Metals and alloys

Metals and alloys are materials that are typically hard, malleable, and have good electrical and
thermal conductivity. Alloys are made by melting two or more elements together, at least one of
them a metal. They have properties that improve those of the constituent elements, such greater
strength or resistance to corrosion.
An alloy is a material made by melting one or more metals together with other elements. This is
an alphabetical list of alloys grouped according to the base metal of the alloy. Some alloys are
listed under more than one element, since the composition of the alloy may vary such that one
element is present in a higher concentration than the others.

Steel

This is hands down the most common metal in the modern world. Steel, by
definition, is simply iron (the element) mixed with carbon. This ratio is usually around 99% iron
and 1% carbon, although that ratio can vary a bit.

Carbon Steel

This is the basic steel, good ‘ol carbon and iron, although some other very
small amounts of other elements might be added. The three general categories are low, medium,
and high carbon steel. More carbon means harder and stronger. Less carbon means cheaper,
softer, and easier to produce. Carbon steel is most commonly found as a structural building
material, in simple mechanical components, and in various tools

Alloy Steel

Think of it as genetically modified steel. Alloyed steel is made by adding

other elements in the mix. This changes the properties and essentially makes the metal
customizable. This is an extremely common type of metal because it’s generally still very cheap
to make.
Common alloying elements for steel include manganese, vanadium, chromium, nickel, and
tungsten. Each of these elements will modify the metal’s properties in different ways
For example, alloying steel can give extra strength to high-performance gears, more corrosion
and wear resistance to medical implants, and increase the amount of pressure that pipelines can
handle. It’s generally considered the workhorse of the metal world.

Stainless Steel

Technically this is a kind of alloy steel, but there are so many types in such
massive quantities that it usually gets its own category. This is the steel that is specifically
focused on corrosion resistance.
This is basically just steel with a noticeable amount of chromium. The chromium creates a super
thin barrier when it corrodes which slows rust. If you scratch off the barrier, a new one will
immediately form.
You’ll see a lot of this in kitchens; knives, tables, utensils, anything that comes into contact with
food.
Not-so-fun fact: Just because something is stainless steel, that doesn’t mean that it can’t rust.
Different compositions will prevent rusting to various degrees. Stainless steel that’s used around
salt water needs to especially corrosion resistant so it doesn’t rot out. But all of the types of
stainless will rust if not cleaned and properly cared for

Iron (Wrought or Cast)

Even though this is a super old-fashioned metal (especially common during

the “iron age”) it still has a lot of modern uses.
For one, it’s the primary ingredient in steel. But beyond that, here are a few other applications
and an explanation of why iron is used:
Cookware (like skillets) – The porous surface will allow cooking oils to burn in and create a
natural non-stick surface
Wood stoves – Cast iron has an extremely high melting point so the stove can handle high
temperatures
Heavy machinery bases and frames – this heavy metal reduces vibration and provides rigidity

Aluminum

As far as metals go, this is a really modern one. Aluminum was first made
in 1825, and since then it’s been the foundation for some massive accomplishments.
For example, because of its amazing strength-to-weight ratio, this is the metal that’s largely
responsible for flight and getting man to the moon. It’s easily formed (malleable), and it doesn’t
rust, which makes it great for soda cans. And, (arguably) most importantly, it can be made into a
really thin sheet that can be used to BBQ fresh caught fish to moist perfection.
While the process for making aluminum is a bit more complicated than some of the other metals,
it’s actually an extremely common metal. It’s the most common non-ferrous (not containing
iron) metal on the planet.
While it doesn’t rust, it will oxidize. Iron is actually the only metal that “rusts” by definition.
Aluminum will corrode when it comes in contact with salt. However, it will not corrode in
contact with water. This makes aluminum really useful for making things like freshwater boats.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a really cool metal. It’s about 2/3rds the weight of aluminum,
and it has comparable strength. It’s becoming more and more common because of this.
Mostly commonly, you’ll see this as an alloy. That means that it’s mixed with other metals and
elements to make a hybrid material with specific properties. This can also make it easier to use
for manufacturing processes.
One of the most popular applications of magnesium is in the automotive industry. Magnesium is
considered a step up from aluminum when it comes to high-strength weight reduction, and it’s
not astronomically more expensive.
Some places where you’ll see magnesium on a performance car is in the wheel rims, engine
blocks, and transmission cases.
There are disadvantages to magnesium, though. Compared to aluminum, it will corrode more
easily. For example, it will corrode when in contact with water, where aluminum will not.

