ADC6 die-cast aluminum alloy: high magnesium corrosion-resistant weldable alloy, resolving its excellent corrosion resistance, good strength and welding performance.
Date: 2026-04-02 Category:Blog Views: 137
As part of the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS)Aluminum-magnesium high corrosion resistant die-casting aluminum alloyThe quintessential representative of theADC6 by means ofExcellent seawater corrosion resistance, good mechanical strength, excellent weldability and medium castabilityis known for. The alloy passesMagnesium (Mg) as the main alloying element, with manganese (Mn) added to further improve corrosion resistance.It has achieved the top level of corrosion resistance among die-cast aluminum alloys while maintaining good overall mechanical properties, and it is the best choice for the manufacture ofMedium-strength die castings with demanding requirements for corrosion resistance and welded connectionsIt is an ideal material for ships, marine engineering, automobiles, outdoor equipment and other fields with irreplaceable application value.
Standards and grades for ADC6
- JIS Standard Grades: According to the Japanese Industrial Standard JIS H 5302, the grade is ADC6The “ADC” stands for “Aluminum Die Casting”. “ADC” stands for "Aluminum Die Casting" and "6" is the number of the alloy in the series with specific composition and properties.
- Core features:Medium Magnesium (2.5-4.01 TP3T) Provides solid solution strengthening and excellent corrosion resistance;Manganese added (0.4-0.61 TP3T) Further improve corrosion resistance and stress corrosion resistance;Strict limitation of silicon (≤0.8%), copper (≤0.2%), iron (≤1.0%) and other impuritiesThe best possible corrosion resistance is ensured;Heat treatableThe strength can be further improved by T5 or T6 treatment.
ADC6 Aluminum Alloy Composition Table (Based on JIS H 5302 Typical Requirements))
| elemental | Content range (wt%) | functional role |
|---|---|---|
| Magnesium (Mg) | 2.5-4.0 | core element. Provides solid solution strengthening to form a dense oxide film, the fundamental source of superior corrosion resistance. |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.4-0.6 | Key Corrosion Resistant Elements. Improves resistance to stress corrosion, refines grain size and neutralizes the harmful effects of iron. |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 0.8 | Tightly controlled impurities. Low silicon content ensures excellent corrosion resistance and weldability. |
| Copper (Cu) | ≤ 0.2 | Tightly controlled impurities. Low copper content is the key to top corrosion resistance. |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤ 1.0 | Prevents mold sticking during die casting, but needs to be controlled to ensure corrosion resistance. |
| Zinc (Zn) | ≤ 0.5 | Impurity elements. |
| Nickel (Ni) | ≤ 0.3 | Impurity elements. |
| Aluminum (Al) | tolerance (i.e. allowed error) | High purity matrix. |
ADC6 Physical and Mechanical Properties Parameter Table (Die-Cast State, Typical Values)
| Performance indicators | Numerical range (die-cast state - F) | Comparative analysis (vs ADC5) | Core Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| intensity | 2.64-2.66 g/cm³ | Similar to ADC5 | - |
| Tensile strength (Rm) | 200-260 MPa | Slightly higher than ADC5 | Medium to high strength, meets the requirements of most corrosion-resistant structural components. |
| Yield strength (Rp0.2) | 110-150 MPa | Slightly higher than ADC5 | - |
| Elongation (A) | 6.0-12.0% | Equivalent to ADC5 | Core Advantages: Excellent plasticity and good toughness. |
| Brinell hardness (HB) | 55-65 | Similar to ADC5 | Moderate hardness, easy to process. |
| corrosion resistance | excellent | Better than ADC5 | Core Advantages: Top corrosion resistance among die-cast aluminum alloys, especially resistant to seawater corrosion. |
| stress corrosion resistance | talented | Better than ADC5 | The addition of manganese significantly improves stress corrosion resistance. |
| weldability | talented | talented | Core Advantages: Low silicon, low copper, very low tendency to weld hot cracks. |
| Casting mobility | moderate | Equivalent to ADC5 | The silicon content is very low and the fluidity is not as good as high silicon alloys. |
ADC6 Performance Enhancement Pathway and Technical Characteristics
The ADC6 was designed with the concept of “Corrosion resistance as the core, strength and weldability as the guarantee”：
- High magnesium provides corrosion resistance and strengthening: Magnesium content of 2.5-4.01 TP3T, the main source of ADC6 strength, while forming a dense, stable surface oxide film.Significantly improved corrosion resistanceIt is particularly resistant to seawater and industrial atmospheric corrosion. The solid solution strengthening effect of magnesium makes ADC6 stronger than pure aluminum and some low magnesium alloys.
