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A buyer in Germany specifies EN AC-46000, a US drawing calls for A380, a UK engineer writes LM24 and a Japanese supplier quotes ADC12. These are four names for closely related alloys, but they are not interchangeable letter for letter. This guide lines them up and shows where the differences matter.
- A380 ≈ EN AC-46500 ≈ LM24 ≈ ADC10, the copper-bearing workhorse of high pressure die casting.
- ADC12 ≈ 383 ≈ EN AC-46100 / 46000 ≈ LM2, the most common die casting alloy in Asia.
- LM25 ≈ EN AC-42000 ≈ A356 (nearest), the heat-treatable gravity casting alloy.
- "Equivalent" means close, not identical. Check the limits for iron, zinc and copper before substituting.
Why the same alloy has several names
Each region developed its own standard. Europe uses EN 1706, which gives every alloy a number (such as EN AC-46500) and a chemical name (such as EN AC-AlSi9Cu3(Fe)(Zn)). The US uses Aluminum Association designations such as A380, published for die castings in ASTM B85. Britain used BS 1490 LM grades, which have since been replaced by BS EN 1706 but are still common on drawings in the UK and India. Japan uses JIS H 5302 for die castings, with ADC numbers.
The standards were written separately, so composition limits rarely match exactly. A pair of alloys can be equivalent for most parts and still differ on a limit that matters for yours.
Cross-reference table
| Europe (EN 1706) | US (AA / ASTM) | UK (BS 1490, legacy) | Japan (JIS) | Main process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EN AC-46500 AlSi9Cu3(Fe)(Zn) | A380 | LM24 | ADC10 | HPDC |
| EN AC-46100 AlSi11Cu2(Fe) / EN AC-46000 AlSi9Cu3(Fe) | 383 | LM2 | ADC12 | HPDC |
| EN AC-44300 AlSi12(Fe) | A413 | LM20 | ADC1 | HPDC |
| EN AC-43400 AlSi10Mg(Fe) | A360 | LM9 | ADC3 | HPDC |
| EN AC-44100 AlSi12(b) | A413.0 (nearest) | LM6 | – | Gravity |
| EN AC-42000 AlSi7Mg | A356 (nearest) | LM25 | AC4C (nearest, JIS H 5202) | Gravity |
Equivalents are the nearest commonly accepted matches, not identical specifications. Composition limits differ between standards; always check the limits that matter for your part.
Where "equivalent" stops being exact
Iron
Die casting alloys deliberately carry some iron, which helps stop aluminium soldering to the die. Gravity and sand casting alloys usually keep iron lower, because iron forms brittle needles that reduce ductility in slowly cooled sections. Substituting a high-iron die casting grade into a part designed around a low-iron gravity alloy can reduce elongation.
Zinc and copper
Alloys such as EN AC-46500 allow more zinc than some of their nominal equivalents, and copper ranges vary. Copper improves strength and machinability but reduces corrosion resistance. If your part lives outdoors or in contact with water, compare the copper limit before accepting a substitute.
Heat treatment
EN AC-42000 and LM25 are specified with temper designations, such as T6, that assume heat treatment. A356 data sheets also quote properties in specific tempers. Compare the properties in the condition you will actually use, not the alloy name alone.
Write the full designation on the drawing, for example "EN AC-46000 to EN 1706" or "A380 to ASTM B85". The material test certificate is then checked against that standard, and there is no argument later about which version of "equivalent" applies.
Which alloy we would suggest
- General housings, covers and brackets by HPDC: A380 / EN AC-46500 / LM24, or ADC12 / EN AC-46100.
- Thin walls and pressure-tight parts by HPDC: A413 / EN AC-44300 / LM20, for its fluidity.
- Corrosion-exposed parts: lower-copper alloys such as LM6 / EN AC-44100 or LM9 / EN AC-43400.
- Structural, heat-treated gravity castings: LM25 / EN AC-42000, typically in the T6 condition.
Our alloy selection guide explains these choices in more detail.
How we handle alloy specifications
We cast to the designation on your drawing, whichever standard it uses. Every alloy batch is checked by spectrometer, and the material test certificate reports the chemistry against the standard you specify. If your drawing names an alloy that does not suit the process, for example a low-iron gravity grade for a thin-walled HPDC part, we will tell you at the DFM stage and suggest the nearest suitable alternative.
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The people who run melting, casting, machining and inspection across our four units in Satara, Maharashtra, making aluminium die castings since 2009. Ask us a question.
