Metals Flashcards
(37 cards)
Density =
Mass/ Volume (kgm^-3)
Why are metals so dense?
They have a closely packed atomic stucture
What does the stiffness of a metal indicate?
It’s resistance to elastic deformation; indicated by the young modulus.
Are metals, ceramics and polymers high or low YM?
Metals and ceramics tend to be high; whereas polymers tend to be low.
What does the strength of a material indicate?
The resistance to plastic/ permanent deformation.
Indicated by the yield strength.
The yield strength of metals, ceramics and polymers:
Ceramics have high yield strength; metals vary and polymers are low.
What does the toughness of a material refer to?
The resistance to cracking/ fracture.
Indicated by the fracture energy.
Would low toughness materials not be suitable for tension or compression?
Tension (maybe compression)
What does the conductivity of a material refer to?
How easily heat can pass through a material
Materials with higher conductivity tend to be…
Metals.
Benefits of metals…
They tend to be low cost materials
What is the mechanical behaviour of metals?
They are strong; do not deform easily and can take high loads.
When they do deform it is progressive.
Elastic deformation of metals:
When a load is applied the atomic bonds will stretch; when removed they do not return (not permanent)
Plastic deformation of metals:
When load is increased; atoms slip past each other and when the load is removed they remain in that position.
Dislocations of atoms in a metal:
Atoms will not slip a layer at a time but singularly. This happens because it requires a lot of energy to slip a whole layer.
What happens with dislocations and how it deforms?
For permanent deformation it requires a dislocation to move.
Slip allows for…
Ductility and toughness
Strengthening mechanisms for dislocations?
- Atoms in solution (alloys metal)
- Add another phase
- Other dislocations get tangled with each other
- Structure changes at grain boundary/ orientation.
What does ferrous mean and what metals have ferrous?
Indicates the presences of iron
Iron (Fe)
Steel (Fe +C)
Cast iron
High levels of carbon. Carbon phases lead to low strength and toughness in tension.
What would be the problem with cast iron joints in a structure?
Lead to collapse as there would be a stress concentration
What is steel?
Alloy of carbon and iron
How is steel processed?
- Heating an iron ore with coke and limestone in a blast furnace.
- Liquid metal and slag is removed every few hours.
- Adding oxygen reduces carbon content
Rolling metals =
This can squeeze out porosity and refine the microstructure