Copper

Copper is another old-fashioned metal. Today you’ll see it often as an alloy

(more on that later) or in a reasonably pure state.
Common applications include electronics, water pipes, and giant statues that represent liberty.
Copper will form a patina, or an oxidized layer, that will actually prevent further corrosion.
Essentially, it’ll turn green and stop corroding. This can make it last for centuries.

Brass

Brass is actually an alloy of copper and zinc. The resulting yellow metal is
really useful for a number of reasons.
Its goldish color makes it really popular for decorations. It’s common to see this metal used in
antique furniture as handles and knobs.
It’s also extremely malleable, meaning that it can be hammered out and formed. This is why it’s
what’s used for brass instruments like tubas, trumpets and trombones. They’re easy to hammer
into shape (relatively speaking) and they’re durable.
Another really cool property of brass is that it will never spark. A steel hammer, for example, can
make a spark if you hit it a certain way. A brass hammer doesn’t do that. This means that brass
tools are great for areas that might be around flammable gases, liquids or powders.

Bronze

This is made primarily with copper, but it also contains around 12% tin. The
result is a metal that’s harder and tougher than plain copper.
Bronze can be an alloy with other elements, too. For example, aluminum, nickel, zinc and
manganese are common alloying elements. Each of these can very noticeably change the metal.
Bronze has massive historical significance (like in the Bronze Age) and is easy to pick out. One
common place to see it is in massive church bells. Bronze is tough and strong, so it doesn’t crack
or bend like other metals when it’s being rung. It also sounds better.
Modern uses include sculptures and art, springs and bearings, as well as guitar strings.

Zinc

This is an interesting metal because of how useful it is.

On its own, it has a pretty low melting point which makes it very easy to cast. The material flows
easily when melted and the resulting pieces are relatively strong. It’s also very easy to melt it
back down to recycle it.
Zinc is a really common metal that’s used in coatings to protect other metals. For example, it’s
common to see galvanized steel, which is basically just steel dipped in zinc. This will help to
prevent rusting

Titanium

This is a really amazing modern metal. It was first discovered in 1791, first
created in its pure form in 1910, and first made outside of a laboratory in 1932.
 Titanium is actually really common (the 7th most abundant metal on Earth), but it’s
really hard to refine. This is why this metal is so expensive. It’s also really worthwhile:
 Titanium is biocompatible, meaning that your body won’t fight and reject it. Medical
implants are commonly made from titanium.
 Its strength to weight ratio is higher than any other metal. This makes it extremely
valuable for anything that flies.

 It’s really corrosion resistant

  Titanium nitride (titanium that’s reacted with nitrogen in a high energy vacuum) is an
insanely hard and low-friction coating that’s applied to metal cutting tools.

Nickel

Nickel is a really common element that’s used all over. Its most common
application is in making stainless steels, where it boosts the metal’s strength and corrosion
resistance. Actually, almost 70% of the world’s nickel is used to make stainless steel.
Interestingly, nickel only makes up 25% of the composition of the five cent American coin.
Nickel is also a common metal to use for plating and alloying. It can be used to coat lab and
chemistry equipment, as well as anything that needs to have a really smooth, polished surface.

Cobalt

This is a metal that has been used for a long time to make blue pigment in
paints and dyes. Today, it’s primarily used in making wear-resistant, high-strength steel alloys.
Cobalt is very rarely mined by itself, it’s actually a by-product of the production of copper and
nickel.

Silicon

Technically speaking, silicon is a metalloid. This means that it has both

metallic and non-metallic qualities.
For example, it looks like a metal. It’s solid, shiny, bendable, and has a high melting point.
However, it does a terrible job of conducting electricity. This is partly why it’s not considered a
full metal.
Even still, it’s a common element to find in metals. Using it for alloying can change the metal’s
properties quite a bit. For example, adding silicon to aluminum makes it easier to wel