ALLOY

WHAT IS ALLOY?? An alloy is a mixture of a two or more elements with a certain composition in which the major component is a metal. The Composition, Properties and Uses of Some Common Alloys

Alloy Carbon steel

Composition 99% iron 1% carbon

Properties Hard strong

Stainless steel

74% iron 18% chromium 8% nickel

Shiny strong resists rusting

Bronze

90% copper 10% tin

Hard strong shiny

Brass

70% copper 30% zinc

Hard shiny

Uses Frameworks of buildings and bridges In the making of tools, framework of heavy machinery and body of vehicles In the making of cutlery and kitchenware In the making of machine parts and surgical instruments In the making of kitchenware and ships propellers In the making of decorative ornaments, statues and art crafts In the making of electrical connectors and musical instruments In the making

Magnalium

70% aluminium 30% magnesium 95% aluminium 3% copper 1% magnesium 1% manganese

Light Hard strong

Duralumin

Ligh Hard strong

Pewter

97% tin 3% copper and antimony

Lustrous strong

Solder

50% tin 50% lead

Cupronickel

Copper Nickel (percentage according to colour)

Hard shiny with low melting point Hard Shiny Resists corrosion

of kitchenware and decorative ornaments In the making of aircraft body frames In the making of rims of racing car tyres In the making of the bodies of aircrafts and bullet trains In the making of racing bicycles, fan blades, light electrical cable In the making of mugs, candlesticks, decorative ornaments and souvenirs In the making of solder for electrical wires and metal pipes

To make coins of 10 cent, 20cent, 50 cent

Comparison between Alloy and Pure Metal

Alloy is harder than pure metal. Alloy is stronger than pure metal. Alloy is more shiny when polished than pure metal.

Experiment Compare the Hardness of Alloy and Pure Metal

Problem statement Are alloy harder than pure metals? Hypothesis Bronze is harder than copper. When a weight is dropped onto a ball bearing placed on a metal block made of copper or bronze , a larger dent will be produced on the softer copper metal block than on the bronze block.

Variables
a) Manipulated variable : types of materials (copper or bronze) to make the metal block b) Responding variable : diameter of the dent made by a steel ball bearing c) Constant variable : size of steel ball bearing, mass of weight used, height from which it is dropped

Materials
Copper block, bronze block, ball bearing, 1kg weight, metre ruler, retort stand with clamp, cellophane tape and thread.

Procedure
1. A metre ruler is clamped to a retort stand, and a piece of copper block is placed on the base of retort stand 2. A steel ball bearing is placed on the copper block and a piece of cellophane tape is used to hold the ball bearing in place. 3. A 1kg weight is hung at a height of 50cm above the copper block. 4. The weight is dropped onto the ball bearing placed on the copper block. 5. The diameter of the dent made by the ball bearing is measured. 6. The experiment is repeated three times using different areas on the surface of the copper block. 7. The average diameter of the dent is calculated. 8. Steps 1 to 7 are repeated using a piece of bronze Metre block.
ruler

Retort stand

Threa d

Ball bearing

Copper block

Results Metal block Copper Bronze Discussion

1. The bigger the average diameter of the dents produced by the steel ball bearing on the metal means that it has been pressed deeper into the metal surface. 2. Thus copper is softer than bronze because the steel ball bearing has been pressed deeper into the surface of copper metal than that of bronze. 3. Bronze is a type of alloy formed from copper and tin. The tin atoms are larger than the copper atoms. They distort the orderly structure of the copper atoms so that the layers of copper atoms can no longer slide easily over one another. This makes bronze harder than copper.

I 3.2 2.4

Diameter of the dent(mm) II III 3.3 3.2 2.5 2.5

IV 3.23 2.47

Conclusion
1. The average diameter of the dents made by the steel ball bearing on the copper block is bigger than that on the bronze block. 2. Hence, bronze, type of alloy, is harder than pure copper metal. The hypothesis is accepted.

To Compare the Rates of Rusting of Iron, Steel and Stainless Steel

Problem statement

How do the rates of rusting of iron, steel and stainless steel differ? Hypothesis a) Manipulated variable : types of nails (iron, steel and stainless steel) b) Responding variable : rate of rusting c) Constant variable : size of nails, duration of rusting and conditions of experiment (temperature, supply of water and air) Materials Iron nail, steel nail, stainless steel nail, 5% jelly solution and potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) solution and sandpaper. Procedure 1. Three test tubes are half-filled with jelly solution and are labeled as A, B and C. 2. 1cm3 of potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) solution is added to every test tube. 3. An iron nail, a steel nail and a stainless steel nail are polished with sandpaper to remove any rust formed. The nails are then placed in the three test tubes labeled A, B and C respectivesly. 4. All three test tubes are allowed to stand for 5 days before they are examined.

Jelly solution + K3[Fe(CN)6]

A Iron nail Steel nail

C Stainless steel nail

Result

Test tube Type of nail A Iron nail B C Steel nail Stainless steel nail

Observation Inference Blue colour is formed around Rusting occurs the nail A slight blue colour is formed A little rusting occurs No blue colour is observed No rusting occurs

Discussion 1.When iron rusts, iron(II) ion, Fe2+ is produced FeFe2++2e2.potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) solution is used to test the presence of iron(II) ion. A dark blue colour will be formed. The intensity of the blue indicates the rate of rusting. 3. A stainless steel alloy which resists rusting, is produced by adding nickel and chromium to iron metal. Conclusion 1. The information of a blue colour shows that rusting of iron(corrosion) has occurred. 2. The presence of a blue colour shows that iron nail rusts easily (corroded), steel nail rusts slightly and stainless steel does not rust at all. The hypothesis is accepted.