> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://dante-solutions-inc.gitbook.io/dante-6.3-help-documentation/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://dante-solutions-inc.gitbook.io/dante-6.3-help-documentation/readme/material-database/aluminum-alloy-data.md).

# Aluminum Alloy Data

DANTE models require a comprehensive description of the materials being simulated. The material characterization includes:

* Mechanical Data for each phase as a function of temperature, strain, strain rate and precipitate content
* Thermal Data for each phase as function of temperature and precipitate content
* Precipitation Kinetics Data during heating, cooling and aging

The material data is divided into five (5) files:

* [AL Material Mechanical Data File](/dante-6.3-help-documentation/readme/material-database/aluminum-alloy-data/al-material-mechanical-data-file.md) (.MECB/.MEC file): This file includes Elastic properties, plastic properties, thermal expansion, precipitation and coarsening strains, and stress relaxation parameters.
* [AL Material Thermal Data File](/dante-6.3-help-documentation/readme/material-database/aluminum-alloy-data/al-material-thermal-data-file.md) (.THMB/.THM file): This file includes specific heat and thermal conductivity.
* [AL Material Precipitation Data File](/dante-6.3-help-documentation/readme/material-database/aluminum-alloy-data/al-material-precipitation-data-file.md) (.PHAB/.PHA file): This file includes precipitation timing and rate data for the solutionizing, precipitation and coarsening behavior of the aluminum alloy. In addition, this file contains precipitate size and shape factors.
* [AL Material Hardness Data File](/dante-6.3-help-documentation/readme/material-database/aluminum-alloy-data/al-material-hardness-data-file.md) (.HRDB/.HRD): This files include hardness data for the aluminum matrix and the hardness contribution of each of the precipitates.
* [AL Material Data Control File](/dante-6.3-help-documentation/readme/material-database/aluminum-alloy-data/al-material-data-control-file.md) (.CTL): This file includes additional DANTE models that can be activated.