- Key role of manganese: The addition of manganese (0.4-0.61 TP3T) is an important feature that distinguishes ADC6 from ADC5. Manganese canSignificantly improved resistance to stress corrosion crackingIt is used to refine grain size and neutralize the harmful effects of iron, further enhancing corrosion resistance and toughness.
- Strict control of impurities to ensure corrosion resistanceThe strict limits of silicon ≤ 0.8%, copper ≤ 0.2%, iron ≤ 1.0% minimize the formation of hazardous intermetallic compounds and ensure that theTop corrosion resistance among die-cast aluminum alloys.
- Excellent welding performance: Extremely low silicon and copper content makes itExtremely low tendency to weld hot crackingIt can be joined and repaired using a variety of welding methods, making it ideal for complex structural parts that require welded assemblies.
- Heat treatment further strengthens: The ADC6 can be used byT5 (artificial aging) or T6 (solution + aging) heat treatmentFurther enhancement of strength. Typical process: solution treatment 400-450°C, aging 150-200°C. Tensile strength can be increased to 220-280 MPa after heat treatment.
ADC6Corresponding international grades
ADC6 as a high magnesium aluminum-magnesium die casting alloy has a clear international counterpart:
| (an official) standard | grades | note |
|---|---|---|
| Japan JIS | ADC6 | - |
| ASTM, USA | A518.0 (Al-Mg system) | Consistent compositional system with similar magnesium content range |
| China GB | YL302 (YZAlMg5) | Composition close to ADC6, but with slightly higher magnesium content |
| EU EN | EN AC-51400 (AlMg5) | similar in composition |
| International ISO | AlMg5 | having a correspondence |
ADC6 in the die casting industry
based on itsTop corrosion resistance, good strength, excellent weldabilityThe unique combination of the ADC6 is mainly used in the following areas:
- Marine and Offshore Engineering (iconic applications)
- Marine components: Outboard housings, seawater pump housings, marine valves, deck fittings, marine hardware.
- Marine platforms: Instrument holders, railing connectors, corrosion-resistant enclosures, desalination equipment components.
- Fishing Machinery: Fishing net winder shells, seawater circulation pump components.
- Auto Parts
- Chassis and Structural Components: Suspension mounts, control arms, steering knuckles (salt spray corrosion resistance required).
- Engine Periphery: Oil sumps, engine mounts, gearbox housings (high corrosion resistance requirements).
- new energy vehicle: Battery pack housing, motor housing (need to take into account heat dissipation and corrosion resistance).
- Outdoor equipment
- communication equipment: Outdoor base station housings, antenna bases, signal amplifier housings.
- Lighting: Outdoor LED lighting housings, solar street light housings.
- Power equipment: Outdoor distribution box housing, cable junction box.
- Chemical and food machinery
- Chemical pumps and valves: Pump body, valve body, pipe fittings for conveying corrosive media.
- food machinery: Food processing equipment housings, conveyor pipe connections (no risk of copper contamination).
- Pharmaceutical equipment: Copper-free, corrosion-resistant instrument housings are required.
ADC6 Aluminum Alloy Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the main difference between ADC6 and ADC5? How to select the type?
- Here's the core comparison:
- ADC6: Magnesium content 2.5-4.01 TP3T with added manganese (0.4-0.61 TP3T).Better corrosion resistance (especially against stress corrosion), slightly higher strengthbut slightly less thermally conductive.
- ADC5: 4.0-8.51 TP3T of magnesium, no manganese or trace.Better thermal conductivity and higher elongation, but slightly less resistant to stress corrosion.
- selection:Corrosion resistance (especially in seawater environments) and stress corrosion resistance preferred选ADC6；Thermal conductivity and elongation are prioritized选ADC5.
Q2: Why does ADC6 have such excellent corrosion resistance?
