Global Aluminum Alloy Conversion Chart

Different countries and regions use different aluminum alloy designation systems, which creates friction in international purchasing, technical communication, and product application.

For example, the 6061 aluminum alloy commonly used by an engineer in the United States may need to be specified as EN AW-6061 in Europe, LD30 in China (legacy GB designation), and A6061 in Japan.

This article provides a detailed Global Aluminum Alloy Conversion Chart (also an aluminum equivalent chart) covering major industrial standards from China, the United States, the European Union, Japan, the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and more—helping you quickly and accurately cross-reference materials for selection and global procurement.

Aluminum Alloy Basics (Classification)

Aluminum alloys are mainly divided into two categories based on processing route:

Wrought Aluminum Alloys

Wrought alloys can be processed by rolling, extrusion, drawing, forging, and other plastic deformation methods. They generally offer good manufacturability and mechanical performance.

Main series:

• 1000 series: commercially pure aluminum (purity ≥ 99%)
• 2000 series: Al–Cu alloys (duralumin), high strength
• 3000 series: Al–Mn alloys, good corrosion resistance
• 4000 series: Al–Si alloys, low thermal expansion
• 5000 series: Al–Mg alloys (rust-resistant aluminum), excellent seawater corrosion resistance
• 6000 series: Al–Mg–Si alloys, heat-treatable
• 7000 series: Al–Zn alloys (super duralumin), highest strength
• 8000 series: alloys with other elements

Cast Aluminum Alloys

Cast alloys are formed by casting processes such as sand casting, permanent mold casting, and pressure die casting. They have good castability and allow complex shapes.

Main families:

• Al–Si: e.g., YL102, ADC1, 413 — good fluidity
• Al–Si–Mg: e.g., YL104, ADC3, A360 — balanced strength and castability
• Al–Si–Cu: e.g., YL112, ADC10, A380 — higher strength
• Al–Mg: e.g., YL302, ADC5, 518 — good corrosion resistance
• Al–Cu: e.g., ZL201, 206 — high strength (aerospace use)

Wrought Aluminum Alloys— International Conversion Chart (Complete)

1000 Series — Pure Aluminum

2000 Series — Al–Cu Alloys

3000 Series — Al–Mn Alloys

4000 Series — Al–Si Alloys

5000 Series — Al–Mg Alloys

6000 Series — Al–Mg–Si (Heat-Treatable)

7000 Series — Al–Zn Alloys (Super High Strength)

8000 Series — Other Alloys

Cast Aluminum Alloys — International Conversion Chart (Complete)

Al–Si Cast Alloys

Al–Si–Cu Cast Alloys

Al–Mg Cast Alloys

Al–Cu Cast Alloys

Al–Zn Cast Alloys

Die-Casting Aluminum Alloy Comparison & Material Selection Guide

China (GB/T 15115-94) — Common Die-Cast Aluminum Alloys

Japan (JIS H5302:2000) — Die-Cast Aluminum Mechanical Properties

Zinc Die-Casting Alloy Equivalents (International Cross-Reference)

In addition to aluminum alloys, zinc alloys are widely used for die casting—especially for small, high-precision parts.

Zinc Alloy Cross-Reference Chart

Overview of Major Global Aluminum Alloy Standards

United States (AA/ANSI/ASTM)

AA stands for the Aluminum Association, one of the most influential alloy designation systems worldwide. It uses a four-digit numbering system:

• 1st digit: principal alloying element (1=pure Al, 2=Cu, 3=Mn, 4=Si, 5=Mg, 6=Mg+Si, 7=Zn, 8=other)
• 2nd & 3rd digits: specific alloy identifier
• 4th digit: castings (0) or ingots (1, 2)

UNS (Unified Numbering System) is also used in the U.S. to uniquely identify metals. Aluminum alloys begin with “A” followed by five digits, e.g., A92014, A13600.

Europe (EN)

EN standards are used across the EU:

• EN AW-xxxx: wrought aluminum alloys
• EN AC-xxxxx: cast aluminum alloys

EN gradually replaced older national standards (DIN, BS, NF, etc.), though legacy designations remain common in industry.

Germany (DIN)

DIN often uses chemical-composition-based names, e.g.:

• Al99.5: 99.5% pure aluminum
• AlCu4Mg1: Al–4%Cu–1%Mg
• G-AlSi12: cast Al–Si with ~12% Si (“G” = Guss, casting)

Japan (JIS)

Japanese Industrial Standards: JIS + A + four digits

• A1050, A6061: wrought
• AC4C, ADC10: cast (AC) and die-cast (ADC)

China (GB)

China uses a dual-track system:

Wrought aluminum:

• New system: numeric (e.g., 1050, 6061, 7075)
• Legacy system: letter + numbers (e.g., LY12, LD30, LF21)
• L = aluminum (from pinyin)
• Y = duralumin (hard aluminum), D = forging aluminum, F = rust-resistant, B = clad, T = special

Cast aluminum:

