Materials scienceLesson 1 of 4 in the course Metals and alloys

Alloy Composition, Structure, Processing, and Applications

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Alloys are materials made by combining elements, usually with at least one metal. They are important because combining elements can produce useful properties that pure metals do not have.

An alloy is a mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal. The metal present in the greatest or defining proportion is often called the base metal or primary metal. Other elements are alloying constituents; they may be metals or non-metals.

All flashcards

What is a metallic alloy?
A metallic material formed by mixing a metal with one or more other elements while retaining metallic characteristics.
What is a base metal?
The metal present in the greatest or defining proportion of an alloy.
How are alloy constituents commonly reported in practical applications?
Usually as mass percentages; basic science may instead use atomic fractions.
Why are metals alloyed?
To tailor properties such as strength, hardness, or corrosion resistance, and sometimes to reduce cost.
What are the main constituents of brass, bronze, and steel?
Brass is copper and zinc; bronze is copper and tin; steel is iron with carbon.

Quiz questions

  1. What type of bonding holds atoms together in a metallic alloy?Answer: Metallic bonding.
  2. Which atomic arrangement defines a substitutional alloy?Answer: Some atoms replace host atoms at lattice sites.
  3. Why can adding copper to gold be useful?Answer: It can increase hardness and lower the material cost.
  4. What does the solidus temperature indicate for an alloy that melts over a range?Answer: The temperature at which melting begins.
  5. Why do manufacturers use consistent master alloys in production?Answer: To help control final composition and properties from batch to batch.

Based on the Wikipedia article Alloy, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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