{
  "spore": "profile",
  "id": "aluminium-a356",
  "spore_version": "0.2",
  "family": "aluminium-alloys",
  "name": "Aluminium casting alloy A356.0",
  "abbreviation": "A356",
  "role": "structural casting alloy",
  "category": "metals",
  "type": "aluminium",
  "summary": "A356.0 is an aluminium-silicon-magnesium casting alloy, UNS A13560. The Xometry datasheet gives 6.5 to 7.5 % silicon and 0.25 to 0.45 % magnesium, a density of 2.68 g/cm3, and a T6 permanent-mould tensile strength of 276 to 345 MPa. NIMS and JAXA issued strength data sheets for cast A356-T6 as a space-use material for Japan's H-IIA and H-IIB rockets.\n",
  "best_for": "Thin, complex castings that need good fluidity and a heat-treated strength of 276 to 345 MPa (T6, permanent mould, datasheet)",
  "weakest_at": "Ductility: elongation of 5 to 12 % in T6 permanent-mould castings and 3 to 10 % in T6 sand castings (datasheet)",
  "identity": {
    "formula": "Al-Si-Mg casting alloy, mass %: Al balance, Si 6.5-7.5, Mg 0.25-0.45, Fe max 0.20, Cu max 0.20, Zn max 0.10, Mn max 0.10, Ti max 0.20 (datasheet composition table)",
    "cas": "7429-90-5",
    "designations": [
      {
        "system": "UNS",
        "code": "A13560",
        "source": "totalmat-a13560",
        "where": "Page heading UNS A13560 Aluminium Alloys"
      },
      {
        "system": "AA",
        "code": "A356.0",
        "source": "totalmat-a13560",
        "where": "International Equivalent Materials list, row AA A356.0"
      },
      {
        "system": "SAE",
        "code": "A13560",
        "source": "totalmat-a13560",
        "where": "International Equivalent Materials list, row A13560 (SAE)"
      },
      {
        "system": "AMS",
        "code": "AMS4218",
        "note": "premium grade 7Si - 0.3Mg (A356)",
        "source": "ams4218",
        "where": "Specification title and revision list"
      },
      {
        "system": "ASTM",
        "code": "B26",
        "source": "totalmat-a13560",
        "where": "International Equivalent Materials list, row B 26 A356.0"
      },
      {
        "system": "ASTM",
        "code": "B108",
        "source": "totalmat-a13560",
        "where": "International Equivalent Materials list, row B 108 A356.0"
      }
    ],
    "source": "xometry-a356",
    "where": "Chemical composition table, section 1 of the Xometry A356 datasheet. CAS 7429-90-5 is the aluminium element number printed on the Total Materia UNS A13560 page; the alloy itself has no CAS number."
  },
  "tags": {
    "environments": [],
    "stresses": [],
    "applications": [
      "structures"
    ]
  },
  "properties": [
    {
      "benchmark": "density",
      "label": "Density, A356 casting alloy",
      "value": 2.68,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "g/cm3",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "alloy": "A356 casting alloy",
        "temper": "not stated in the table",
        "unit_in_source": "0.097 lb/in3"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet, which states its data come from OEMs, distributors and databases",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 2, Physical properties table, row Density",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "density",
      "label": "Density, UNS A13560 (Total Materia range)",
      "value": 2.6,
      "value_high": 2.9,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "kg/dm3",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temperature": "0 - 30 °C",
        "designation": "UNS A13560"
      },
      "method": "Range printed on the Total Materia physical properties table for UNS A13560",
      "status": "ground",
      "note": "Wider than the single datasheet value of 2.68 g/cm3; the two sources are shown side by side.",
      "source": "totalmat-a13560",
      "where": "UNS A13560 Physical Properties, row Density",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "UNS A13560 Aluminium Alloys (Total Materia)",
        "id": "UNS A13560, Metals and alloys in the unified numbering system (UNS), 2025",
        "url": "https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/3001883",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "database",
        "license": "Total Materia, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "melting_point",
      "label": "Melting range (solidus to liquidus)",
      "value": 557,
      "value_high": 613,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "solidus to liquidus range, printed as Melting range",
        "alloy": "A356 casting alloy"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet; a melting range, not a single melting point",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 2, Physical properties table, row Melting range",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "thermal_conductivity",
      "label": "Thermal conductivity, T6 temper",
      "value": 149,
      "value_high": 155,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "W/(m·K)",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "T6",
