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.
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
|
