ASTM B969/B969M-14 - 1.10.2014
 
1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers aluminum-alloy castings, produced by the thixocast, rheocast, semi-solid, and squeeze casting processes, shown in Table 1.

(A) When single units are shown, these 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 method of Practice E29.
(D) ASTM alloy designations are defined in ANSI H35.1/H35.1 (M).
(E) Other 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 specification. However, such analysis is not required and may not cover all metallic Other Elements. Should any analysis by the producer or the purchaser establish that an Other Elements exceeds the limit of Each or that the aggregate of several Other Elements exceeds the limit of Total, the material shall be considered nonconforming.
(F) Other Elements—Total shall be the sum of unspecified metallic elements 0.010 % or more, rounded to the second decimal before determining the sum.
(G) If the iron content exceeds 0.45 %, manganese content shall not be less than one half of the iron.
(H) 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.)

1.2 This specification is not intended for castings used in aerospace applications.

1.3 Alloy and temper designations are in accordance with ANSI H35.1/H35.1 (M). The equivalent unified numbering system alloy designations are in accordance with Practice E527.

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 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

 
2. Referenced Documents

E94-04

Standard Guide for Radiographic Examination

E34-11

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

E29-22

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

E23-25

Standard Test Methods for Notched Bar Impact Testing of Metallic Materials

E8/E8M-25

Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials

D3951-18(2023)

Standard Practice for Commercial Packaging

B985-24

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

B917/B917M-25

Standard Practice for Heat Treatment of Aluminum-Alloy Castings From All Processes

B881-25a

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

B660-23

Standard Practices for Packaging/Packing of Aluminum and Magnesium Products

B557M-15(2023)

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

B557-15(2023)

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

B275-14

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

B179-18

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

#403

Product Specification Standards for Die Castings Produced by the Semi-Solid and Squeeze Casting Processes

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

American National Standard Alloy and Temper Designation Systems for Aluminum

E2422-22

Standard Digital Reference Images for Inspection of Aluminum Castings

E505-22

Standard Reference Radiographs for Inspection of Aluminum and Magnesium Die Castings

E165-09

Standard Practice for Liquid Penetrant Examination for General Industry

E1251-25

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

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).

E155-20(2026)

Standard Reference Radiographs for Inspection of Aluminum and Magnesium Castings

E527-23

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

E607-02

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