        "temperature": "not stated in the table"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 2, Physical properties table, row Thermal conductivity (T6 temper)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "electrical_conductivity",
      "label": "Electrical conductivity",
      "value": 33,
      "value_high": 40,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "%IACS",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "not stated in the table"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet; the datasheet calls it moderate electrical conductivity",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 2, Physical properties table, row Electrical conductivity",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "elastic_modulus",
      "label": "Elastic modulus, Xometry datasheet",
      "value": 72.4,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "GPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temperature": "not stated in the table"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "note": "Total Materia gives a wider range of 69 to 79 GPa for the same UNS number; both are kept.",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 2, Physical properties table, row Elastic modulus",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "elastic_modulus",
      "label": "Elastic modulus, UNS A13560 (Total Materia range)",
      "value": 69,
      "value_high": 79,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "GPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temperature": "0 - 30 °C",
        "designation": "UNS A13560"
      },
      "method": "Range printed on the Total Materia physical properties table for UNS A13560",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "totalmat-a13560",
      "where": "UNS A13560 Physical Properties, row Modulus of Elasticity",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "UNS A13560 Aluminium Alloys (Total Materia)",
        "id": "UNS A13560, Metals and alloys in the unified numbering system (UNS), 2025",
        "url": "https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/3001883",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "database",
        "license": "Total Materia, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "poissons_ratio",
      "label": "Poisson's ratio",
      "value": 0.33,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "-",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temperature": "not stated in the table"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 2, Physical properties table, row Poisson's ratio",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "specific_heat",
      "label": "Specific heat capacity at 20 °C",
      "value": 963,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "J/(kg·K)",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temperature": "20 °C",
        "unit_in_source": "0.230 Btu/(lb·°F)"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 2, Physical properties table, row Specific heat capacity",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength",
      "label": "Tensile strength, T6 permanent mould",
      "value": 276,
      "value_high": 345,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "T6",
        "casting": "permanent mould",
        "unit_in_source": "276-345 MPa"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet, mechanical properties by heat treatment condition",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 3, Mechanical properties table, row Tensile strength, column T6 temper (permanent mold)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength",
      "label": "Tensile strength, T6 sand cast",
      "value": 234,
      "value_high": 310,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "T6",
        "casting": "sand cast",
        "unit_in_source": "234-310 MPa"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 3, Mechanical properties table, row Tensile strength, column T6 temper (sand cast)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "yield_strength",
      "label": "Yield strength, T6 permanent mould",
      "value": 207,
      "value_high": 276,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "T6",
        "casting": "permanent mould",
        "offset": "not stated in the datasheet"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 3, Mechanical properties table, row Yield strength, column T6 temper (permanent mold)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "yield_strength",
      "label": "Yield strength, T6 sand cast",
      "value": 165,
      "value_high": 234,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "T6",
        "casting": "sand cast",
        "offset": "not stated in the datasheet"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 3, Mechanical properties table, row Yield strength, column T6 temper (sand cast)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "elongation",
      "label": "Elongation, T6 permanent mould",
      "value": 5,
