Alloy: Name, Composition and Uses of Alloys

Alloys are homogeneous mixture of two or more elements. The elements could be two different metals or a metals or a non-metals.

For Examples Stainless Steel. The Stainless Steel is the alloy of Iron, Cromium abd Carbon. 

In this articles, we will learn in details about alloys. 

Topic of this articles:

1. What is Alloys?
2. Examples of Alloys
3. Advantages of using Alloys
4. Amalgam
5. Some important Alloys, their composition and their uses
6. Alloys of Iron
7. Alloys of Copper
8. Alloys of Zinc
9. Alloys of Alluminium

What is Alloys? 

Alloys are homogeneous mixture of two or more elements. The elements could be two different metals or a metals or a non-metals.

Examples of ALLOYS

1. Stainless Steel : Iron, Cromium, Carbon
2. Inver : Iron, Nickel
3. Bell Metal : Copper, Tin
4. Brass : Copper, Zinc
5. German Silver : Copper, Zinc, Nickel

Advantages of using Alloys:

Alloys always have many positive benefits over the original metals. So, alloys are widely used in many industry inplace of original metals. Some of the advantages of using Alloys are as followes:

1. Electrical conductivity and heat conductivity of alloys can be changed as per requirement. 
2. The hardness of alloy is always greater than the original metal. 
3. The extent of corrosion is less in alloys as compared to other original metals. 
4. The malleability, ductility, and tensile strength of alloy can be controlled. 

Amalgams

The alloy in which one of the component is mercury (Hg) is known as amalgam. 

Examples of Amalgam:

1. Sodium - Mercury (Na - Hg) 
2. Silver - Mercury (Ag - Hg) 
3. Tin - Mercury (Sn - Hg) 

Uses of Amalgam

1. Zinc - Mercury (Zn-Hg) amalgam is uses as electrodes. 
2. Silver - Mercury (Ag-Hg) amalgam is uses as dental filling. 
3. Tin - Mercury (Sn-Hg) amalgam is uses as Mirror Coating. 

Some important metals and their alloys. 

1. Iron (Fe) 

Alloys of Iron:

(a) Stainless Steel

(b) Inver

(a) Stainless Steel

I. Composition of Stainless Steel 

• Iron(Fe) : 85% - 88%
• Cromium(Cr) : 12% - 15%
• Carbon(C) : 0.5% - 1%

II. Uses of Stainless Steel

• Stainless Steel is used in the manufacturing of surgical instruments. 
• Stainless Steel is used in making kitchens utensils
• Stainless Steel is used for manufacturing the parts of vehicles. 

(b) Inver

I. Composition of Inver

• Iron(Fe) : 64%
• Nickel(Ni) : 36%

II. Uses of Inver

• Inver is used for the manufacturing weights measuring instrument. 
• Inver is used for manufacturing pendulum. 

2. Copper(Cu) 

Alloys of Copper:

(a) Bell Metal

(b) Brass

(c) Bronze

(a) Bell Metal

I. Composition of Bell Metal

• Copper(Cu) : 80%
• Tin(Sn) : 20%

II. Uses of Bell Metal

• Bell Metal is used for making Bells. 
• Bell Metal is used for making utensils. 
• Bell Metal is used for making Statue. 

(b) Brass

I. Composition of Brass

• Copper(Cu) : 60% - 80%
• Zinc(Zn) : 40% - 20%

II. Uses of Brass

• Brass is used for making barometer, telescope, water tap. 
• Brass is used for making utensils. 
• Brass is used for making mechanicals parts of vehicles. 

(c) Bronze

I. Composition of Bronze

• Copper(Cu) : 80%
• Tin(Sn) : 18%
• Zinc(Zn) : 2%

II. Uses of Bronze

• Bronze is used for making statues, coin
• Bronze is used for making medals. 

3. Zinc(Zn) 

Alloys of Zinc:

(a) German Silver

(b) Elektron

(c) Denta Metal

(a) German Silver

I. Composition of German Silver

• Copper(Cu) : 50%
• Zinc(Zn) : 30%
• Silver(Ag) : 20%

II. Uses of German Silver

• German Silver is used making Utensils. 
• German Silver is used for making flower vase and showpieces. 

(b) Elektron

I. Compostion of Elektron

• Magnesium(Mg) : 95%
• Zinc(Zn) : 5%

II. Uses of Elektron

• Elektron is used for making Aeroplane and car parts

(c) Denta Metal

I. Composition of Denta Metal

• Copper(Cu) : 55%
• Zinc(Zn) : 40%
• Iron(Fe) : 5%

II. Uses of Denta Metal

• Denta Metal is used for making propeller of ships and valves

4.Aluminium (Al) 

Alloys of aluminium:

(a) Duralumin

(b) Magnalium

(a) Duralumin

I. Composition of Duralumin

• Aluminium(Al) :  95%
• Copper (Cu) : 4%
• Magnesium(Mg) : 0.5%
• Manganese(Mn) : 0.5%

II. Uses of Duralumin

• Duralumin is used for making Coin, Statue, Plates. 
• Duralumin us used for making Mechanicals parts and medals. 

(b) Magnalium

I. Composition of Magnalium

• Aluminium(Al) : 98%
• Magnesium(Mg) : 2%

II. Uses of Magnalium

• Magnalium is used for making AirCraft, weighing machine.