Guide
Is ADC12 the same as A380 and EN AC-46000?
ADC12 is the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS H 5302) name for an aluminum-silicon-copper die-casting alloy. It is close to A380, the workhorse US die-casting alloy, and to EN AC-46000 in Europe, but it is not identical to either. A quote that says “ADC12” and a drawing that says “A380” describe two overlapping chemistries, not one.
By Saola Manufacturing engineering team · Published · Updated
This guide is for engineers and sourcing managers who get die-casting quotes from Asia in JIS grades and need to map them onto a US or European drawing. It shows the registered US composition limits from their free primary source, explains how ADC12 and the European grade relate to them, and covers the finishing, draft and zinc-versus-aluminum questions that come with the alloy choice.
A note on sources. JIS H 5302, ASTM B85 and EN 1706 are sold by their publishers, and this page does not reproduce limits from any standard we have not read in full. Every number in the table below comes from the Aluminum Association’s registration record, which is free to download. For ADC12 and EN AC-46000 the page describes the differences in words and tells you where to confirm the figures. A380 and EN AC-46000 are shown as specification cross-references only: the die-cast alloys Saola supplies, through partner foundries it manages, are ADC12 aluminum and Zamak 3 zinc.
On this page
Is ADC12 the same as A380?
No: ADC12 and A380 are close relatives in the same aluminum-silicon-copper family, but their composition ranges are not the same. ADC12 is a higher-silicon, lower-copper grade, which puts it nearer the US alloy 383 than A380.
Both alloys are built for high-pressure die casting. Silicon gives the melt the fluidity to fill thin sections, copper adds strength and hardness, and iron keeps the molten aluminum from soldering to the die steel. The North American Die Casting Association (NADCA, aluminum alloys) groups 380, 383 and 384 together as the hypoeutectic, controlled-copper die-casting alloys, and describes 383 and 384 as alternatives to 380 for very intricate parts that need better die filling and resistance to hot cracking.
That is why the same part can be quoted in ADC12 in Asia and drawn in A380 in the US without anyone noticing a problem at first. In most housings, covers and brackets the two behave alike. The differences show up at the edges: a part near its strength limit, a part whose corrosion resistance depends on low copper, or an incoming inspection that checks chemistry against the drawing and finds silicon above the A380 range. If the drawing governs, the supplier has to meet the drawing’s standard, not its own local grade.
What are the registered composition limits for A380 and its relatives?
The table gives the Aluminum Association registered limits for die castings of 380.0, A380.0 and 383.0, copied from the association’s own record. A380.0 differs from 380.0 only in a tighter iron limit, and 383.0 trades copper for silicon.
US die-casting alloys carry Aluminum Association (AA) designations, and the AA publishes the limits for every registered casting alloy in its “Pink Sheets” (Aluminum Association, revised August 2025). The rows below are the die-casting product rows (marked D in that record). Values are weight percent and a single figure is a maximum.
| Element | 380.0 | A380.0 | 383.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 7.5–9.5 | 7.5–9.5 | 9.5–11.5 |
| Iron (Fe) | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| Copper (Cu) | 3.0–4.0 | 3.0–4.0 | 2.0–3.0 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.10 |
| Nickel (Ni) | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.30 |
| Zinc (Zn) | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Tin (Sn) | 0.35 | 0.35 | 0.15 |
| Chromium, titanium, lead | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Others, total | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Aluminum | Remainder | Remainder | Remainder |
Read the table the way an incoming inspector would. A380.0 is 380.0 with the iron ceiling pulled down, which is why many US drawings call A380 rather than 380. The 383.0 column shows the direction ADC12 leans: more silicon and less copper than A380.0, with tighter nickel and tin limits. ADC12 is not 383.0 either, so treat the column as a pointer, not a substitute.
The same record carries a line that matters for anyone mixing grade names on one program: only composition limits identical to those registered with the Aluminum Association should be designated as AA alloys. A supplier’s certificate that reads “ADC12 (equivalent to A380)” is therefore not an A380 certificate. Ask for the chemistry of the lot and compare it with the column your drawing names.
Which alloy name does each market specify?
Die casters in Japan and much of Asia commonly quote JIS grades such as ADC12, US drawings use Aluminum Association or ASTM designations such as A380, and European drawings use EN 1706 numbers such as EN AC-46000.
In Europe the grade has two names, a number and a chemical symbol. The EN 1706 amendment record (EN 1706:2020+A1:2021, published sample) writes it as EN AC-46000 [EN AC-AlSi9Cu3(Fe)]. The chemical symbol reads as the same silicon-copper family as A380, which is why EN AC-46000 is the usual European reference for A380. It is still a separate specification with its own limits, so confirm the chemistry against EN 1706 itself.
ADC12 is harder to place in the European system. EN 1706 also lists higher-silicon grades in the same family, and published cross-references disagree on which EN number is nearest to ADC12. If a European drawing has to be quoted in ADC12, ask the supplier which EN AC number it maps ADC12 to, then check that grade’s limits in EN 1706 before you accept the substitution.
The practical rule for all three markets is the same. Put one governing standard on the drawing, written out in full, for example “A380.0 per ASTM B85” or “EN AC-46000 per EN 1706”. A supplier quoting in its local grade should then state that grade in writing, and you decide whether the difference matters for the part. The RFQ preparation guide covers how to write that into the package.