      "value_high": 12,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "%",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "T6",
        "casting": "permanent mould"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 3, Mechanical properties table, row Elongation, column T6 temper (permanent mold)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "elongation",
      "label": "Elongation, T6 sand cast",
      "value": 3,
      "value_high": 10,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "%",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "T6",
        "casting": "sand cast"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 3, Mechanical properties table, row Elongation, column T6 temper (sand cast)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "brinell_hardness",
      "label": "Brinell hardness, T6 permanent mould",
      "value": 80,
      "value_high": 100,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "HB",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "T6",
        "casting": "permanent mould"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 3, Mechanical properties table, row Brinell Hardness HB, column T6 temper (permanent mold)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "fatigue_strength",
      "label": "Fatigue strength at 10 million cycles, T6 permanent mould",
      "value": 100,
      "value_high": 125,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "T6",
        "casting": "permanent mould",
        "cycles": "10 million"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 3, Mechanical properties table, row Fatigue strength (10 7 cycles), column T6 temper (permanent mold)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "shear_strength",
      "label": "Shear strength, T6 permanent mould",
      "value": 186,
      "value_high": 207,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "MPa",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "T6",
        "casting": "permanent mould"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 3, Mechanical properties table, row Shear strength, column T6 temper (permanent mold)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "fracture_toughness",
      "label": "Fracture toughness K_IC, T6 permanent mould",
      "value": 25,
      "value_high": 32,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "MPa√m",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "T6",
        "casting": "permanent mould",
        "test": "K_IC as labelled in the datasheet"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 3, Mechanical properties table, row Fracture toughness K_IC, column T6 temper (permanent mold)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "charpy_impact_energy",
      "label": "Charpy impact toughness, T6 permanent mould",
      "value": 12,
      "value_high": 18,
      "bound": "range",
      "unit": "J",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "T6",
        "casting": "permanent mould",
        "test": "Charpy impact as labelled in the datasheet"
      },
      "method": "Range printed in the Xometry A356 datasheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 3, Mechanical properties table, row Impact toughness (Charpy), column T6 temper (permanent mold)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
        "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "vickers_hardness",
      "label": "Vickers hardness, as-cast",
      "value": 58.6,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "HV",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "as-cast",
        "load": "150 gf",
        "dwell": "15 s",
        "alloy": "laboratory casting, composition in Table 1 of the paper"
      },
      "method": "Vickers hardness as printed in the Section 3.2 table, row As-cast",
      "status": "ground",
      "note": "Laboratory casting, not the datasheet grade. The Si and Mg content sits inside the datasheet ranges at its upper end.",
      "source": "jang-2025-corrosion",
      "where": "Section 3.2, Vickers hardness table, row As-cast",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Effect of Heat Treatment on Corrosion Resistance of A356 Casting Alloy (Materials, 2025)",
        "id": "DOI 10.3390/ma18051056, PMC11901162",
        "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11901162/",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "paper",
        "license": "open access (MDPI, Materials), cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "vickers_hardness",
      "label": "Vickers hardness, solution-treated and aged 9 h at 190 °C",
      "value": 92.8,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "HV",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "temper": "solution treated at 525 °C for 4 h, aged at 190 °C for 9 h",
        "load": "150 gf",
        "dwell": "15 s",
        "alloy": "laboratory casting, composition in Table 1 of the paper"
      },
      "method": "Vickers hardness as printed in the Section 3.2 table, row SA9",
      "status": "ground",
