrasive and wears tooling, and cast porosity can appear at machined surfaces. Use sharp coated carbide and treat it as a casting: machine only the features that need tight tolerances, leaving the rest as-cast.
Why is A380 used for die casting?
Because it combines excellent castability, good strength, good thermal conductivity, and low cost. Its Al-Si-Cu chemistry flows well into thin, complex dies and solidifies cleanly at high production rates, making it the most widely used aluminum alloy for high-volume die-cast housings and structural parts.

Property values are typical/nominal for early guidance and vary by temper, grade, supplier and heat treatment. Confirm critical specs against a certified datasheet or with an mfgiq engineer.