Cummins develops more durable and efficient steel alloy for engines
By Bradley Osborne - 29th June 2023
USA – Cummins Inc, a commercial vehicle powertrain manufacturer based in Columbus, Indiana, has announced the successful development of a new high temperature steel alloy which it claims will make its engines more durable and efficient than was previously possible.
The new alloy was tested against the most commonly used grade of commercial steel, which is designated ‘4140’ by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).1 Cummins found that the new alloy is “significantly stronger” at elevated temperatures and is less liable to premature degradation from oxidation, scaling, and cracking. The new alloy exhibited 85% greater ultimate tensile strength and 143% greater fatigue strength at 600 degrees Celsius compared to 4140. Moreover, Cummins claims that there was no cracking and very little oxidation and scaling when pistons made from the new alloy were put through an aggressive, long-term engine test.