      "note": "The paper's Summary section gives a slightly different figure for this condition. The Section 3.2 table value is used here.",
      "source": "jang-2025-corrosion",
      "where": "Section 3.2, Vickers hardness table, row Aged 9 h (SA9)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Effect of Heat Treatment on Corrosion Resistance of A356 Casting Alloy (Materials, 2025)",
        "id": "DOI 10.3390/ma18051056, PMC11901162",
        "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11901162/",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "paper",
        "license": "open access (MDPI, Materials), cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "corrosion_current_density",
      "label": "Corrosion current density, as-cast, 3.5 wt.% NaCl",
      "value": 0.5,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "μA/cm²",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "electrolyte": "3.5 wt.% NaCl",
        "temper": "as-cast",
        "alloy": "laboratory casting, composition in Table 1 of the paper"
      },
      "method": "Icorr from the polarization test as printed in Table 3, row As-cast, shown as a mean with a standard deviation",
      "status": "ground",
      "note": "Laboratory test on a casting, not a datasheet grade. The table gives a standard deviation that is left out here.",
      "source": "jang-2025-corrosion",
      "where": "Table 3, row As-cast, column Icorr",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Effect of Heat Treatment on Corrosion Resistance of A356 Casting Alloy (Materials, 2025)",
        "id": "DOI 10.3390/ma18051056, PMC11901162",
        "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11901162/",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "paper",
        "license": "open access (MDPI, Materials), cited and not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "corrosion_current_density",
      "label": "Corrosion current density, aged 9 h at 190 °C, 3.5 wt.% NaCl",
      "value": 1.89,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "μA/cm²",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "electrolyte": "3.5 wt.% NaCl",
        "temper": "solution treated at 525 °C for 4 h, aged at 190 °C for 9 h",
        "alloy": "laboratory casting, composition in Table 1 of the paper"
      },
      "method": "Icorr from the polarization test as printed in Table 3, row SA9, shown as a mean with a standard deviation",
      "status": "ground",
      "note": "Laboratory test on a casting, not a datasheet grade. The table gives a standard deviation that is left out here.",
      "source": "jang-2025-corrosion",
      "where": "Table 3, row SA9, column Icorr",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Effect of Heat Treatment on Corrosion Resistance of A356 Casting Alloy (Materials, 2025)",
        "id": "DOI 10.3390/ma18051056, PMC11901162",
        "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11901162/",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "paper",
        "license": "open access (MDPI, Materials), cited and not reproduced"
      }
    }
  ],
  "corrosion": [
    {
      "environment": "Atmospheric and seawater exposure, as a manufacturer statement",
      "headline": "Xometry says A356 resists atmospheric and seawater corrosion, but gives no test conditions or rates.",
      "effect": "The datasheet says the alloy easily forms an oxide film and is resistant to atmospheric and seawater corrosion. It gives no exposure time, test standard or corrosion rate, so this rating is qualitative only.",
      "rating": "low",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "qualitative statement in the datasheet summary",
        "test": "none given"
      },
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 6, Summary of key features (Good corrosion resistance)"
    },
    {
      "environment": "Impurities above the composition limits",
      "headline": "Excess impurities, including copper, may reduce corrosion resistance, according to the datasheet.",
      "effect": "The composition table lists copper at 0.20 % or less and notes that excessive amounts of impurities may reduce corrosion resistance. No corrosion rate is given for a higher copper content.",
      "rating": "unknown",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "composition note in the datasheet",
        "test": "none given"
      },
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 1, Chemical composition table, row Copper"
    },
    {
      "environment": "3.5 wt.% NaCl solution, laboratory polarization test on a cast A356 specimen",
      "headline": "In a laboratory 3.5 wt.% NaCl test, the corrosion current density of as-cast A356 is 0.50 μA/cm², and it is 1.89 μA/cm² after 9 h ageing at 190 °C.",
      "effect": "Table 3 of the paper lists corrosion potential and corrosion current density for the as-cast, solution-treated and three ageing conditions. In this laboratory test the current density rises and the corrosion potential falls with each step of ageing. The paper reports no corrosion rate or weight loss.",
