Pistons are usually made from which material?

Pistons are typically made from aluminum due to its favorable properties that are ideal for engine applications. Aluminum is lightweight, which helps improve the overall efficiency of the engine by reducing the weight of moving parts. Additionally, aluminum has excellent thermal conductivity, allowing it to dissipate heat effectively; this is crucial because pistons operate in high-temperature environments. The thermal expansion characteristics of aluminum also make it suitable for maintaining a proper fit within the engine as temperatures vary.

While steel is strong and often used for some engine components, it is heavier, which can negatively impact performance. Iron is also strong but is even heavier and less effective at heat dissipation compared to aluminum. Plastic, while versatile, does not possess the strength or thermal resistance required for the high-stress situations that pistons encounter in an engine. Thus, aluminum stands out as the best material choice for manufacturing piston components in most engines.