• ZL + digits: cast aluminum alloy (e.g., ZL101)
• YL + digits: die-cast aluminum alloy (e.g., YL102)
• New chemical naming: e.g., ZAlSi7Mg

Key new/old mappings:

• LY12 → 2A12
• LD30 → 6061
• LF21 → 3A21
• LC4 → 7A04

Other Standards

• UK (BS): alphanumeric, e.g., 1B, H20, LM6 (LM = Light Metal cast alloy)
• France (AFNOR/NF): begins with A, e.g., A-U4G, A-G2.5 (U=Cu, G=Mg)
• Russia (GOST): Cyrillic, e.g., Д16, АМг6
• ISO: composition-based names such as AlCu4Mg1, AlSi7Mg

How to Use This Aluminum Alloy Conversion Chart

Typical Use Cases

Case 1: International Sourcing

A Chinese company needs to buy U.S.-standard 6061 extrusions. With this Global Aluminum Alloy Conversion Chart / aluminum equivalent chart, you can confirm:

• China (legacy): LD30
• Europe: EN AW-6061
• Japan: A6061
• Russia: АД33

Case 2: Reviewing Technical Drawings

A German drawing specifies AlCu4Mg1. The chart indicates:

• EU: EN AW-2024
• U.S.: 2024
• China: 2A12 (legacy LY12)
• Russia: Д16
• Japan: A2024

Case 3: Die-Cast Alloy Substitution

If a Japanese ADC12 die-cast part must be produced in China, the chart shows:

• China: YL113
• EU: EN AC-46100
• U.S.: 383
• You must still verify whether the chemical composition is fully equivalent.

Important Notes When Cross-Referencing

Minor chemistry differences

Even when grades “match, ” standards may differ in trace element limits (Ti, Pb, Sn, etc.). For critical applications, request mill test certificates and verify composition.

Mechanical property differences due to temper

The same grade can vary significantly by temper designation (T4, T6, T651):

• T4: solution heat-treated + naturally aged
• T6: solution heat-treated + artificially aged
• T651: solution heat-treated + stress-relieved by stretching + artificially aged

Not always fully equivalent

Symbols like “~” or “≈” indicate approximate matches, not strict equivalence (e.g., 2319 ≈ 2219).

Legacy and current designations coexist (China GB)

After updates such as GB/T 3190-1996, legacy designations (LY12, LD30, LF21) remain widely used, while numeric grades are the formal standard.

Special industry requirements

Aerospace, defense, and food-contact applications may require strict compliance—do not substitute without qualification.

Anodizing limitations for die-cast aluminum

• Al–Si and Al–Si–Cu die-cast alloys (Si ~6–18%) generally cannot be anodized/decoratively colored uniformly.
• Al–Mg die-cast alloys can be anodized but often produce inconsistent appearance due to porosity.
• If anodizing is required, consider special die-cast alloys (e.g., DM32/DM6) or switch to wrought alloys.

FAQ

Q1: Why do aluminum alloy standards differ so much by country?

Because industrial histories, standardization timelines, and priorities differ:

• AA (U.S.) system (influential since 1954)
• EN (EU) created to unify the European market
• GB (China) evolved across multiple revisions
• JIS (Japan) is similar to AA but with its own conventions

Q2: Can U.S. grades directly replace China GB grades?

Often yes—but you must:

• confirm chemistry tolerance
• confirm identical temper (T6 vs T651, etc.)
• validate by testing for critical parts
• Special sectors (aerospace/defense) must follow specified standards.

Q3: Why can’t many die-cast aluminum alloys be anodized and dyed?

High silicon prevents uniform oxide film formation. “De-silicon anodizing” is costly and still limited. Al–Mg die-cast alloys anodize better but can look uneven.

Q4: How do I quickly identify the alloy family?

Use the leading digit/letters:

• 1000 = pure Al
• 2000 = Al–Cu
• 3000 = Al–Mn
• 4000 = Al–Si
• 5000 = Al–Mg
• 6000 = Al–Mg–Si
• 7000 = Al–Zn
• ZL/YL/AC/ADC = cast/die-cast

Q5: Which GB designation is “official, ” new or old?

Numeric grades (e.g., 2A12, 6061) are the formal modern GB system; legacy grades are still common in industry. Best practice: write 2A12 (LY12) when helpful.

Q6: Are 7075 and 7A09 the same material?

Not strictly. They are similar Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys with comparable high strength, but compositions and limits differ. Verify chemistry and temper for critical use.

Conclusion

This article provides a practical Global Aluminum Alloy Conversion Chart (an aluminum equivalent chart) covering:

• Wrought alloys: 1000–8000 series (including China legacy vs current GB)
• Cast alloys: Al–Si, Al–Si–Cu, Al–Mg, Al–Cu families
• Zinc die-cast alloys: Zamak and ZA series
• Standards across 10 systems: CN/US/EU/JP/UK/FR/DE/RU/IN/ISO

Using an accurate aluminum alloy cross-reference chart reduces sourcing risk, improves quality control, and streamlines global supply chains.