Aluminum ZL102 · temper · default condition
Aluminum ZL102-F
Properties of the F condition, compared with the other ZL102 tempers.
Standard supply condition for sand, permanent-mould, shell and investment castings after Na/Sr modification.
What is ZL102-F?
ZL102-F is ZL102 in the F temper — standard supply condition for sand, permanent-mould, shell and investment castings after Na/Sr modification. ZL102-F has a yield strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) — weaker than 90% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi). ZL102-F has a density of 2.65 g/cm³ (0.0957 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of aluminum grades. It melts at 574°C (1,065 °F).
Limitations
- Low strength — 80 MPa (11.6 ksi), worse than 90% 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
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 81% of aluminum grades
ZL102-F properties
Typical room-temperature values for ZL102-F — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every ZL102 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
ZL102-F has a density of 2.65 g/cm³ (0.0957 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of aluminum grades. It melts at 574°C (1,065 °F).
Mechanical13
ZL102-F has a yield strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) — weaker than 90% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
ZL102-F is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 145 W/m·K (83.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 53% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 20.5 µm/m·K (11.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ZL102-F conducts electricity at 31 % IACS, worse than 68% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), better than 63% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of ZL102-F takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 11.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 70%.
Manufacturability8
ZL102-F's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 72% of aluminum grades); weldability very good (75/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other ZL102 tempers and conditions
ZL102 is also supplied in 1 other condition. The full side-by-side table is on the ZL102 overview.
- FDefaultStandard supply condition for sand, permanent-mould, shell and investment castings after Na/Sr modification.80 MPa yield · 55 HB
- T2Pick when dimensional stability and maximum ductility matter more than strength (thin, machined or pressure-tight parts).70 MPa yield · 52 HB
Working with ZL102-F
Is ZL102 easy to machine?
Use PCD or polished carbide tooling with high speed and generous coolant; eutectic Si is abrasive and steel HSS wears fast.
Can ZL102 be welded?
Readily TIG/MIG welded with ER4047 or ER4043 filler; preheat 100–200 °C on heavy sections and expect loss of any cold work only, no post-weld heat treatment needed.
Can ZL102 be formed, bent or molded?
Casting alloy only — excellent fluidity fills 2–3 mm walls, narrow freezing range gives low hot-tearing risk; modify with Na/Sr and degas the melt to avoid gas porosity.
What surface finishes work on ZL102?
Chromate/chemical conversion coating, powder paint or hard (functional) anodize; decorative bright anodizing is not usable because high Si darkens the film.
ZL102 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sieutectic; Na or Sr modified | 10 – 13 | 11.5 |
| Fe≤0.7 for sand casting, ≤1.0 for permanent-mould casting | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Cuimpurity | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Mnimpurity | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Mgimpurity | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Znimpurity | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Tigrain refiner residual | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| other, each | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| other, totaltotal impurities | ≤ 2 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
ZL102-F — frequently asked
What is ZL102-F used for?
ZL102-F is typically used for pressure die castings, marine castings, thin-wall pump and motor housings, pressure-tight valve and manifold bodies, gearbox and cover castings and electrical enclosures. In short: china GB eutectic Al-Si; die-cast friendly.
What is the yield strength of ZL102-F?
ZL102-F has a typical yield strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) — weaker than 90% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is ZL102-F easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 72% of aluminum grades). Use PCD or polished carbide tooling with high speed and generous coolant; eutectic Si is abrasive and steel HSS wears fast.
Can ZL102-F be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Readily TIG/MIG welded with ER4047 or ER4043 filler; preheat 100–200 °C on heavy sections and expect loss of any cold work only, no post-weld heat treatment needed.
What surface finishes work on ZL102-F?
Chromate/chemical conversion coating, powder paint or hard (functional) anodize; decorative bright anodizing is not usable because high Si darkens the film.
Can ZL102-F be formed, bent or molded?
Casting alloy only — excellent fluidity fills 2–3 mm walls, narrow freezing range gives low hot-tearing risk; modify with Na/Sr and degas the melt to avoid gas porosity.
What is the maximum service temperature of ZL102-F?
ZL102-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.
What is the difference between ZL102-F and ZL102-T2?
F is the default condition — standard supply condition for sand, permanent-mould, shell and investment castings after Na/Sr modification. T2: pick when dimensional stability and maximum ductility matter more than strength (thin, machined or pressure-tight parts). Yield strength is 80 MPa in F versus 70 MPa in T2.
Can FabDigit make parts in ZL102-F?
Yes — ZL102-F is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys (413.0 / A413.0 / 443.0) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B: Corrosion — Materials — ASM International (2005)
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.