- Three reasons:
- High magnesium content: Magnesium forms a dense, stable oxide film (MgO-Al₂O₃) on the surface of the aluminum substrate, preventing the intrusion of corrosive media.
- rigorous control of copper: Copper content ≤ 0.2%, avoiding electrochemical corrosion caused by copper.
- Manganese additionManganese refines grain size, neutralizes the harmful effects of iron, and significantly improves resistance to stress corrosion cracking.
Q3: What is the casting performance of ADC6? What do I need to pay attention to when designing?
- medium level. Silicon content is only ≤ 0.8%, the mobility is far inferior to high silicon alloy (such as ADC12). Care needs to be taken when designing the casting system:
- Appropriately increase the size of the gate, increase the pouring temperature and mold temperature.
- Avoid excessively thin-walled structures (recommended minimum wall thickness ≥ 2.5 mm).
- Enhance the exhaust design to prevent porosity defects.
- Suitable for medium wall thickness castings with relatively simple shapes.
Q4: What are the soldering process requirements for ADC6?
- Excellent weldability, which can be used in a variety of ways:
- Argon arc welding (TIG/MIG): Use homogeneous welding wire (Al-Mg system), clean thoroughly before welding to remove oxide film.
- resistance spot welding: Suitable for thin plate connections.
- laser welding: For precision welding.
- Stress relief can be applied to important structural parts after welding.
Q5: Can ADC6 be heat treated? What is the effect?
- canADC6 can be further strengthened by heat treatment:
- T5 manual aging: 150-200°C × 4-8 hours for 10-20% strength gain.
- T6 solid solution + aging: Solid solution at 400-450°C, quenched in water, then aged. Higher strength can be obtained, but the risk of quenching distortion should be noted.
- Tensile strength can be increased from 200-260 MPa to 220-280 MPa after heat treatment.
Q6: What is the cutting and machinability of ADC6?
- favorable. Hardness is low (55-65 HB), cutting resistance is small. However, its toughness is good, the chip may be continuous, need to pay attention to chip removal. It is recommended to use sharp tools and higher cutting speeds.
Q7: Can ADC6 be used to make marine propellers?
- unsuitable. Although ADC6 has excellent corrosion resistance, it is not strong enough to withstand the high loads and cavitation impacts of propellers. Propellers are usually made of nickel-aluminum bronze or stainless steel.ADC6 is mainly used for non-load-bearing or moderately load-bearing parts of ships (e.g., pump hulls, brackets, valves, etc.).
📊 Extended column: ADC6 vs. ADC5, ADC12 comparative analysis
| comparison dimension | ADC6 (Al-Mg-Mn system) | ADC5 (Al-Mg system) | ADC12 (Al-Si-Cu system) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si)% | ≤0.8 | ≤0.5 | 9.6-12.0 |
| Magnesium (Mg)% | 2.5-4.0 | 4.0-8.5 | ≤0.3 |
| Manganese (Mn)% | 0.4-0.6 | ≤0.3 | ≤0.5 |
| Copper (Cu)% | ≤0.2 | ≤0.2 | 1.5-3.5 |
| tensile strength | 200-260 MPa | 180-240 MPa | 280-310 MPa |
| elongation | 6.0-12.0% | 5.0-12.0% | 1.5-3.0% |
| heat conductivity | Approx. 120-140 W/(m-K) | 150-180 W/(m-K) | 96 W/(m-K) |
| corrosion resistance | Excellent (stress corrosion resistance) | talented | mediocre |
| weldability | talented | talented | moderate |
| Casting mobility | moderate | moderate | talented |
| typical application | Ship components, marine engineering | Heat sinks, electronic housings | General purpose structural components |
Selection Quick Guide:
- Select ADC6: When the part requiresTop corrosion resistance (especially in seawater environments), stress corrosion resistance, good weldabilityWhen, for example, marine components, marine platforms, outdoor equipment.
- Select ADC5: RequiredHigh thermal conductivity, good corrosion resistanceIn the case of heat sinks and electronic housings, thermal conductivity is preferred to resistance to stress corrosion.
- Select ADC12: The QuestHighest cast strength, best castabilityThe product is a general-purpose part with no special requirements for corrosion resistance.
