4032 Aluminium

4032 Aluminium has numerous motorsport applications, including racing engine pistons.

4032 aluminium is a wrought alloy product which offers superior service in both low and high temperature. Motorsport applications for 4032 include racing pistons, engine components and chassis components. The addition of silicon increases the strength of the alloy at the expense of overall ductility. Adding nickel reduces thermal expansion while increasing mechanical strength, although susceptibility to corrosive pitting is possible. 4032 offers the highest tensile strength of all aluminium alloys in the 4000 series.

Machining:

The grade offers fair to good machinability, and we recommend an oil lubricant when the material is machined. Alloy 4032 is weldable using arc welding or inert gas methods.

Comparisons:

4032 aluminium has a much higher silicon content (around 12%), making manufactured pistons more durable and lighter than if produced in 2618A. The high silicon content reduces overall ductility; this reduces the resistance of the piston to high-impact loads.

Further Considerations:

2618A aluminium, with a lower silicon content, offers greater malleability, making it ideal for applications under high load and stress. However, with reduced silicon content, linear expansion is far more significant than 4032, and therefore greater clearance will be required if used in piston design.

Conclusions:

Curiously to the naked eye, it is challenging to differentiate between the two products, but each offers unique benefits. Suitability will be dictated by the performance benefits required.