When you mix two or more metals together, you create a metal alloy. Metal alloys are known for their strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. Engineers, architects, and others in the industrial field use these alloys to construct buildings, wires, pipes, bridges, machines, and much more. Learn about the five important industrial metal alloys and their uses below.
1. Iron Alloys
Iron alloys are some of the most popular alloys for industrial purposes. Iron itself is heavy, and it has a very high melting point, which means it can withstand a lot of heat. Additionally, metal alloys with iron tend to be rigid and to reduce vibrations. You’ll often find them in machinery and other tools used for manufacturing purposes. One specific type of iron alloy is silicon iron bronze, which is often used for welding applications.
2. Steel Alloys
Stainless steel and carbon steel alloys are two of the most common steel alloys. Steel alloys are known for their immense strength, corrosion resistance, and durability. Carbon steel alloy is very useful, since you can adjust its strength based on the amount of carbon you add to the alloy mixture. There are three strengths of carbon steel: low, medium, and high. The low-strength alloy doesn’t have as much carbon as the other two and is thus not as strong. Carbon and stainless steel alloys are often used to construct buildings, bridges, and tools.
3. Bronze
Bronze is a mixture of tin and copper, and it’s the first human-made alloy. It’s known for its resistance to wear, tear, and corrosion. Since it’s resistant to corrosion, it’s a popular choice for ship parts and other nautical uses.
4. Zinc Alloys
Zinc is a strong metal with low electrochemical potential, which means that electricity won’t create a chemical change within it. For this reason, zinc alloys are often used to coat and protect other metals. You’ll find these metal alloys in almost every industry, including the medical, industrial, automotive, and nautical fields.
5. Copper Alloys
The final metal alloy is copper alloy. This shiny, reddish-gold metal is easy to identify and known for its corrosion resistance, malleability, and ability to conduct electricity. Copper alloys are often used for wires, hydraulic equipment, and radiators.
These are five important industrial metal alloys and their uses. If you’re searching for an alloy metals company for your business, don’t hesitate to contact Diversified Metals. We will gladly help your business find the best metals for all its applications.