spore: profile
id: aluminium-a206
spore_version: 0.2
family: aluminium-alloys
name: Aluminium casting alloy A206.0
abbreviation: A206.0
role: structural casting alloy
category: metals
type: aluminium
summary: |
  Aluminium casting alloy A206.0 is an aluminium-copper casting alloy with 4.2 to 5.0 % copper, per the SAE chemical composition table. An aggregator page reads a tensile strength of 440.0 MPa and a yield strength of 350.0 MPa for the T7 condition, and 275.0 to 345.0 MPa tensile for the T4 condition. The SAE physical properties table gives a density of 2.6 to 2.9 kg/dm3 and an elastic modulus of 69 to 79 GPa. No flight, vacuum or radiation result for this alloy was found.
best_for: Structural castings in the heat-treated temper, cast in sand or permanent molds (ASM and eFunda describe these uses)
weakest_at: 'Ductility: the SAE table prints a minimum elongation of 1.5 % (at least 1.5 %), and no alloy-specific corrosion or weldability test was found'
identity:
  formula: 'Al-Cu-Mg-Mn-Ti casting alloy. SAE composition (Total Materia): copper 4.2 to 5.0 %, iron 0.10 % maximum, aluminium the remainder. Nominal composition per the eFunda 206.0 page (weight %): aluminium 94.33 %, copper 4.60 %, magnesium 0.25 %, manganese 0.35 %, silicon 0.10 %, titanium 0.22 %, iron 0.15 %. The two iron figures disagree and both are kept.'
  source: totalmateria-a206
  where: SAE A206.0 Chemical Composition table (Cu 4.2 to 5.0 %, Fe 0.10 % maximum); nominal composition from the eFunda 206.0 page (efunda-206)
  designations:
    - system: UNS
      code: A02060
      source: totalmateria-a206
      where: International Equivalent Materials table, UNS row, marked Official
    - system: UNS
      code: A12060
      note: second UNS number printed by the same source for this alloy; sources disagree on the UNS number
      source: totalmateria-a206
      where: International Equivalent Materials table, UNS row
    - system: AA
      code: A206.0
      source: totalmateria-a206
      where: International Equivalent Materials table, AA row
    - system: AMS
      code: AMS4235
      note: specification AMS4235A, title names the A206.0-T71 temper
      source: saemobilus-ams4235a
      where: Page title, AMS4235A Aluminum Alloy Castings, 4.6Cu - 0.35Mn - 0.25Mg - 0.22Ti (A206.0-T71)
tags:
  applications:
    - structures
properties:
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, A206.0 (SAE physical properties)
    value: 2.6
    value_high: 2.9
    unit: kg/dm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 0 to 30 °C (table header)
      temper: not shown in the free view of the page
    method: Range printed in the Total Materia physical properties table as 2.6 — 2.9 kg/dm³
    status: ground
    source: totalmateria-a206
    where: SAE A206.0 Physical Properties table, Density row
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    label: Modulus of elasticity, A206.0 (SAE physical properties)
    value: 69
    value_high: 79
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 0 to 30 °C (table header)
      temper: not shown in the free view of the page
    method: Range printed in the Total Materia physical properties table as 69 — 79 GPa
    status: ground
    source: totalmateria-a206
    where: SAE A206.0 Physical Properties table, Modulus of Elasticity row
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength, A206.0 (SAE mechanical properties, minimum)
    value: 310
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      minimum: printed as ≥ 310 MPa
      temperature: 0 to 30 °C (table header)
      temper: not shown in the free view of the page
    method: Minimum printed in the Total Materia mechanical properties table; the temper is not shown in the free view
    status: ground
    source: totalmateria-a206
    where: SAE A206.0 Mechanical Properties table, Tensile Strength row
  - benchmark: brinell_hardness
    label: Brinell hardness, A206.0 (SAE mechanical properties)
    value: 85
    value_high: 135
    unit: HB
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temperature: 0 to 30 °C (table header)
      temper: not shown in the free view of the page
    method: Range printed in the Total Materia mechanical properties table as 85 — 135 for Brinell Hardness (HB); brinell_hardness is not yet in the property canon
    status: ground
    source: totalmateria-a206
    where: SAE A206.0 Mechanical Properties table, Brinell Hardness (HB) row
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation, A206.0 (SAE mechanical properties, minimum)
    value: 1.5
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      minimum: printed as ≥ 1.5 %
      temperature: 0 to 30 °C (table header)
      temper: not shown in the free view of the page
    method: Minimum printed in the Total Materia mechanical properties table as Elongation, A
    status: ground
    source: totalmateria-a206
    where: SAE A206.0 Mechanical Properties table, Elongation, A row
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength, A206.0 T7 (aggregator page)
    value: 440
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: T7, as labelled on the page
