ALLOYS

Structure of Metals DOE-HDBK-1017/1-93 ALLOYS ALLOYS Most of the materials used in structural engineering or component fabrication are metals. Alloying is a common practice because metallic bonds allow joining of different types of metals. EO 1.10 DEFINE the term alloy. EO 1.11 DESCRIBE an alloy as to the three possible microstructures and the two general characteristics as compared to pure metals. EO 1.12 IDENTIFY the two desirable properties of type 304 stainless steel. An alloy is a mixture of two or more materials, at least one of which is a metal. Alloys can have a microstructure consisting of solid solutions, where secondary atoms are introduced as substitutionals or interstitials (discussed further in the next chapter and Module 5, Plant Materials) in a crystal lattice. An alloy might also be a crystal with a metallic compound at each lattice point. In addition, alloys may be composed of secondary crystals imbedded in a primary polycrystalline matrix. This type of alloy is called a composite (although the term "composite" does not necessarily imply that the component materials are metals). Module 2, Properties of Metals, discusses how different elements change the physical properties of a metal. Alloys are usually stronger than pure metals, although they generally offer reduced electrical and thermal conductivity. Strength is the most important criterion by which many structural materials are judged. Therefore, alloys are used for engineering construction. Steel, probably the most common structural metal, is a good example of an alloy. It is an alloy of iron and carbon, with other elements to give it certain desirable properties. As mentioned in the previous chapter, it is sometimes possible for a material to be composed of several solid phases. The strengths of these materials are enhanced by allowing a solid structure to become a form composed of two interspersed phases. When the material in question is an alloy, it is possible to quench (discussed in more detail in Module 2, Properties of Metals) the metal from a molten state to form the interspersed phases. The type and rate of quenching determines the final solid structure and, therefore, its properties. Rev. 0 Page 15 MS-01