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Awards

Mechanical Switch Housing - Best Innovation/Prototype

2026 Casting of the Year Competition • American Foundry Society

PIAD Precision Casting Corporation is proud to announce that our Mechanical Switch Housing has been awarded the prestigious Best Innovation or Prototype award in the 2026 Casting of the Year Competition, hosted by the American Foundry Society (AFS). Selected from a field of 18 highly competitive submissions, our casting received the highest numerical score in its category. The judges specifically recognized the project for its high complex casting geometry, technical excellence, and innovative craftsmanship.

AFS Winner 2026 Casting of the Year Best Innovation / Prototype

ENTIRE ALLOY CATALOG

Mechanical & Physical Properties · Permanent Mold Casting Alloys

High Conductivity Copper
Brass & Special Brass
Aluminum Bronze
Tin Bronzes
Aluminum
Zinc-Aluminum
Alloy No. Composition Yield Str.
(ksi)		 Tensile Str.
(ksi)		 Elongation
in 2" (%)		 Brinell
Hardness		 Modulus
(psi ×10⁶)		 Elec. Cond.
(% IACS)		 CDA / Equiv.
Standards		 Notes & Applications
Group C — High Conductivity Copper 5 alloys
C 010 Cu 3–525–2848–44 33–3817.785 min C81200 Pure electrolytic copper with deoxidizer additions; excellent electrical & thermal conductivity. Suitable for heat exchangers, switchgear, transformers. Can be processed in hydrogen atmosphere.
C 011 Cu 3–527–3035–30 35–4417.798 min C80100 Pure electrolytic copper with traces of oxygen; superior electrical & thermal conductivity. Suited for contacts, contact carriers, arc shields. Cannot be processed in hydrogen atmosphere at elevated temps.
C 021 Cu-Cr 39–4454–5925–20 110–13017.570 min C81400/81500 Age-hardened chromium-copper; excellent combination of strength, hardness & electrical conductivity. Very well suited for electrical contacts.
C 030 Cu-Ni-Si 51–5663–6615–8 142–161*17.539–43 C81540 Age-hardened; good thermal & electrical conductivity. Suited for wire/cable clamps in industrial atmospheres; resistant to stress corrosion.
C 031 Cu-Ni-Si 75–7978–834–3 190–204*17.327–34 No equivalent Higher mechanical strength & lower electrical properties vs. C030. Best suited for electrode holders (resistance welding). Resistant to stress corrosion.
Groups M & S — Brass & Special Brass 10 alloys
M 010 Cu-Zn 19–2456–6458–41 70–9513.622–23 C85500 High-quality brass for thin-wall parts; excellent platability. Brush holders, arc horns, housings, lock hardware. Resistant to stress & atmospheric corrosion.
S 010 Cu-Zn-Al 24–3062–7250–30 100–12513.619–17 C85500 Special brass with increased yield & tensile strength. Electrical switchgear, high-pressure instrument housings, marine hardware. Resistant to stress corrosion.
S 012 Cu-Zn 12–1367–7034–32 90–9511.536–38 No equivalent High electrical & thermal conductivity. Contact carriers, terminal connectors, contacts. Cannot be fire tinned or soldered; not resistant to stress corrosion.
S 0121 Cu-Zn 16–1760–6222–30 85–9011.931–30 No equivalent Good electrical & thermal conductivity for electrical equipment. Can be tin plated and soldered.
S 020 Cu-Zn-Pb-Mn 23–2542–4410–8 70–7514.78–9 No equivalent Very good bearing qualities; substitute for leaded tin bronzes. Bearings, bushings, clutch rings.
S 030 Cu-Zn-Fe-Ni-Al 35–4279–8620–16 130–150*15.818–19 C86700/86550 High-strength yellow brass for high static pressure & stress. Motor bearings, high pressure valve parts, control parts.
S 031 Cu-Zn-Fe-Al 22–3165–7537–28 100–12513.523–24 C86500 (no Pb) High-strength brass similar to S030; better for vibration applications. Clamping pieces, levers, braces.
S 034 Cu-Zn-Fe-Al-Mn 21–3563–7645–23 100–13013.818–19 C86500 (no Pb) Similar to S031 with improved corrosion resistance, especially in marine atmosphere.
S 070 Cu-Zn-Ni 35–3870–7517–15 125–140*15.510–11 No equivalent High-strength nickel-silver; excellent corrosion resistance, approved for food industry. Silver-white color suitable for decorative parts without plating.
S 051 Cu-Zn 10–1237–4065–60 45–5016.225–24 C85200 High copper content; good corrosion resistance, not susceptible to stress corrosion. Excellent solderability and brazability.
