A356 is a popular aluminum-silicon-magnesium casting alloy valued for outstanding castability, good weldability, and corrosion resistance. When heat-treated to the T6 temper it develops high strength and ductility, making it a reliable high-integrity choice for structural and automotive castings. Linsy supplies A356 as ingot, billet, and custom cast components with an MTC on every order.
Available forms: ingot / billet / sand casting / permanent-mold casting / die casting
Common tempers: F / T4 / T5 / T6
Processing support: CNC machining / heat treatment / NDT inspection
Quality documents: MTC report with every order
A356 Aluminum Casting Alloy is an aluminum-silicon-copper casting alloy supplied by Linsy for foundries and component manufacturers. It is valued for good castability, reasonable strength, and cost-effectiveness in sand, permanent-mold, and die-casting processes. Linsy provides ingot and billet feedstock as well as custom cast components, with an MTC supplied on every order.
| Form | Typical Size / Note |
|---|---|
| Ingot | Standard ingot sizes; custom weights available |
| Billet / Foundry ingot | Custom dimensions on request |
| Cast components | Sand, permanent-mold, and die casting to drawing |
| Sizes and tooling are produced to customer specification. | |
| Standard | Designation |
|---|---|
| AA / UNS | A356 |
| EN | EN AC-356.0 (casting variant) |
| Common family | Al-Si-Cu casting alloy |
| Element | Content (%) |
|---|---|
| Si | 6.5 – 7.5 |
| Fe | 0.20 max |
| Cu | 0.20 max |
| Mn | 0.10 max |
| Mg | 0.25 – 0.45 (verify — source listed 0.20 max) |
| Zn | 0.10 max |
| Ti | 0.20 max |
| Others (each) | 0.03 max |
| Others (total) | 0.10 max |
| Al | Remainder |
| Temper | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Yield Strength (MPa) | Elongation (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| F (as-cast) | ~160 | ~80 | ~5 |
| T4 | ~210 | ~110 | ~8 |
| T6 | 234 | 165 | 3.5 |
| Values shown are typical for the T6 condition and should be confirmed against the mill certificate for a specific casting. | |||
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 2.67 g/cm³ |
| Melting range | 557 – 613 °C |
| Thermal conductivity | 150 – 160 W/m·°C |
F (as-cast) is used where no heat treatment is required. T4 (solution + natural age) improves strength and ductility. T5 (artificial age only) gives moderate strength with good dimensional stability. T6 (solution + artificial age) is the most common choice for maximum strength. Select the temper based on the mechanical and thermal demands of the final part.
The silicon content delivers good fluidity and low shrinkage, making the alloy suitable for complex thin-wall castings.
Copper additions raise strength and hardness relative to lower-copper casting grades, supporting structural and wear-facing applications.
The alloy offers fair corrosion resistance. Welding is possible but should be specified with engineering review; post-weld heat treatment may be needed to recover properties.
A356 Aluminum Casting Alloy is normally supplied as ingot/billet or as cast components. Machining is straightforward in the T5/T6 condition. Surface treatments such as anodizing are limited by the high silicon content and should be evaluated case by case. Dimensional and NDT inspection can be arranged to drawing.
Every order ships with an MTC reporting chemical analysis and mechanical results for the lot. Additional inspection such as X-ray, dye penetrant, or pressure testing can be arranged on request.
Linsy is a Shenzhen-based aluminum supplier with more than 20 years of production experience across the 1000 to 8000 series, including casting feedstock and custom cast parts. We support custom chemistries, sizes, and light processing, and back each shipment with full mill documentation.
For background on aluminum casting alloys, see the references below (external — verify and replace with Linsy-owned content before publishing):
A356 is one of the most common structural casting alloys, used for wheels, suspension parts, and other high-integrity components where T6 strength and ductility are needed.
Solution heat treatment followed by artificial aging (T6) develops the alloy’s peak strength and ductility compared with the as-cast condition.
A356 has good weldability relative to many casting alloys; post-weld heat treatment may be used to recover properties for demanding applications.
Lead times generally range from 10 to 60 days depending on alloy, form, and quantity. Confirm with your quote.
Yes. An MTC is supplied with every order, and additional inspection can be arranged on request.
Yes. We produce ingot, billet, and cast components to customer drawings and specifications.
Linsy Advantages
Linsy Aluminum is a leading supplier of aluminum processing products, serving diverse industries including aerospace, general engineering, automotive, marine, shipbuilding and other specialized industrial applications.
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality and environmental responsibility, as demonstrated by our certifications: ISO 9001:2008， ISO 14001:2004 and SGS.