Can a die-cast aluminum part be anodized?
ADC12 is not a good anodizing alloy. Its high silicon and copper give a darker, grayer and less uniform film than wrought aluminum, which is poor for appearance and for corrosion protection, so specify powder coat or plating instead.
The ratings NADCA publishes back this up for the US grades. In its comparison table for aluminum die-casting alloys, based on ASTM B85, 380 and 383 score 3 of 5 for anodized appearance and 4 of 5 for anodized protection, where 1 is most desirable; only the low-silicon alloy 518 scores 1 on both (NADCA, Table 4.3). The appearance rating is based on the lightness, brightness and uniformity of a clear sulfuric-acid anodized coating, which is exactly where high-silicon, copper-bearing alloys fall short.
In practice, keep anodizing for wrought or machined aluminum, such as bar stock turned or milled to shape. For die castings, powder coat gives an even color and a protective barrier, and plating is an option where the drawing calls for it. The surface finishing page lists the finishes our partner plants apply, and the quote names where each step is done.
What draft angle and wall thickness should a die casting have?
There is no single correct draft angle: the draft a surface needs depends on whether it is an outside wall, an inside wall or a hole, how deep it is, and which alloy is cast. Write the draft you allow on the drawing and cite the NADCA Product Specification Standards as the basis.
NADCA’s design guidance (NADCA, draft) explains the order. Cored holes need the most draft, because the casting shrinks onto the die steel that forms them as it cools. Inside walls come next for the same reason. Outside walls need the least, because the casting shrinks away from the steel that forms them. A die that opens and ejects easily also gives a more precise casting with a better surface.
Wall thickness follows the alloy. NADCA notes that die casters currently cast thinner walls in zinc and magnesium alloys than in aluminum, and that precision features such as zero draft can often be cast in zinc rather than machined (NADCA, alloy selection). The numeric draft and wall tables sit in the NADCA Product Specification Standards, a paid document this page does not quote. The useful habits on the drawing are simple: keep walls as uniform as the function allows, mark which faces will be machined flat after casting, and ask for a design-for-manufacturing note with the quote.
The die casting page describes the part families supplied, most of which get a bore, a thread or a datum face machined at our lead CNC plant after casting.
When should you choose Zamak 3 instead of aluminum?
Choose Zamak 3 zinc when the part is small, has thin walls or fine detail, needs a bright plated finish, or must take impact at room temperature. Choose aluminum when weight, strength at elevated temperature or part size matter more.
NADCA lists Zamak 3 as Zinc 3, ASTM AG40A, and calls it the most frequently specified zinc die-casting alloy (NADCA, zinc alloys). Zinc is heavier: NADCA gives it a specific gravity of 7.0 against 2.7 for aluminum, so the same part weighs roughly two and a half times as much. In exchange, zinc alloys plate economically to a bright chrome finish, have the highest room-temperature impact strength of the die-casting alloys, cast at low temperatures and barely attack the die steel, so dies last longer.
Two limits are worth writing down. Impact strength of the zinc alloys falls off sharply below 32 °F (0 °C), per NADCA alloy selection guidance, so a part that sees cold service may be better in aluminum. Zinc alloys also creep under sustained load, which matters for clamps and brackets that stay stressed for years. The short version of the choice, as it applies to the two alloys supplied, is on the die casting page.
Frequently asked
What is ADC12 aluminum?
ADC12 is the JIS H 5302 designation for the aluminum-silicon-copper die-casting alloy most widely quoted by Asian die casters. It sits close to the US alloys 383 and A380 but is not identical to either, so a drawing that names one of them still needs a deliberate decision before ADC12 is accepted.
How is ADC12 different from ADC10?
Both belong to the same JIS H 5302 aluminum-silicon-copper die-casting family, but ADC10 is the lower-silicon grade. ADC12’s higher silicon improves fluidity, which helps fill thin walls and intricate features; confirm the exact limits for either grade in JIS H 5302 itself.
Can I accept an ADC12 quote on an A380 drawing?
Only if you decide the difference does not matter for the part and change the drawing or approve a written deviation. Otherwise the supplier has to meet the alloy the drawing names.
Is EN AC-46000 the same as A380?
It is the usual European reference for A380, with the chemical symbol AlSi9Cu3(Fe), but it is a separate specification. Check its limits in EN 1706 before treating the two as interchangeable.
Why does this page not list ADC12 composition figures?
JIS H 5302 is sold by its publisher, and the page only prints limits taken from a primary source we have read. Ask your supplier for the lot chemistry and compare it with the standard your drawing names.
Which die-cast alloys does Saola supply?
ADC12 aluminum and Zamak 3 zinc, cast by partner foundries we manage, no others. If your drawing names a different alloy, send it for a quote as drawn and say whether the drawing alloy is fixed, so the difference is discussed before tooling.
Sources
- Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Aluminum Alloys in the Form of Castings and Ingot (Pink Sheets), The Aluminum Association, revised August 2025
- Aluminum Alloys, including Table 4.3, NADCA Design, North American Die Casting Association, accessed September 2026
- Draft, NADCA Design, accessed September 2026
- Alloy Selection, NADCA Design, accessed September 2026
- Zinc Alloys, NADCA Design, accessed September 2026
- EN 1706:2020+A1:2021, castings: chemical composition and mechanical properties (published sample pages), CEN via SIST, 2021