      note: the page does not say whether the value is typical or a minimum
    method: Value on an aggregator page labelled T7; not a manufacturer datasheet
    status: ground
    source: mfgrobots-t7
    where: Mechanical table, Tensile strength row, T7
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength, A206.0 T7 (aggregator page)
    value: 350
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: T7, as labelled on the page
      note: the page does not say whether the value is typical or a minimum
    method: Value on an aggregator page labelled T7; not a manufacturer datasheet
    status: ground
    source: mfgrobots-t7
    where: Mechanical table, Yield strength row, T7
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation, A206.0 T7 (aggregator page, printed as 12.0 %)
    value: 12
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: T7, as labelled on the page
      note: the page does not say whether the value is typical or a minimum
    method: Value on an aggregator page labelled T7; not a manufacturer datasheet
    status: ground
    source: mfgrobots-t7
    where: Mechanical table, Elongation row, T7
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting point, A206.0 (aggregator page)
    value: 570
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: T7, as labelled on the page
      note: a single value is printed; an alloy normally melts over a range
    method: Value on an aggregator page labelled T7; not a manufacturer datasheet
    status: ground
    source: mfgrobots-t7
    where: Thermal table, Melting point row, T7
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity, A206.0 T7 (aggregator page)
    value: 120
    unit: W/(m·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: T7, as labelled on the page
      temperature: not stated on the page
    method: Value on an aggregator page labelled T7; not a manufacturer datasheet
    status: ground
    source: mfgrobots-t7
    where: Thermal table, Thermal conductivity row, T7
  - benchmark: specific_heat
    label: Specific heat capacity, A206.0 T7 (aggregator page)
    value: 920
    unit: J/(kg·K)
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: T7, as labelled on the page
      temperature: not stated on the page
    method: Value on an aggregator page labelled T7; not a manufacturer datasheet
    status: ground
    source: mfgrobots-t7
    where: Thermal table, Specific heat capacity row, T7
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength, A206.0 T4 (aggregator page, range)
    value: 275
    value_high: 345
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: T4, as labelled on the page
      note: the page prints a range and does not say whether it is typical or a minimum
    method: Range on an aggregator page labelled T4; not a manufacturer datasheet
    status: ground
    source: mfgrobots-t4
    where: Mechanical table, Tensile strength row, T4
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield strength, A206.0 T4 (aggregator page, range)
    value: 165
    value_high: 193
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: T4, as labelled on the page
      note: the page prints a range and does not say whether it is typical or a minimum
    method: Range on an aggregator page labelled T4; not a manufacturer datasheet
    status: ground
    source: mfgrobots-t4
    where: Mechanical table, Yield strength row, T4
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation, A206.0 T4 (aggregator page, range printed as 6.0 to 10.0 %)
    value: 6
    value_high: 10
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      temper: T4, as labelled on the page
      note: the page prints a range and does not say whether it is typical or a minimum
    method: Range on an aggregator page labelled T4; not a manufacturer datasheet
    status: ground
    source: mfgrobots-t4
    where: Mechanical table, Elongation row, T4
corrosion:
  - environment: Waters containing chloride or other halogen ions
    headline: No A206.0 corrosion test was found. The 1972 NASA handbook says chloride waters pit aluminium, but it does not test this alloy.
    effect: The handbook says pitting attack occurs in waters containing chloride or other halogen ions, particularly at crevices or stagnant areas, and that aluminium purity significantly affects corrosion resistance. It also says traces of copper, iron and mercury ions promote localized attack by galvanic cells. Those are copper ions in solution, not the copper in this alloy, and the handbook gives no result for A206.0.
    rating: unknown
    conditions:
      basis: general statements about aluminium in a 1972 NASA handbook; no A206.0 test
      alloy: A206.0 is not discussed in the passage read
    source: nasa-cr123772
    where: Chapter 10 (aluminium), aqueous corrosion passage
  - environment: Contact with more noble metals in a conductive liquid (galvanic coupling), especially sea water
    headline: The NASA handbook calls galvanic attack on aluminium severe. It is a general statement, not a test of A206.0.
