PreQ Graphics - 1.5 types of metals

"When it began, God said, 'Let there be graphics'"

Cast iron Appearance

Dull, varying shades of grey depending on types, rough texture unless machined, less prone to rust

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An image of a cast iron rod

Cast iron characteristics

Hard but brittle in thin sections. Easily cast into complex shapes, but some types are hard to machine

Cast iron uses

Kitchen pots and pans, machine bases and bodies, vices, manhole covers, mail boxes

Mild steel appearance

Bright grey with a smooth texture that quickly oxidises if not protected

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Mild steel sheet

Mild steel characteristics

Tough and ductile, easily machined, formed, brazed or welded

Mild steel uses

Construction girders, screws, nails, nuts and bolts. Many car bodies and bike frames

Carbon steels appearance

Very similar to mild steel but does not rust as readily, very smooth texture

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An image of a Carbon steel tube

Tin appearance

Silvery white, often plated onto steel with a shiny finish available

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An image of a tin ingot

Tin characteristics

Soft, malleable and ductile; a good electrical conductor

Tin uses

Can production - used for plating surfaces to preserve contents, soft solder, alloyed with copper to form bronze

Zinc appearance

Silvery-grey with bluish-white hue, matt finish

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An image of the zinc ore

Zinc characteristics

Fair electrical conductivity, malleability and ductility; however, all are improved when alloyed

Zinc uses

Mainly used to galvanise steel to prevent rusting, easily die cast or used in alloys

High speed steel Appearance

Varies depending on the combination of metals alloyed with steel

High speed steel characteristics

Able to withstand high temperatures created when machining at high speed, keeps its cutting edge well

High speed steel uses

Cutting tools such as drill bits, mill cutters, taps and dies

Tungsten appearance

Lustrous and silvery-white colour

Tungsten characteristics

Very hard and dense, corrosion resistant, high temperature resistance, recyclable

Tungsten uses

Complex thin blade and impactresistant metal cutting tools, high-temperature bearing and cold extrusion die, such as a turning tool, drill bit, hob, machine saw blade and high demand die

Duralumin appearance

Light grey, finishes like aluminium

Duralumin characteristic

Alloy of aluminium, copper, magnesium and manganese with greater hardness and tensile strength than pure aluminium

Duralumin uses

Aircraft components, sports car wheels, castings