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Important Alloys

Important AlloysAn alloy is a partial or complete solid solution of one or more elements in a metallic matrix. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may be homogeneous in distribution depending on thermal (heat treatment) history. Alloys usually have different properties from those of the component elements.


Alloying one metal with other metal(s) or non metal(s) often enhances its properties. For instance, steel is stronger than iron, its primary element. The physical properties, such as density, reactivity, Young's modulus, and electrical and thermal conductivity, of an alloy may not differ greatly from those of its elements, but engineering properties, such as tensile strength[1] and shear strength may be substantially different from those of the constituent materials. This is sometimes due to the sizes of the atoms in the alloy, since larger atoms exert a compressive force on neighboring atoms, and smaller atoms exert a tensile force on their neighbors, helping the alloy resist deformation. Alloys may exhibit marked differences in behavior even when small amounts of one element occur. For example, impurities in semi-conducting ferromagnetic alloys lead to different properties, as first predicted by White, Hogan, Suhl, Tian Abrie and Nakamura.[2][3] Some alloys are made by melting and mixing two or more metals. Brass is an alloy made from copper and zinc. Bronze, used for bearings, statues, ornaments and church bells, is an alloy of copper and tin.
Name
Composition
Use
Brass
Cu(60% to 80%), Zn (40 to 20%)
For making household utencils
Bronze
Cu (75 to 90%), Sn (25 to 10%)
For making coins, idols, utencils
German Silver
Cu (60%), Zn (25%), Ni (15%)
For making utencils
Magnelium
Mg (5%), Al (95%)
For making aircraft frame
Rolled Gold
Cu(90%), Ni (10%)
For making cheap ornaments
Monel metal
Cu (70%), Ni (30%)
For making alkali resistant containers
Bell metals
Cu (80%), Sn (20%)
For making bells
Gun metal
Cu (85%), Zn (10%), Sn(5%)
Used for engineering purpose
Solder
Sn(50-75%), Pb (50-25%)
Soldering of metals
Duralium
Al (95%), Cu (4%), Mg (0.5%), Mn (0.5%)
In aircraft manufacturing
Steel
Fe (98%), C (2%)
For making nails, screws, bridges
Stainless Steel
Fe (82%) Cr, Ni (18%)
for making cooking utencils, knives