Aluminum 383 · temper
Aluminum 383-F
Properties of the F condition, compared with the other 383 tempers.
Standard supply condition for 383 high-pressure die castings; no heat treatment (blistering risk from entrapped gas).
What is 383-F?
383-F is 383 in the F temper — standard supply condition for 383 high-pressure die castings; no heat treatment (blistering risk from entrapped gas). 383-F has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — weaker than 66% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 3.5% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi). 383-F has a density of 2.74 g/cm³ (0.099 lb/in³), heavier than 63% of aluminum grades. It melts at 516°C (961 °F).
Advantages
- High service temperature — 175°C (347 °F), better than 83% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 23 % IACS, worse than 97% of aluminum grades
- Poor heat conductor — 96 W/m·K (55.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of aluminum grades
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 94% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 90% of aluminum grades
- Low fracture toughness — 17 MPa·√m (15.5 ksi·√in), worse than 83% of aluminum grades
383-F properties
Typical room-temperature values for 383-F — 12 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 383 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
383-F has a density of 2.74 g/cm³ (0.099 lb/in³), heavier than 63% of aluminum grades. It melts at 516°C (961 °F).
Mechanical12
383-F has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — weaker than 66% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 3.5% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
383-F is rated for continuous service to 175°C (347 °F). It conducts heat at 96 W/m·K (55.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 21.1 µm/m·K (11.7 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
383-F conducts electricity at 23 % IACS, worse than 97% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 69% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 383-F takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 90%.
Manufacturability8
383-F's machinability is good (60/100, better than 50% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (28/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Working with 383-F
Is 383 easy to machine?
Machines freely with sharp, polished-flute carbide or PCD tooling; the 10% Si is abrasive so PCD is preferred for long runs, and drilling into subsurface porosity can cause leaks in pressure parts.
Can 383 be welded?
Poor fusion weldability in die-cast form — entrapped gas blisters and cracks; use 4043/4047 filler only for cosmetic repair, or mechanically join / friction-stir where practical.
Can 383 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent high-pressure die casting alloy: high fluidity for 1–2 mm walls, low hot-tearing and low die soldering; keep gate velocity and vacuum control to limit porosity.
What surface finishes work on 383?
Best finished with chromate/trivalent conversion coat plus powder or e-coat; decorative anodizing is poor (dark grey), but hard-coat, shot blast, tumbling and electroless nickel all work well.
383 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 | 9.5 – 11.5 | 10.5 |
| Fedie casting limit | ≤ 1.3 | 0.9 |
| Cu | 2 – 3 | 2.5 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Mg | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Ni | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Zn | ≤ 3 | 1 |
| Sn | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Others (total)ASTM B85 others total | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
383-F — frequently asked
What is 383-F used for?
383-F is typically used for thin-wall electronic enclosures, telecom and antenna housings, engine accessory brackets and covers, hardware fittings and levers, connector and instrument shells and appliance housings. In short: thin-wall die cast.
What is the yield strength of 383-F?
383-F has a typical yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — weaker than 66% of aluminum grades.
Is 383-F easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 50% of aluminum grades). Machines freely with sharp, polished-flute carbide or PCD tooling; the 10% Si is abrasive so PCD is preferred for long runs, and drilling into subsurface porosity can cause leaks in pressure parts.
Can 383-F be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (28/100). Poor fusion weldability in die-cast form — entrapped gas blisters and cracks; use 4043/4047 filler only for cosmetic repair, or mechanically join / friction-stir where practical.
What surface finishes work on 383-F?
Best finished with chromate/trivalent conversion coat plus powder or e-coat; decorative anodizing is poor (dark grey), but hard-coat, shot blast, tumbling and electroless nickel all work well.
Can 383-F be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent high-pressure die casting alloy: high fluidity for 1–2 mm walls, low hot-tearing and low die soldering; keep gate velocity and vacuum control to limit porosity.
What is the maximum service temperature of 383-F?
383-F is rated for continuous use to about 175°C (347 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 383-F?
Yes — 383-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)
- 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 Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Aluminum Alloys in the Form of Castings and Ingot ('Pink Sheets') — The Aluminum Association (2018)
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.