Aluminum 380 · temper
Aluminum 380-F
Properties of the F condition, compared with the other 380 tempers.
Standard commercial condition: cold-chamber die cast and used as-cast, no heat treatment.
What is 380-F?
380-F is 380 in the F temper — standard commercial condition: cold-chamber die cast and used as-cast, no heat treatment. 380-F has a yield strength of 160 MPa (23.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 325 MPa (47.1 ksi) — weaker than 61% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi). 380-F has a density of 2.76 g/cm³ (0.0997 lb/in³), heavier than 69% of aluminum grades. It melts at 540°C (1,004 °F).
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 10.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 95% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 96 W/m·K (55.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of aluminum grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 24 % IACS, worse than 95% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 90% of aluminum grades
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 79% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
380-F properties
Typical room-temperature values for 380-F — 12 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 380 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
380-F has a density of 2.76 g/cm³ (0.0997 lb/in³), heavier than 69% of aluminum grades. It melts at 540°C (1,004 °F).
Mechanical13
380-F has a yield strength of 160 MPa (23.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 325 MPa (47.1 ksi) — weaker than 61% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
380-F is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 96 W/m·K (55.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 21.8 µm/m·K (12.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
380-F conducts electricity at 24 % IACS, worse than 95% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), worse than 75% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 380-F takes about 155 MJ of energy and emits 10.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 94% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 90%.
Manufacturability7
380-F's machinability is good (68/100, better than 68% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (25/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Working with 380-F
Is 380 easy to machine?
Machines well with sharp carbide/PCD tooling and high speeds; abrasive eutectic Si wears HSS quickly and subsurface gas porosity can open up in machined faces.
Can 380 be welded?
Fusion welding is not recommended (gas porosity, hot cracking from Cu); repairs are usually done by TIG with 4145/4047 filler or by adhesive/mechanical means.
Can 380 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold-chamber die-casting alloy — high fluidity, low hot-tearing tendency, tolerates thin walls down to ~1 mm; not formable or forgeable after casting.
What surface finishes work on 380?
Best finished by chromate/no-chrome conversion coat plus powder coat or paint; decorative anodizing is poor (dark, streaky), hard anodize or electroless Ni possible for wear/EMI.
380 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Si | 7.5 – 9.5 | 8.5 |
| Cu | 3 – 4 | 3.5 |
| Fe2.0 max for die castings; 1.3 max for A380 / ADC10 | ≤ 2 | 1 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Mg0.3 max in JIS ADC10 variants | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Ni | ≤ 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Zn | ≤ 3 | 1 |
| Sn | ≤ 0.35 | 0.1 |
| others (each)unspecified elements, total per ASTM B85 | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
380-F — frequently asked
What is 380-F used for?
380-F is typically used for housings, brackets and generic die castings. In short: generic 380 die cast.
What is the yield strength of 380-F?
380-F has a typical yield strength of 160 MPa (23.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 325 MPa (47.1 ksi) — weaker than 61% of aluminum grades.
Is 380-F easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (68/100, better than 68% of aluminum grades). Machines well with sharp carbide/PCD tooling and high speeds; abrasive eutectic Si wears HSS quickly and subsurface gas porosity can open up in machined faces.
Can 380-F be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Fusion welding is not recommended (gas porosity, hot cracking from Cu); repairs are usually done by TIG with 4145/4047 filler or by adhesive/mechanical means.
What surface finishes work on 380-F?
Best finished by chromate/no-chrome conversion coat plus powder coat or paint; decorative anodizing is poor (dark, streaky), hard anodize or electroless Ni possible for wear/EMI.
Can 380-F be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold-chamber die-casting alloy — high fluidity, low hot-tearing tendency, tolerates thin walls down to ~1 mm; not formable or forgeable after casting.
What is the maximum service temperature of 380-F?
380-F is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 380-F?
Yes — 380-F is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM B85/B85M — Aluminum-Alloy Die Castings — ASTM International (2018)
- JIS H 5302 — Aluminium alloy die castings (ADC10) — JSA (2006)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- NADCA Product Specification Standards for Die Castings — North American Die Casting Association (2018)
- Aluminum Association Alloy and Temper Designations (Pink Sheets, cast alloys) — The Aluminum Association (2015)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.