ASTM B85/B85M-18e1 - 1.5.2018
 
1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers aluminum-alloy die castings designated as shown in Table 1.

(A) When single units are shown, they indicate the maximum amounts permitted.
(B) Analysis shall be made for the elements for which limits are shown in this table.
(C) The following applies to all specified limits in this table: For purposes of determining conformance to these limits, an observed value or a calculated value obtained from analysis shall be rounded to the nearest unit in the last right-hand place of figures used in expressing the specified limit in accordance with the rounding-off method of Practice E29.
(D) In case of discrepancy between the values listed in Table 1 and those listed in the “Designations and Composition Limits for Aluminum Alloys in the Form of Castings and Ingot (known as the “œPink Sheets”), the composition limits registered with the Aluminum Association and published in the “œPink Sheets”€ shall be considered the controlling composition.
(E) “Others” includes listed elements for which no specific limit is shown as well as unlisted metallic elements. The producer may analyze samples for trace elements not specified in the registration or specification. However, such analysis is not required and may not cover all metallic “Others” elements. Should any analysis by the producer or the purchaser establish that an “Others” element exceeds the limit of “Each” or that the aggregate of several “Others” elements exceeds the limit of “Total”, the material shall be considered nonconforming.
(F) The sum of those “Others” metallic elements 0.010 % or more each, expressed to the second decimal before determining the sum
(G) Alloys 360.0, 380.0, 413.0, C443.0 and 518.0 are suitable for the production of die casting by either the hot-chamber or the cold-chamber process. Die castings of alloys A360.0, A380.0, 383.0, 384.0, and A413.0 may be made only in cold-chamber machines.
(H) With respect to mechanical properties, alloys A380.0, 383.0 and 384.0 are substantially interchangeable.
(I) The Aluminum Association ruling on the number of decimal places to which Mg percent is expressed is exempted for some long standing alloys. See A2.2.6.
(J) For a cross reference of current and former alloy designations see the Aluminum Association’s “Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Aluminum Alloys in the Form of Castings and Ingot (‘The Pink Sheets’)”.
(K) A360.1, A380.1, and A413.1 ingot is used to produce 360.0 and A360.0; 380.0 and A380.0; 413.0 and A413.0 castings, respectively.

1.2 This specification is for aluminum-alloy die castings used in general purpose applications. It may not address the mechanical properties, integrity testing, and verification required for highly loaded or safety critical applications.

1.3 Alloy and temper designations are in accordance with ANSI H35.1/H35.1(M).

1.4 Unless the order specifies the “M” specification designation, the material shall be furnished to the inch-pound units.

1.5 For acceptance criteria for inclusion of new aluminum and aluminum alloys and their properties in this specification, see Annex A1 and Annex A2.

1.6 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.

1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

 
2. Referenced Documents

B179-18

Standard Specification for Aluminum Alloys in Ingot and Molten Forms for Castings from All Casting Processes

E607-02

Standard Test Method for Atomic Emission Spectrometric Analysis Aluminum Alloys by the Point to Plane Technique Nitrogen Atmosphere

B557-15(2023)

Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing Wrought and Cast Aluminum- and Magnesium-Alloy Products

B557M-15(2023)

Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing Wrought and Cast Aluminum- and Magnesium-Alloy Products (Metric)

B660-23

Standard Practices for Packaging/Packing of Aluminum and Magnesium Products

B881-25a

Standard Terminology Relating to Aluminum- and Magnesium-Alloy Products (Includes all amendments and changes 1/8/2026).

B985-24

Standard Practice for Sampling Aluminum Ingots, Billets, Castings and Finished or Semi-Finished Wrought Aluminum Products for Compositional Analysis

D3951-18(2023)

Standard Practice for Commercial Packaging

E29-22

Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications

E8/E8M-25

Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials

E23-25

Standard Test Methods for Notched Bar Impact Testing of Metallic Materials

E716-16(2021)e2

Standard Practices for Sampling and Sample Preparation of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys for Determination of Chemical Composition by Spark Atomic Emission Spectrometry (Includes all amendments and changes 9/7/2022).

E1251-25

Standard Test Method for Analysis of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys by Spark Atomic Emission Spectrometry

IEEE/ASTM SI 10

Standard for Use of the International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System

H35.1/H35.1(M)-2006

American National Standard Alloy and Temper Designation Systems for Aluminum Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.

E34-11

Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Aluminum and Aluminum-Base Alloys

E505-22

Standard Reference Radiographs for Inspection of Aluminum and Magnesium Die Castings

E527-23

Standard Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS)

B275-14

Standard Practice for Codification of Certain Zinc, Tin and Lead Die Castings (Withdrawn 2020)