Applications of metals

Because of such properties as strength, hardness, plasticity, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, and high electrical conductivity, metals play an extremely important role in technology, and the number of metals in use is steadily increasing. It is characteristic that, before the 20th century, such very important metals as aluminum, vanadium, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, uranium, and zirconium either were not produced at all or were manufactured in very limited quantities. Such metals as beryllium, niobium, and tantalum came into wide use just before World War II. In the 1970’s almost all naturally occurring metals are being used industrially.

Most metals in everyday use in the home or industry are alloys.

This is because pure metals such as copper, gold, iron and aluminium are too soft for most uses and so are mixed with other metals to make a far more useful harder alloys. There are hundreds of alloys of steel made by alloying iron with other metals to increase the strength or anti-corrosion properties of the metal.

Alloys are mixtures of metals with properties that make them more useful than pure metals. Alloys are prepared by mixing of metals on their molten state. All metals and alloys are divided into ferrous (including iron and its alloys – about 95 percent of world metal production) and nonferrous (all other metals and alloys). When an alloy contains mercury, it is called an amalgam.

· Ferrous Metals (black): Ferrous metals are based on iron: the group includes steel and cast iron. Pure iron has limited commercial use, but when alloyed with carbon. Iron has more uses and greater commercial value than any other metal (irons, carbon steels, alloy steels, stainless steels, tool and die steels)

· Non ferrous (colored): They include the other metallic elements and their alloys. They include metals and alloys of aluminum, copper, gold, silver and other metals (aluminum, copper, magnesium, nickel, titanium, precious metals, refractory metals, superalloys).

There are many possible combinations of different metals to form alloys. Each alloy has its own specific properties and uses. The uses of alloys depend upon the composition of metal and complexity of alloy. Some common uses of alloys are as follow.

Uses of aluminum alloys: Compare to aluminum, alloys of aluminum are good conductor and more strong. Due to these properties, they are widely used in the manufacturing of automotive engine part, electrical equipments and in furniture. Due to high strength they are also used in high altitude flying to bear huge pressure and stress.

Uses of copper alloys: Like copper metal, alloys are copper are good conductor of heat and electricity, have high ductility and corrosion resistance. They are mainly used in automotive heat exchanger, sleeve bearing and in the manufacturing of electrical equipments.

Uses of Nickel alloys: Alloys of nickel have good corrosion resistance and heat resistance. Therefore they are used for aircraft gas turbines, petrochemical industries, control equipment and nuclear power systems.

Uses of Iron alloys: Stainless steel is one of the most common alloys of iron which is used for many commercial purposes. Iron alloys are mainly used in agriculture electronic and rail industries.

Uses of Titanium alloys: Alloys of titanium have high strength, stiffness and toughness, therefore mainly used in aerospace and high-performance applications like for spacecraft parts. Jet engines and airframes. They have wide applications in bio-material and petrochemical industries also.