    effect: The handbook says aluminum is strongly anodic to most other common metals, so galvanic coupling with them generally produces severe attack on the aluminum, especially in sea water.
    rating: severe
    conditions:
      basis: general statement about aluminium in a 1972 NASA handbook; not alloy-specific
      alloy: A206.0 is not tested
    source: nasa-cr123772
    where: Chapter 10 (aluminium), aqueous corrosion passage
risks:
  hazards:
    - text: PubChem's aluminium record carries the GHS statement H261, 'In contact with water releases flammable gas', under a Danger signal word. The record does not say which aluminium form it applies to, and no safety data sheet for the A206.0 casting alloy was read.
      ghs:
        - H261
      source: pubchem-al
      where: GHS Classification section of PubChem CID 5359268
  failure_risks:
    - mode: Galvanic attack when the casting touches more noble metals in a conductive liquid
      trigger: Contact with more noble metals, especially in sea water
      consequence: The NASA handbook says galvanic coupling generally produces severe attack on the aluminum, especially in sea water.
      severity: high
      source: nasa-cr123772
      where: Chapter 10 (aluminium), aqueous corrosion passage
    - mode: Pitting in chloride-containing water
      trigger: Waters containing chloride or other halogen ions, particularly at crevices or stagnant areas
      consequence: The NASA handbook says pitting attack occurs in such waters, where passivity breakdown is accelerated by differential aeration.
      severity: moderate
      source: nasa-cr123772
      where: Chapter 10 (aluminium), aqueous corrosion passage
  handling:
    - text: Keep the casting insulated from more noble metals where it may be wet or in sea water, because the NASA handbook calls aluminum strongly anodic to most other common metals.
      source: nasa-cr123772
      where: Chapter 10 (aluminium), aqueous corrosion passage
uses:
  - application: structures
    device: Heat-treated structural castings
    example: ASM's alloy digest abstract says 206.0 and A206.0 are structural castings in the heat treated temper for applications requiring high; the public abstract stops at that point.
    source: asm-al335
    where: Abstract, first sentence (the full datasheet is behind a subscription)
  - application: structures
    device: Aerospace casting specification (SAE AMS4235A)
    example: SAE AMS4235A covers an aluminum alloy in the form of sand, permanent mold, and composite mold castings, and its title names the A206.0-T71 temper.
    source: saemobilus-ams4235a
    where: Abstract scope statement and page title
  - application: structures
    device: Sand and permanent-mold castings
    example: eFunda says the alloy is usually used in sand casting and permanent mold casting.
    source: efunda-206
    where: Description paragraph of the 206.0 glossary page
supply:
  - subject: Aluminium (primary smelter production)
    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:
      - list: EU critical raw materials list (European Commission page, which says 'Aluminium and bauxite have been merged for consistency reasons')
        listed: true
    recycling: 'USGS: aluminum recovered from purchased scrap in the United States was about 3.6 million tons in 2025.'
    substitutes: []
    source: usgs-mcs2026-aluminum
    where: World Smelter Production table, 2025e (world total 74,000 thousand t; shares calculated by Space Mushroom); Recycling. The critical list line is from the EC page (ec-crm).
documents:
  - title: 'Total Materia: SAE A206.0 aluminium alloy properties (chemical composition, physical, mechanical, equivalents)'
    type: database
    url: https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/3017082
    year: 2023
  - title: NASA CR-123772 (1972), aluminium corrosion chapter
    type: report
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19720022808
    year: 1972
  - title: 'PubChem: aluminium (CID 5359268), GHS classification'
    type: database
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5359268
    year: 2026
  - title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Aluminum'
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-aluminum.pdf
    year: 2026
gaps:
  - No EN or DIN number for A206.0 was printed in a source read in this run. ICAST's EN AC-21100 sheet describes a different Al-Cu grade with its own composition, so it is not treated as the same alloy.
  - The Total Materia values for density, modulus, tensile strength, Brinell hardness and elongation do not show the temper in the free view. The page header gives only 0 to 30 °C.
  - The T7 and T4 values come from aggregator pages, not a manufacturer datasheet. Their figures are kept with their labels and not confirmed against a second source.
  - A second aggregator density figure disagrees with the SAE range and is not recorded.
  - Coefficient of thermal expansion and electrical resistivity are printed with exponents on the aggregator page, so they are left out.
  - The full ASM Alloy Digest datasheet (composition, physical and mechanical tables) is behind a subscription and was not readable; only its abstract was read.
