ALUMINUM SILICON ALLOY FOR AUTOMOTIVE AND DEFENSE APPLICATIONS

Challenging environments such as automotive and defense applications require materials with enhanced mechanical properties. Materion’s AMC^® 4632 alloy is a high-quality aluminum silicon material that is manufactured by a powder metallurgy method that refines the microstructure, resulting in unique property sets. When using this alloy to replace existing materials, it can help with weight reduction and can improve stability at elevated temperatures. AMC 4632 alloy may be machined to a fine surface finish and tolerances using high-speed techniques.

THERMAL MANAGEMENT FOR SPACE AND DEFENSE APPLICATIONS 

Thermal management in space and defense electronics is a constant challenge. As the power of devices increases to support more sophisticated technologies, so does the need for additional heat removal. Generally, materials that have ideal heat spreading characteristics are also very dense, adding extra weight that can decrease performance in these fuel constrained applications. Therefore, it is critical to find a material that combines the needed thermal conductivity and low density while avoiding thermal fatigue. 

AMC 4632 is a controlled expansion, lightweight stiff material. While other aluminum solutions used in lightweighting have a high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), AMC 4632 addresses that issue by matching the CTE of copper—the usual material of choice for printed circuit boards and connectors—while providing the benefits of aluminum. 

Read more about AMC 4632 as a thermal management solution.

HYPEREUTECTIC AMC 4632 ALLOY FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS 

In automotive racing piston applications, our aluminum silicon AMC 4632 alloy can be used as a replacement for conventional aluminum alloys such as AA4032 and AA2618. It enables weight reduction and improved stability despite the high temperatures associated with internal combustion engines. While AMC 4632 is a hypereutectic alloy and machines similarly, it is a superior material because the refined process we use to create it makes the end alloy both stiffer and stronger than other hypereutectic aluminum alloys.  

Due to its lower CTE, AMC 4632 enables tighter tolerances in piston design, while offering a high tensile modulus (approximately 19% higher than aluminum alloy AA4032), good strength and excellent fatigue resistance at ambient and elevated temperatures. Additionally, this material solution is an option for racing applications where metal matrix composites are prohibited. 

Download the AMC 4632 data sheet.

Read the On-Track Testing Report

We provided MXology, a maker of high-performance engine components for the off-road motorcycle industry, with our advanced alloys and composites so they could create parts to test. MXology designed and introduced components made from AMC 4632 and other materials into a motocross engine that was used on the track in real races. The results help validate that our materials can enable better results in racing, or more broadly in passenger vehicles. You can read the MXology report on the testing program to learn more about the gains found in performance and reliability.

To learn more about our metal matrix composite racing solutions, visit our SupremEX® composites page. 

Use the property charts listed below to compare AMC 4632 with other aluminum material solutions.

COMPARING PROPERTIES OF AMC® 4632 ALLOY & ALUMINUM 2618

*Aluminum 2618 data from MatWeb

COMPARING PROPERTIES OF AMC 4632 Alloy & ALUMINUM 4032

**Aluminum 4032 data from MatWeb

LEARN MORE ABOUT ALLOY AMC 4632 ALLOY

Talk with our engineers to see if aluminum silicon AMC 4632 alloy can add strength to your application.