4032 (4032-T6, AlSi12.5MgCuNi) Aluminum
4032 aluminum is a 4000-series aluminum alloy. The main alloying addition is silicon. Cited properties are appropriate for the T6 temper. To achieve this temper, the metal is solution heat-treated and artificially aged until it meets standard mechanical property requirements. 4032 is the Aluminum Association (AA) designation for this material. In European standards, it will be given as EN AW-4032. Additionally, the EN chemical designation is AlSi12,5MgCuNi. The British Standard (BS) designation is DTD324B. The AFNOR (French) designation is A-S12UGN. And the UNS number is A94032.
It originally received its standard designation in 1954.
It has the highest tensile strength among the 4000-series alloys in the database.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare 4032 aluminum to: 4000-series alloys (top), all aluminum alloys (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Brinell Hardness
120
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
73 GPa 11 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
6.7 %
Fatigue Strength
110 MPa 16 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
28 GPa 4.0 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
260 MPa 38 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
390 MPa 56 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
320 MPa 46 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
570 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
180 °C 350 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
570 °C 1060 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
530 °C 990 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
900 J/kg-K 0.21 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
140 W/m-K 80 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
19 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
34 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
120 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
10 % relative
Density
2.6 g/cm3 160 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
7.8 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
140 MJ/kg 61 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
1030 L/kg 120 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
25 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
700 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
15 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
53 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
41 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
45 points
Thermal Diffusivity
59 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
20 points
Alloy Composition
Among wrought aluminum alloys, the composition of 4032 aluminum is notable for containing a comparatively high amount of silicon (Si) and including nickel (Ni). Silicon is used to increase strength at the expense of ductility. It also lowers the melting temperature and raises the fluidity of the alloy. Nickel is used to increase mechanical strength at elevated temperatures, and to reduce thermal expansion. However, it can increase susceptibility to pitting corrosion in certain alloys.
| Al | 81.1 to 87.2 | |
| Si | 11 to 13.5 | |
| Mg | 0.8 to 1.3 | |
| Ni | 0.5 to 1.3 | |
| Cu | 0.5 to 1.3 | |
| Fe | 0 to 1.0 | |
| Zn | 0 to 0.25 | |
| Cr | 0 to 0.1 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.15 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
ASTM B247: Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Die Forgings, Hand Forgings, and Rolled Ring Forgings
Iron in Aluminium Alloys: Impurity and Alloying Element, N. A. Belov et al., 2002
Aluminum Standards and Data, Aluminum Association Inc., 2013
ASM Specialty Handbook: Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys, J. R. Davis (editor), 1993
EN 573-3: Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Chemical composition and form of wrought products. Chemical composition and form of products