      "rating": "unknown",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "polarization data (Ecorr and Icorr) in Table 3 of the paper",
        "test": "laboratory test in 3.5 wt.% NaCl, test standard not stated in the text read",
        "alloy": "laboratory casting, Si 7.00 and Mg 0.45 wt.% (Table 1), not the datasheet grade"
      },
      "source": "jang-2025-corrosion",
      "where": "Table 3, rows As-cast and SA9"
    }
  ],
  "risks": {
    "hazards": [
      {
        "text": "PubChem's aluminum record lists GHS H228 (flammable solid) and H261 (in contact with water releases flammable gas), both with the signal word Danger. The record does not say which physical form these entries refer to, so this profile does not apply them to a cast part.",
        "ghs": [
          "H228",
          "H261"
        ],
        "source": "pubchem-al",
        "where": "GHS Classification section, CID 5359268"
      }
    ],
    "failure_risks": [
      {
        "mode": "Low elongation in T6 castings under tensile overload",
        "trigger": "Tensile load on a T6 casting, in permanent-mould or sand-cast form",
        "consequence": "Elongation is 5 to 12 % in T6 permanent-mould castings and 3 to 10 % in T6 sand castings. The datasheet gives no failure threshold.",
        "severity": "moderate",
        "source": "xometry-a356",
        "where": "Section 3, Mechanical properties table, row Elongation"
      }
    ],
    "side_effects": [],
    "handling": [
      {
        "text": "PubChem's flammable-solid entry carries precaution codes P210, P231+P232, P240, P241, P280, P370+P378, P402+P404 and P501. Their wording is on the PubChem page and was not read in this run.",
        "source": "pubchem-al",
        "where": "GHS Classification section, precautionary statements for H228"
      }
    ],
    "mitigations": []
  },
  "uses": [
    {
      "application": "structures",
      "device": "Automotive wheels, engine blocks and transmission housings",
      "example": "Xometry lists wheels, engine blocks, transmission housings, oil pans and rear axle housings as typical automotive applications for A356.",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 5, Typical applications"
    },
    {
      "application": "structures",
      "device": "Aerospace structural castings, brackets and housings (non-load-bearing)",
      "example": "Xometry lists aerospace structural castings, brackets and housings, and marks them as non-load-bearing components.",
      "source": "xometry-a356",
      "where": "Section 5, Typical applications"
    },
    {
      "application": "structures",
      "device": "Space-use material for Japan's H-IIA and H-IIB rockets (the release does not name the part)",
      "example": "NIMS and JAXA issued Data Sheet No. 12 on fracture toughness and high-cycle fatigue of cast A356-T6, for the reliability of the H-IIA and H-IIB rockets.",
      "source": "nims-2009",
      "where": "Press release of 2009.06.04, paragraph 2"
    },
    {
      "application": "structures",
      "device": "Space-use material for Japan's H-IIA and H-IIB rockets (fatigue crack propagation)",
      "example": "NIMS and JAXA issued Data Sheet No. 17 on fatigue crack propagation of cast A356-T6 castings.",
      "source": "nims-2011",
      "where": "Press release of 2011.03.31, abstract"
    }
  ],
  "supply": [
    {
      "subject": "Aluminium (primary metal, the base of the alloy)",
      "producers": [
        {
          "country": "China",
          "share_percent": 60.8,
          "year": 2025
        },
        {
          "country": "India",
          "share_percent": 5.7,
          "year": 2025
        },
        {
          "country": "Russia",
          "share_percent": 5.3,
          "year": 2025
        },
        {
          "country": "Canada",
          "share_percent": 4.5,
          "year": 2025
        },
        {
          "country": "United Arab Emirates",
          "share_percent": 3.6,
          "year": 2025
        }
      ],
      "critical_lists": [],
      "recycling": "USGS: in 2025 about 3.6 million tons of aluminum were recovered from purchased scrap in the United States, of which about 56% came from new scrap.",
      "substitutes": [
        "USGS: composites, magnesium, steel and titanium can substitute for aluminum in ground transportation uses, and copper can replace aluminum in electrical and heat-exchange applications."
      ],
      "source": "usgs-mcs2026-aluminum",
      "where": "World Smelter Production and Capacity table, 2025e (world total 74,000 thousand t; shares calculated by Space Mushroom as production divided by the world total, the 'Other countries' row not listed); Recycling; Substitutes"
    }
  ],
  "media": [],
  "documents": [
    {
      "title": "Xometry A356 aluminum alloy datasheet (PDF)",
      "type": "datasheet",
      "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
      "year": 2025
    },
    {
      "title": "Total Materia: UNS A13560 Aluminium Alloys (physical properties and equivalents)",
