Metals and Their Physical Properties

vanadium steel

Ferrous alloy that is tough and can withstand great shocks. In addition, it can resist corrosion. Vanadium is used for springs, gears, and vibrating parts of machinery.

chromium steel

Ferrous alloy that resists rust, shock, scratches, and stains. It is used for bearings, safes, and ore crushers. It is the basis for high-quality stainless steel.

stainless steel

Ferrous alloy that seldom rusts and is used for cutlery, precision measuring instruments, dentistry supplies, auto parts, medical devices, engine valves, and numerous other applications.

phosphorus

Found in all steels. When present in high percentages, it is considered an impurity. At low percentages, it improves machinability.

stainless steel

Steels containing more than 4 percent chromium.

compressive strength

the ability of a metal to resist deformation by forces pushing it together

shear strength

the ability of a metal to resist forces acting in opposite directions

impact strength

the ability of a metal to resist shock

fatigue strength

the ability of a metal to take repeated loads without deforming

casting

the act of pouring melted metal into a mold so it will be a certain shape after cooling

adhesion

the act of sticking together between two unlike bodies (e.g., metals) resulting in a mechanical bond

malleability

the capability of being extended or shaped by being beaten with a hammer or by being pressed by rollers

space lattice

the pattern the atoms make; in the study of metals, there are 14 lattices involved; only three of the most common structures are of real importance here

high-temperature creep

the slow stretching of steel under stress at extreme degrees

annealing

the softening of metal and removing of brittleness

crystal structure

the way molecules of a substance are arranged or how they are packed or fitted together

hardening

making steel firmer; accomplished by heating the steel to a cherry red color and then cooling it quickly in water

hardness

the ability of a material to resist being indented

flexure strength

the ability of a metal to bend without deforming orbreaking

tensile strength

the ability of a metal to resist being pulled apart

tungsten

One of the heaviest metals; used for making filaments for incandescent lamps.

monel

An alloy of 60 percent nickel and 40 percent copper.

pig iron (cured iron)

Iron ore changed by a blast furnace.

steel-making processes

- Bessemer furnace - Open hearth furnace - Electric furnace - Oxygen furnace

manganese steel

Ferrous alloy that can stand strain, hammering, shock, and hard wear. It is used for the jaws of ore crushers, power shovels, chains, gears, and safes.

zinc

A bluish-white metal at ordinary temperatures; brittle but malleable at high temperatures. Used as a galvanizing metal coating to prevent corrosion.

nickel

A hard, malleable, ductile, and tenacious white metal that is somewhat magnetic.

magnesium

A lightweight, silver-white metal that is malleable, ductile, and burns in air. Useful for airplane bodies, truck and auto wheels, ladders, lawnmower frames, and any place where weight reduction is important.

tin

A metal that does not corrode in humid conditions. It adheres tenaciously to iron: and has a low melting point and is used extensively in solder, brass, bronze, and pewter.

cast iron

A product of pig iron and contains a considerable amount of carbon and some impurities; it is brittle and granular in structure. Formed by pouring it into special castings.

wrought iron

A product of pig iron that has had most of the carbon removed; it is a two-component metal consisting of high-purity iron and iron silicate; particularly resistant to corrosion and fatigue. Used for rivets, porch furniture, and decorative roof supports.

silver

A shiny, white metal used mostly for ornamental work, jewelry, and tableware. It is the best conductor of electricity.

aluminum

A silver-white, malleable, and ductile metal. It is known for its electrical conductivity, heat conductivity, rust resistance, and light weight.

face-centered cube arrangement

A space lattice that has 14 atoms; the main characteristic is that they are plastic and malleable. Examples are iron, aluminum, nickel, copper, lead, platinum, and silver.

close-packed hexagon arrangement

A space lattice that has 17 atoms; the main characteristics are that they are non-plastic and must be heated before they can be worked. Examples are cadmium, cobalt, bismuth, magnesium, titanium, and zinc.

oxygen

Added to steel it forms iron oxide, which is not desirable

chromium

Added to steel it makes the alloy hard and increases the wear and corrosion-resistance of steel.

sulfur

Added to steel to aid in machinability.

silicon

Added to steel to improve the electrical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics.

molybdenum

Added to steel to increase the hardness and the endurance limits of steel.

vanadium

Added to steel to increase the strength.

nickel

Added to steel to increase the toughness and strength.

aluminum

Added to steel to provide a hardened surface.

non-ferrous alloys

Alloys made of up of two or more non-ferrous elements.

tungsten carbide

Almost as hard as a diamond and is used extensively for cutting tools.

