metals and alloys Flashcards
alloy definition
a mixture of two or more elements one of which is ALWAYS a metal
alloys are stronger than metals… why?
In metals the atoms are arranged tightly in rows which can slide over each other easily, making the metal SOFT. Alloys add new atoms that disrupt the rows so the metal gets stronger.
It also gets less dense as new atoms have been added.
Three examples of alloys:
Brass
Bronze
Steel
Aluminium is used to make
Airplanes
Copper is used to make
Copper wires
Copper pipes
Low carbon steel is used to make
Building materials
Bridges
High carbon steel is used to make
Cutting/manufacturing tools eg drill bits
Stainless steel is used to make
Cutlery
Cookware
Aluminium is good for airplanes because it has a
Low density