      "type": "database",
      "url": "https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/3001883",
      "year": 2026
    },
    {
      "title": "SAE AMS4218A: Aluminum alloy castings, premium grade 7Si - 0.3Mg (A356)",
      "type": "standard",
      "url": "https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/ams4218a",
      "year": 2015
    },
    {
      "title": "USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Aluminum",
      "type": "report",
      "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-aluminum.pdf",
      "year": 2026
    },
    {
      "title": "PubChem compound record: Aluminum (CID 5359268), GHS classification",
      "type": "database",
      "url": "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5359268",
      "year": 2026
    },
    {
      "title": "NIMS press release: Data sheets on strength of space use materials (2009.06.04)",
      "type": "report",
      "url": "https://archive.nims.go.jp/eng/news/press/2009/06/p200906040.html",
      "year": 2009
    },
    {
      "title": "NIMS and JAXA press release: Data sheets No. 17 and No. 18 on space use materials (2011.03.31)",
      "type": "report",
      "url": "https://archive.nims.go.jp/eng/news/press/2011/03/p201103311.html",
      "year": 2011
    },
    {
      "title": "Effect of Heat Treatment on Corrosion Resistance of A356 Casting Alloy (Materials 18(5):1056, 2025)",
      "type": "paper",
      "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11901162/",
      "year": 2025
    }
  ],
  "gaps": [
    "Jang et al. 2025 (Materials, 18(5):1056) is the only corrosion test read. It uses a laboratory casting with Si 7.00 and Mg 0.45 wt.%, not the datasheet grade, and reports no corrosion rate or weight loss. The Manchester rheocast A356 corrosion paper was not readable (access denied), so the datasheet corrosion rows stay qualitative.",
    "Coefficient of thermal expansion (21.5 × 10⁻⁶ /°C in the Xometry datasheet) and thermal diffusivity (60 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s) are printed with exponents, so they are left out.",
    "Crustal abundance of aluminium was not found in the USGS PP 1802-A text we could read, so no abundance is recorded.",
    "The USGS 2025 critical minerals page returned an access block (403), so aluminium's status on the critical lists is not recorded and critical_lists is empty.",
    "No flight or space test values for A356 were found. The NIMS and JAXA data sheets exist, but their press releases print no numeric values.",
    "The Xometry cross-reference lists EN AC-42000 and other equivalents. The datasheet calls them equivalents, not the same grade, so they are not listed as designations.",
    "No safety data sheet for the A356 casting alloy was read. PubChem's aluminum hazard entries do not say which physical form they cover.",
    "Ageing and overageing data (for example Daswa et al., Solid State Phenomena 2019) were not opened. Jang et al. 2025 gives Vickers hardness after 3, 6 and 9 h at 190 °C on a laboratory casting, recorded above. No ageing strength or elongation was found.",
    "Guaranteed minimum mechanical values (AMS4218 or ASTM B26, B108) were not read; the values here are datasheet ranges, which the datasheet does not describe as minimums.",
    "Custom benchmark names used: electrical_conductivity, brinell_hardness, shear_strength, fracture_toughness, charpy_impact_energy, vickers_hardness, corrosion_current_density.",
    "Jang et al. 2025 reports no tensile, yield or elongation values for its laboratory casting, so no mechanical row is taken from it.",
    "The Jang et al. summary quotes \"the hardness of A356-SA9 was 92.38 HV\", while its Section 3.2 table prints 92.8 HV. The table value is recorded and the summary figure is left out."
  ],
  "story": {
    "why": "A356.0 (UNS A13560) is an aluminium-silicon-magnesium casting alloy. Silicon from 6.5 to 7.5 % improves how the molten metal flows into thin, complex moulds. Magnesium from 0.25 to 0.45 % allows the alloy to be strengthened by T6 heat treatment, per the Xometry datasheet. The datasheet gives a density of 2.68 g/cm3, and the alloy is used for automotive wheels and for aerospace brackets and housings. NIMS and JAXA have also issued strength data sheets for cast A356-T6 used in Japan's H-IIA and H-IIB rockets.",
    "uses": [
      {
        "where": "Automotive",
        "line": "Xometry lists wheels, engine blocks and transmission housings among the typical uses of A356."
      },
      {
        "where": "Aerospace",
        "line": "Xometry lists structural castings, brackets and housings for aerospace. The datasheet marks them as non-load-bearing components."
      },
      {
        "where": "Space hardware",
        "line": "NIMS and JAXA issued strength data sheets for cast A356-T6 as a space-use material for Japan's H-IIA and H-IIB rockets. The data sheets cover fracture toughness, high-cycle fatigue and fatigue crack propagation. The press releases do not name the parts."