  - 'The AMS4235A page is an abstract only: no minimum mechanical values were printed, so none are recorded from that source.'
  - Iron content disagrees between the SAE table (0.10 % maximum) and the eFunda nominal (0.15 %). Both are kept in the identity.
  - No corrosion, stress-corrosion or weldability test for A206.0 was found. The corrosion rating is unknown, and the galvanic rating comes from a general statement about aluminium.
  - No flight, vacuum, thermal-cycling or radiation result for A206.0 was found.
  - The USGS critical-minerals page could not be read in this run, so no USGS list status is recorded for aluminium.
  - No safety data sheet for the A206.0 casting alloy was read. Dust and fume hazards are not recorded.
  - The shear, fatigue and high-temperature properties of A206.0 were not found in a source read in this run.
sources:
  totalmateria-a206:
    title: SAE A206.0 Aluminium Alloys (Total Materia material page)
    id: Total Materia material 3017082; latest update 2023-05
    url: https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/3017082
    year: 2023
    kind: database
    license: Total Materia free view (cited, not reproduced)
  mfgrobots-t7:
    title: 'AA 206.0 T7 Aluminum Alloy: Comprehensive Mechanical & Thermal Properties (MfgRobots)'
    id: MfgRobots material article 34105
    url: https://www.mfgrobots.com/Article/material/metal/34105.html
    kind: web
    license: web page, cited not reproduced
  mfgrobots-t4:
    title: 'AA 206.0 T4 Aluminum Alloy: Key Mechanical Properties & Performance (MfgRobots)'
    id: MfgRobots material article 36730
    url: https://www.mfgrobots.com/Article/material/metal/36730.html
    kind: web
    license: web page, cited not reproduced
  efunda-206:
    title: 'eFunda Glossary: Aluminum Alloy 206.0'
    id: eFunda glossary, cast aluminium 206.0
    url: https://www.efunda.com/glossary/materials/alloys/materials--alloys--aluminum_alloy--cast--206.0.cfm
    kind: web
    license: web page, cited not reproduced
  asm-al335:
    title: Aluminum Alloy 206.0, A206.0 Premium Casting Alloy (ASM Alloy Digest AL-335)
    id: ASM Alloy Digest AL-335
    url: https://dl.asminternational.org/alloy-digest/article/44/6/Al-335/5844/ALUMINUM-ALLOY-206-0-A206-0Premium-Casting-Alloy
    kind: datasheet
    license: ASM subscription, abstract cited
  saemobilus-ams4235a:
    title: AMS4235A Aluminum Alloy Castings, 4.6Cu - 0.35Mn - 0.25Mg - 0.22Ti (A206.0-T71) Solution and Precipitation Heat Treated
    id: SAE AMS4235A
    url: https://saemobilus.sae.org/content/AMS4235A/
    kind: standard
    license: SAE subscription, abstract cited
  nasa-cr123772:
    title: NASA CR-123772 (1972), aluminium handbook including Chapter 10 on corrosion
    id: NTRS 19720022808
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19720022808
    year: 1972
    kind: report
    license: public domain (NASA)
  pubchem-al:
    title: PubChem compound record, aluminium (CID 5359268)
    id: CID 5359268
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5359268
    year: 2026
    kind: database
    license: public domain (NCBI)
  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)
  ec-crm:
    title: Critical raw materials (European Commission, list under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252)
    id: Regulation (EU) 2024/1252
    url: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/critical-raw-materials_en
    year: 2024
    kind: web
    license: European Commission web page
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-11-01'
review:
  status: draft
  method: assistant
  checked_values: 14
  unreachable: 3
  caveats: 4
  note: Written by an AI assistant on 2026-11-01 from pages read in this run. Aggregator values are labelled as such; the full ASM and SAE texts were not readable.
story:
  recipe:
    line: Aluminium casting alloy of the Al-Cu type. Aluminium is the matrix, with copper (4.2 to 5.0 %, SAE) as the main alloying element and small manganese, magnesium, titanium and silicon additions. The SAE data sheet prints a solution and precipitation heat treatment for the alloy.
    parts:
      - name: Aluminium
        symbol: Al
        share_note: balance (the rest)
        role: The matrix of the alloy.
      - name: Copper
        symbol: Cu
        share_percent: 4.2
        share_high: 5
        role: Main alloying element; this makes it an Al-Cu casting alloy.
      - name: Manganese
        symbol: Mn
        share_percent: 0.35
        share_note: nominal, per eFunda
        role: Minor addition.
