The most common classes of alloys that you are likely familiar with are described here:
1. Steel
You see it everywhere you look, from Superman to the supermarket. Steel is ubiquitous and key to most industries. They are based on elemental Iron with a small amount (<2%) of Carbon added. Other intentional alloying elements added to improve or alter the properties of steel include manganese, nickel, chromium, and vanadium. Many other elements may be added for specific purposes and or be present as residuals. Although properties vary based on chemical/metallurgical composition, pure iron is ductile, soft and malleable where steel is stronger, harder and tougher, but sacrifices ductility. Stainless steels are also corrosion-resistant because of their high Chromium, Nickel, and Manganese content. It is often used in buildings, ships and watercraft, automobiles, medical equipment, household appliances, and tools.
2. Brass
Brass, as you may know, is an alloy composed of approximately 66.6% copper and 33.3% zinc. However, many brass alloys that vary on this basic formula have been developed. These may contain such additional alloying elements as aluminum, antimony, iron, or silicon. In general, brass is stronger, harder, less dense, and more easily machinable than pure copper. Brass is often used in buttons, hardware, ammunition cartridge cases, and marine applications.
3. Bronze
Bronze is an alloy composed of approximately 88% copper and 12% tin. Additional elements such as aluminum, phosphorus, manganese, and silicon are sometimes added. Compared to pure copper, bronze is stronger, harder, more corrosion-resistant, and easier to cast. You’ll often see Bronze used in sculptures, gears, bushings, and tools.
4. Aluminum Alloys
Aluminum alloys result from the combining of pure Aluminum with smaller amounts of Manganese, Copper, Magnesium, Silicon and Zinc. A bewildering array of Aluminum alloys are manufactured, often for narrowly specific applications. Aluminum alloys are stronger than the pure metal, to the point of strength to weight ratios higher than steel. They are harder, more durable and more corrosion resistant. Aluminum alloys are applied in a wide spectrum of applications including: cars/trucks/trains, aerospace, medical equipment, consumer products, high tension wiring and electronics. Aluminum 6061 is one of the most commoditized materials we offer due to its versatile nature, ease of use in manufacturing, recyclability, and low cost.
5. Titanium Alloys
Titanium alloys contain Titanium as the base metal and additions of Aluminum, Manganese, Zirconium, Chromium and Cobalt. While pure Titanium has an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, its alloys are even stronger, more flexible, and more corrosion-resistant. They are increasingly used in aircraft and automotive components, marine applications, and medical devices and equipment for the weight benefit and corrosion resistance they deliver.
6. Nickel Alloys
Nickel alloys contain other elements such as Iron, Chromium, and Copper. They are widely used in industrial and marine environments for their corrosion resilience in aggressive environments, and turbine/rocket components for their high temperature tolerance/strength. They can also possess desirable magnetic properties. You’ll find Nickel alloys are often used in electrical components and electronics.
7. Copper-Nickel Alloys
Copper-nickel (Cu-Ni) alloys are primarily composed of copper and nickel but sometimes include other elements such as silicon, iron, manganese, and zinc to obtain different properties. The properties obtained differ depending on the exact chemical composition of the Cu-Ni alloy. Generally, copper-nickel alloys are excellent electrical conductors, are corrosion resistant, and have high tensile strength (340-650 MPa). Cu-Ni alloys are commonly used in electronics, marine applications, and pipelines.