      }
    ],
    "can_do": [
      {
        "label": "Tensile strength",
        "line": "A T6 permanent-mould casting has a tensile strength of 276 to 345 MPa. A T6 sand casting has 234 to 310 MPa. Both are ranges from one datasheet, which does not say whether they are minimums.",
        "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Density",
        "line": "The density is 2.68 g/cm3 in the Xometry datasheet. Total Materia gives 2.6 to 2.9 kg/dm3 for the same UNS number, a wider range.",
        "benchmark": "density",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Stiffness",
        "line": "The elastic modulus is 72.4 GPa in the Xometry datasheet and 69 to 79 GPa on Total Materia. The two sources differ.",
        "benchmark": "elastic_modulus",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Heat conduction",
        "line": "Thermal conductivity is 149 to 155 W/(m·K) in the T6 temper, per the datasheet.",
        "benchmark": "thermal_conductivity",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Hardness",
        "line": "A T6 permanent-mould casting has a Brinell hardness of 80 to 100 HB.",
        "benchmark": "brinell_hardness",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Melting range",
        "line": "The melting range, from solidus to liquidus, is 557 to 613 °C.",
        "benchmark": "melting_point",
        "scope": "material"
      }
    ],
    "compare": "Among the aluminium casting alloys in this collection, A356 is the silicon-magnesium grade with a silicon range of 6.5 to 7.5 %. The datasheet does not compare A356 with other alloys, so this profile makes no ranking claim. The three rows below set its density, tensile strength and thermal conductivity beside the other profiles in the collection.",
    "compare_rows": [
      {
        "label": "Density",
        "benchmark": "density",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Tensile strength (T6 permanent mould)",
        "benchmark": "ultimate_tensile_strength",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Thermal conductivity (T6)",
        "benchmark": "thermal_conductivity",
        "scope": "material"
      }
    ],
    "handling": [
      "Check the composition and temper against the casting specification (AMS4218 for the premium grade, or ASTM B26 and B108 in the cross-reference), not against a grade summary.",
      "PubChem's flammable-solid and water-reactive entries do not say which physical form they cover. Keep fine powder and swarf dry and away from heat (codes P210 and P280 are printed in the PubChem entry)."
    ],
    "good_for": [
      "Thin-walled, complex castings that need good fluidity, per the Xometry datasheet.",
      "Heat-treated castings that need a T6 permanent-mould tensile strength of 276 to 345 MPa."
    ],
    "watch_out": [
      "Elongation is only 5 to 12 % in T6 permanent-mould castings and 3 to 10 % in T6 sand castings.",
      "Excess impurities, including copper, may reduce corrosion resistance, according to the datasheet. No corrosion rate is given.",
      "The two sources disagree on elastic modulus: 72.4 GPa in the Xometry datasheet and 69 to 79 GPa on Total Materia."
    ],
    "verdict": "A356.0 is a heat-treatable casting alloy with datasheet strength ranges. The sources read here give one laboratory corrosion study on a casting with a different composition, no flight data and no guaranteed minimum values.",
    "recipe": {
      "line": "A356.0 is an aluminium alloy, not a compound, so its make-up is a range of mass percentages rather than a formula. Silicon and magnesium are the alloying elements, and aluminium is the balance.",
      "parts": [
        {
          "name": "Aluminium",
          "symbol": "Al",
          "role": "Base metal and the balance of the alloy.",
          "share_note": "balance"
        },
        {
          "name": "Silicon",
          "symbol": "Si",
          "role": "Main alloying element. The datasheet says it improves fluidity and castability.",
          "share_percent": 6.5,
          "share_high": 7.5
        },
        {
          "name": "Magnesium",
          "symbol": "Mg",
          "role": "Reinforcing element. The datasheet says it allows strengthening by heat treatment.",
          "share_percent": 0.25,
          "share_high": 0.45
        },
        {
          "name": "Iron",
          "symbol": "Fe",
          "role": "Impurity, held under a stringent limit.",
          "share_note": "0.20 maximum"
        },
        {
          "name": "Copper",
          "symbol": "Cu",
          "role": "Impurity. Excess can reduce corrosion resistance, per the datasheet.",
          "share_note": "0.20 maximum"
        },
        {
          "name": "Zinc",
          "symbol": "Zn",
          "role": "Impurity.",
          "share_note": "0.10 maximum"
        },
        {
          "name": "Manganese",
          "symbol": "Mn",
          "role": "Impurity.",
          "share_note": "0.10 maximum"
        },
        {
          "name": "Titanium",
          "symbol": "Ti",
          "role": "Grain refiner.",
          "share_note": "0.20 maximum"
        }
      ]
    },
    "risk_groups": [
      {
        "title": "For people",
        "lead": "The datasheet gives no hazard statement for the casting alloy. PubChem's aluminum record lists flammable and water-reactive classes for an unnamed physical form.",
        "points": [
          {
            "label": "The cast alloy",
            "line": "No safety data sheet for the A356 casting was read in this run, so no hazard class is given for a cast part."