Group A — Aluminum Bronze 10 alloys
A 010 Cu-Al 19–2262–7265–53 75–9515.015–16 C92500 (no Fe) Good corrosion resistance; excellent for cryogenic applications (no embrittlement to −200°C). Chemical industry use; nonmagnetic.
A 011 Cu-Al-Fe 27–3075–8535–30 95–11016.010–12 C95300 Good resistance to H₂SO₄ and H₃PO₄; corrosion resistant in cold salt water and salt water atmosphere. Weldable.
A 012 Cu-Al-Fe 34–4485–9535–25 135–155*16.010–12 C95200 Good corrosion resistance in salt water; weldable, heat treatable; non-sparking. Valve and pump industry components.
A 020 Cu-Al-Fe-Ni 58–6895–10810–6 190–210*17.58.0 max C95500 High-strength nickel-aluminum bronze; excellent corrosion resistance in atmosphere, hot/cold salt water, and many chemicals. Resistant to cavitation and erosion.
A 021 Cu-Al-Fe-Ni 45–5188–9520–14 150–170*17.28.0 max C95400/95220 Similar to A020 with reduced mechanical properties but increased ductility. Weldable; heat treatable. Where strength and corrosion resistance are required.
A 022 Cu-Al-Fe-Ni 35–4283–9130–20 125–150*16.98.0 max No equivalent Excellent corrosion resistance; similar to A011 but with improved mechanical properties. Weldable and heat treatable.
A 023 Cu-Al-Fe-Ni 63–7898–1157–5 210–230*18.08.0 max No equivalent High-strength nickel-aluminum bronze; excellent wear under high loads. Wear parts, chuck drivers, heavy loaded spindle nuts. Weldable and heat treatable.
A 0201 Cu-Al-Fe-Ni 63–7598–1156–4 210–230*18.08.0 max C95520 High-strength nickel-aluminum bronze for high mechanical loads; similar to A020 with increased mechanical properties.
A 0202 Cu-Al-Fe-Ni 60–7098–11010–5 195–215*17.58.0 max C95520 Similar to A020; developed for shift forks in transmissions for heavy trucks and agricultural equipment.
A 030 Cu-Al-Mn-Ni 28–3270–7540–35 100–11016.88.0 max No equivalent Aluminum-nickel-manganese bronze; good corrosion resistance with very low magnetic permeability. Suited for instruments requiring low magnetic properties.
Group B — Tin Bronzes 4 alloys
B 010 Cu-Sn 23–2536–406–8 90–10015.911–13 No equivalent Excellent chemical corrosion resistance. Suited for chemical and processing industries — housings, flanges, glands. Note: castability in permanent mold is inferior to aluminum bronzes and brasses.
B 011 Cu-Sn-Ni 26–3048–5210–13 90–10016.0— C91700 Nickel-tin gear bronze; especially suited for worm gears in speed reducers.
B 012 Cu-Sn-Pb-Ni 23–2741–456–8 80–9016.0— C92900 Leaded nickel-tin gear bronze; especially suited for worm gears in speed reducers.
B 030 Cu-Sn-Al 13–1530–3526–30 60–7018.219–20 No equivalent Special aluminum-tin bronze for wear applications where non-sparking is a requirement.
Group AL — Aluminum 3 alloys
356T6 Al-Si-Mg 25–3030–383–10 70–9510–10.535 max ASTM B108/B108M Aluminum 356 in T6 condition. Excellent castability and fluidity, good corrosion resistance, high strength-to-weight ratio. Automotive structural parts, aerospace components, pumps, housings, marine hardware.
430B Al-Si-Cu-Ni 18–2528–351–3 85–11010 min18–25 ASTM B108, UNS A04300 High-strength casting alloy; excellent wear resistance, good corrosion resistance for marine/industrial use. Heavy-duty bearings, gears, power transmission, hydraulic/heavy equipment parts.
AL319 Al-Si-Cu 10–2830–361–5 75–9510 min20–25 ASTM B108 Lightweight casting alloy with good wear resistance and moderate strength. Wear bearings, automotive components, pump housings, valve components, sleeve bearings.
Group ZA — Zinc-Aluminum Alloys 1 alloy
ZA73 Zn-Al 10–17.517–265–15 50–8045 min10–20 ASTM B240 / ASTM B86 High strength-to-weight ratio, good castability, excellent wear and bearing properties, good heat resistance, low density. Heavy-duty bearings, automotive lightweight components, hydraulic/industrial components.
Brinell Hardness values marked with asterisk (*) measured with 10mm ball / 3000 kg load All ranges represent as-cast minimum to maximum typical values Electrical conductivity expressed as % IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard)
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