high-speed steel

Ferrous alloy that contains one or more alloying elements.

molybdenum steels

Ferrous alloy that is known for their strength and hardness and are used for hacksaw blades, high-grade machinery parts, bearings, and auto parts.

pewter

An alloy of 92 percent tin, 5 percent antimony, and 3 percent copper.

bronze

An alloy of copper and tin that behaves much like brass when welded.

brass

An alloy of copper and zinc. It is ductile, malleable, and acid resistant.

carbon steel

Approximately 80 to 90 percent of steel produced; contains 0.05 to 1 percent carbon and less than 1.5 percent of the other elements.

nickel steel

Ferrous alloy that is strong, hard, elastic, tough, and durable. It does not rust easily and is used for springs, cables, axles, shafts, and armor plates

white cast iron

Cast iron that has been cooled quickly to prevent the separation of carbon. Used for agitators in grain drills.

gray cast iron

Cast iron that has been cooled slowly, allowing carbon to separate from the iron into pockets of carbon in the form of graphite. Used in sprockets, stoves, and manifolds.

malleable cast iron

Cast iron that has been made soft, strong, and malleable through a long reheating and cooling process called annealing.

thermal properties

Characteristics such as expansion, contraction, thermal conductivity, and specific heat.

metal fabricators

Create and produce metal parts, operate machinery and tools, weld, and practice workplace safety.

electromagnetic properties

Electrical conductivity, magnetic permeability, and galvanic action.

tungsten steel

Ferrous alloy that adds hardness to steel and allows it to withstand heat.

appearance test

Involves identification of a metal by its visual condition and use. Color and appearance make certain metals (e.g., copper, brass, and bronze) easy to identify.

fracture test

Involves identification of metal by breaking the metal and observing the grain. This is achieved by bending the metal; the ease in which the metal bends or breaks is a measure of its ductility or lack of ductility.

chisel test

Involves identification of metal by the use of a hammer and cold wedge-like tool; the ease of chip production is an indication as to metal hardness, which can be useful in identification.

magnetic test

Involves identification of metal by the use of an item with the property of attracting other substances; identifies the presence of one of the three elements (iron, nickel, or cobalt) or one of a few rare earth elements.

flame test

Involves identification of metals by applying burning gas or vapor to them and watching what occurs. The different characteristics such as melting speed, puddle, and slag can be used in identification.

spark test

Involves identification of metals by applying them to a grinding wheel and observing the generated spark. The color, shape, average length, and activity of the sparks are characteristics of the material being tested.

solder types

Lead and tin solder; copper and zinc alloy solder; and silver and copper alloy solder.

optical properties

Luster, color, light transmission, and light reflection.

lead

Metal that has a bluish-white color and a bright luster. It is soft, highly malleable, and ductile; has slight tenacity; and is a poor conductor of electricity. Used for making pipe and containers for corrosive liquids.

copper

Metal that is reddish-brown in color; has excellent workability—hot or cold—and the highest electrical and heat conductivity of all commercial metals. Used for tubes, wire, sheets, and plates.

ferrous alloys

Metals made up largely of ferrous materials with other elements in sufficient quantities to change the ferrous characteristics.

ferrous metals

Metals whose chief ingredient is iron. Pig iron, cast iron, wrought iron, and steel are examples.

gold

Most often used for ornamental jewelry.

chemical properties

Refer to the chemical composition of the metal and its ability to resist reaction with the environment.

acoustical properties

Relate to the ability of a metal to transmit and reflect sound.

physical properties

Relate to the dimensions, shape, specific gravity, and weight of the metal.

SAE Grading and Classifying System

The first digit indicates the general type of steel. The second digit indicates the percentage of the main alloy in the steel. The third and fourth digits show the percentage of carbon in the steel in hundredths of one percent.

body-centered cubic arrangement

The space lattice that has nine atoms; the main characteristic is their strength and the difficulty with which they are worked when cold. Examples are iron, molybdenum, chromium, tungsten, and vanadium at room temperature.

non-ferrous metals

Those metals that have no iron and are made up of a single element: aluminum, copper, lead, magnesium, nickel, tin, tungsten, zinc, silver, and gold.

tungsten

Used to produce tool steels that will maintain a cutting edge at high heat.

carbon

When added to iron, it changes the physical properties.

corrosion-resistant metal

Will resist deterioration from heat, sunlight, water, and humidity.

alloy

a mixture of two or more metals or of metals and one or more nonmetal

tempering

achieving the desired hardness and toughness in metal

steel

an alloy of iron, carbon, and usually other metals