          },
          {
            "label": "Aluminum record",
            "line": "PubChem lists H228 (flammable solid) and H261 (in contact with water releases flammable gas), but does not say which physical form they refer to."
          }
        ],
        "level": 0,
        "verdict": "No hazard class for the cast alloy in the sources read"
      },
      {
        "title": "Handling and strength",
        "lead": "The points below come from the datasheet and from PubChem's precautionary codes.",
        "points": [
          {
            "label": "Precaution codes",
            "line": "PubChem's flammable-solid entry carries the codes P210, P231+P232, P240, P241, P280, P370+P378, P402+P404 and P501. Their wording was not read in this run."
          },
          {
            "label": "Elongation",
            "line": "Elongation is 5 to 12 % in T6 permanent-mould castings and 3 to 10 % in T6 sand castings, per the Xometry datasheet."
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "updated": "2026-11-01",
  "review": {
    "status": "draft",
    "method": "assistant",
    "checked_values": 24,
    "unreachable": 3,
    "caveats": 2,
    "note": "Written by an AI assistant on 2026-11-01 from the Xometry datasheet, Total Materia UNS A13560 page, SAE AMS4218A page, USGS MCS 2026 aluminum summary, PubChem, NIMS press releases and the Jang et al. 2025 paper. Corrosion data come from that one laboratory paper. Ageing strength and critical-list data were not found in readable sources."
  },
  "sources": {
    "xometry-a356": {
      "title": "A356 Aluminum Alloy datasheet (Xometry)",
      "id": "file 1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
      "url": "https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1774070994-A356-Datasheet.pdf",
      "year": 2025,
      "kind": "datasheet",
      "license": "Xometry datasheet, cited and not reproduced"
    },
    "totalmat-a13560": {
      "title": "UNS A13560 Aluminium Alloys (Total Materia)",
      "id": "UNS A13560, Metals and alloys in the unified numbering system (UNS), 2025",
      "url": "https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/3001883",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "database",
      "license": "Total Materia, cited and not reproduced"
    },
    "ams4218": {
      "title": "AMS4218A: Aluminum alloy castings, premium grade 7Si - 0.3Mg (A356) (SAE material specification)",
      "id": "SAE AMS4218A, DOI 10.4271/AMS4218A",
      "url": "https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/ams4218a",
      "year": 2015,
      "kind": "standard",
      "license": "SAE International, cited and not reproduced"
    },
    "usgs-mcs2026-aluminum": {
      "title": "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Aluminum",
      "id": "USGS MCS 2026, February 2026",
      "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-aluminum.pdf",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "report",
      "license": "public domain (USGS)"
    },
    "pubchem-al": {
      "title": "PubChem compound record: Aluminum (CID 5359268)",
      "id": "CID 5359268",
      "url": "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5359268",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "database",
      "license": "public domain (NCBI)"
    },
    "nims-2009": {
      "title": "NIMS issues new data sheets on strength of space use materials (press release, 2009.06.04)",
      "id": "NIMS Data Sheet No. 12",
      "url": "https://archive.nims.go.jp/eng/news/press/2009/06/p200906040.html",
      "year": 2009,
      "kind": "web",
      "license": "NIMS press release, cited and not reproduced"
    },
    "nims-2011": {
      "title": "NIMS and JAXA issue data sheets on mechanical properties of space use materials No. 17 and No. 18 (press release, 2011.03.31)",
      "id": "NIMS Data Sheet No. 17",
      "url": "https://archive.nims.go.jp/eng/news/press/2011/03/p201103311.html",
      "year": 2011,
      "kind": "web",
      "license": "NIMS press release, cited and not reproduced"
    },
    "jang-2025-corrosion": {
      "title": "Effect of Heat Treatment on Corrosion Resistance of A356 Casting Alloy (Materials, 2025)",
      "id": "DOI 10.3390/ma18051056, PMC11901162",
      "url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11901162/",
      "year": 2025,
      "kind": "paper",
      "license": "open access (MDPI, Materials), cited and not reproduced"
    }
  },
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "url": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/aluminium-a356/"
}