      - name: Magnesium
        symbol: Mg
        share_percent: 0.25
        share_note: nominal, per eFunda
        role: Minor addition.
      - name: Titanium
        symbol: Ti
        share_percent: 0.22
        share_note: nominal, per eFunda
        role: Minor addition.
      - name: Silicon
        symbol: Si
        share_percent: 0.1
        share_note: nominal, per eFunda
        role: Minor addition.
      - name: Iron
        symbol: Fe
        share_note: maximum 0.10 % (SAE); nominal 0.15 % (eFunda)
        role: Impurity kept within a maximum.
  risk_groups:
    - title: For people
      level: 0
      verdict: No hazard class found for the alloy
      lead: No safety data sheet for the A206.0 casting alloy was read. The only hazard entry is a PubChem record for aluminium, which carries a water-reactivity statement that does not clearly apply to solid castings.
      points:
        - label: Hazard statement
          line: PubChem's aluminium record lists H261, 'In contact with water releases flammable gas', under a Danger signal word.
        - label: Dust and fume
          line: No source read in this run covers dust or fume for this alloy.
    - title: Galvanic contact in water
      verdict: Severe attack when coupled to noble metals
      lead: The NASA handbook says aluminium corrodes first when coupled to more noble metals in a conductive liquid.
      points:
        - label: Sea water
          line: The handbook says galvanic coupling generally produces severe attack on the aluminum, especially in sea water.
        - label: Chloride water
          line: The same handbook says pitting occurs in waters containing chloride or other halogen ions.
  why: A206.0 is an aluminium-copper casting alloy used for structural castings in the heat-treated temper. Copper is its main alloying element, and the SAE table prints 4.2 to 5.0 % copper. The same table gives a tensile minimum of 310 MPa, and an aggregator page gives 440.0 MPa for the T7 temper. The density and modulus in the SAE table let the stiffness-to-weight case be checked against printed numbers.
  uses:
    - where: Structural castings
      line: The ASM alloy digest abstract says 206.0 and A206.0 are structural castings in the heat treated temper for applications requiring high. The public abstract stops at that point, so the full application list was not read.
    - where: Aerospace casting specification
      line: SAE AMS4235A covers this aluminium alloy in sand, permanent mold and composite mold castings. Its title names the A206.0-T71 temper.
    - where: Sand and permanent-mold foundry
      line: eFunda says the alloy is usually used in sand casting and permanent mold casting.
  can_do:
    - label: Strength
      line: Reach a tensile strength of 440.0 MPa in the T7 temper, per an aggregator page (not a minimum).
    - label: Strength
      line: Stay stiff, with an elastic modulus of 69 to 79 GPa at 0 to 30 °C, per the SAE table.
    - label: Strength
      line: Give a Brinell hardness of 85 to 135 HB at 0 to 30 °C, per the SAE table.
  compare: A206.0 is a casting alloy, so its strength depends on copper content and heat treatment. The SAE table prints a tensile minimum of 310 MPa and an elongation minimum of 1.5 %, while the aggregator T7 values are 440.0 MPa and 12.0 %. The T4 range on the aggregator page, 275.0 to 345.0 MPa tensile, is lower than the T7 value, which shows the effect of the temper. No other profile is used here for the comparison, so each figure is read from its own source.
  compare_rows:
    - label: Density
      benchmark: density
    - label: Elastic modulus
      benchmark: elastic_modulus
    - label: Tensile strength (T7 aggregator value)
      benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
  handling:
    - Keep the casting insulated from more noble metals where it may be wet or in sea water, because the NASA handbook calls aluminum strongly anodic to most other common metals.
    - The alloy's safety data sheet was not read, so no dust or fume limits are given here.
  good_for:
    - 'Heat-treated structural castings where tensile strength matters: 440.0 MPa in T7, per an aggregator page.'
    - Sand and permanent-mold castings, which eFunda gives as the usual route.
  watch_out:
    - 'Ductility: the SAE table prints a minimum elongation of 1.5 %, and the T4 aggregator range is 6.0 to 10.0 %.'
    - 'Corrosion in chloride or sea water: no A206.0 test was found, and the NASA handbook calls galvanic attack severe.'
    - Thermal conductivity and specific heat come from a single aggregator page, so check them before design.
  verdict: A206.0 is a strength-first casting alloy whose tensile figures are documented in the SAE and aggregator tables. No source read here shows its corrosion or ductility in service.