Engineering Materials: Ch1 - Alloys

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to alloys, including different types of alloys based on their composition and properties.

Alloy

A mixture of two or more metals, or a metal combined with a nonmetal, created to enhance the properties of the base metal, such as increasing strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, or improving workability.

Ferrous Alloys

Alloys that have iron (Fe) as their main component, known for their strength, versatility, and cost-effectiveness (e.g., steel, stainless steel).

Non-Ferrous Alloys

Alloys where the main component is a metal other than iron (e.g., aluminum alloys, copper alloys, titanium alloys).

Plain-Carbon Steels

Ferrous alloys primarily composed of iron and carbon, with only trace amounts of other elements; properties mainly determined by carbon content, offering a balance of strength and ductility, and can be heat-treated.

Limitations of Plain Carbon Steel

Susceptible to corrosion (rust), lower strength compared to alloy steels, ductility and weldability decrease as carbon content increases, and not suitable for very high-temperature or corrosive environments.

Heat-Resisting Steels

Steel alloys designed to retain their strength and resist oxidation (scaling) at high temperatures, crucial in applications where temperatures exceed normal operating ranges. They have high-temperature strength (creep resistance), oxidation resistance, and stability of microstructure.

Shock-Resisting Steels

Steel alloys designed to withstand sudden and repeated impacts or shocks without fracturing, needing to be tough and possess high impact strength, toughness, and wear resistance.

Stainless Steel

A corrosion-resistant alloy primarily composed of iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and other elements, widely used due to its strength, durability, and resistance to rust & oxidation. Chromium provides corrosion resistance; nickel enhances strength and ductility.

Aluminum Alloys

Metallic materials composed mainly of aluminum (Al) mixed with other elements such as copper, magnesium, silicon, zinc, and manganese to enhance properties like strength, corrosion resistance, and machinability. These alloys are widely used in aerospace, automotive, construction, and packaging industries due to their lightweight and high strength-to-weight ratio.

Duralumin

An aluminum alloy composed of approximately 94% Aluminum (Al), 4% Copper (Cu), 0.5% Magnesium (Mg) and 0.5% Manganese (Mn).High Strength-to-Weight Ratio, it can be easily shaped and machined, and offers reasonable resistance in many environments. However, it can be susceptible to corrosion if not properly protected (e.g., with a coating).

Magnalium

It's composed of approximately 70-95% Aluminum (Al) and 5-30% Magnesium (Mg). It's even lighter than pure aluminum, possesses good tensile strength, easy to work with and shape, and exhibits good resistance to corrosion, especially in marine environments.

Copper Alloys

A diverse group of materials where copper is the primary constituent, known for their excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, workability, and often, their attractive appearance.

Brass – Dutch Metal

A copper alloy composed of approximately 80% Copper (Cu) and 20% Zinc (Zn) that has a distinctive brassy yellow hue, malleable and ductile, offers decent resistance to atmospheric corrosion and is relatively soft

Brass – German Silver

A copper alloy composed of approximately 50-60% Copper (Cu), 15-20% Zinc (Zn), and 15-20% Nickel (Ni) that has a white or silvery appearance, better corrosion resistance than regular brass due to the nickel content, stronger and harder than many other brass alloys, and Can be formed and machined.

Bronze-Gun Metal

A copper alloy composed of approximately 88% Copper (Cu), 10% Tin (Sn), and 2% Zinc (Zn); flows well when molten, making it suitable for casting intricate shapes, stronger and harder than pure copper, Offers good resistance to corrosion, especially in marine environments, and resists wear and abrasion.

Bronze-Nickel Bronze

A copper alloy composed of approximately 80-90% Copper (Cu), 5-10% Tin (Sn), and 5-10% Nickel (Ni); Even stronger and harder than traditional bronze, The addition of nickel significantly improves corrosion resistance, Resists wear and abrasion, and can withstand repeated stress cycles.

Lead (Pb) Alloy-Wood’s Metal

This has an exceptionally low melting point, around 70°C (158°F), well below the boiling point of water, and it melts readily and flows easily when molten, While it melts easily, the solid metal is brittle and not very strong.

Lead (Pb) Alloy-Tinman's Solder

It has a low melting temperature, flows well and adheres to the metals being joined (when appropriate flux is used), Forms a Reliable and mechanically sound connection.