Common alloys in everyday life

Alloys are combination of one or two metals. Though metals possess useful properties like good conductivity and high strength, alloys combine the properties to make a metal useful for a particular application. When metals are alloyed, properties like melting point, conductivity are affected. 

 

alloy 1

We see alloys being used in jewelry, utensils, tools etc. The coils in electrical appliances like electric iron, toasters etc are also made of alloys due to their high melting point compared to its constituent metals. Stainless steel cook wares that we use in the kitchen are an alloy of iron, carbon, chromium and nickel. The combination of these metals increases the corrosion resistance of stainless steel.

Gold jewels that we possess are alloys too. 100% pure gold (24 Karat) cannot be used to make jewels. But gold alloyed with elements like copper, zinc, cobalt, silver etc (18Karat) are only used to make jewels. Bronze utensils or objects are alloys of copper and tin while brass utensils are alloy of copper and zinc. Why are alloys popular and useful?

 

Why is it difficult to balance a bicycle when not moving?
What are bullets made of?

 

Comments

  1. By Arianne

    Reply

  2. Reply

  3. Reply

Leave a Reply to Regentsteel Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*