ALLOYS

4
WHAT IS ALLOY ???
 What is alloy ?

• Alloy is a mixture of two or more

elements with a certain fixed
composition in which the major
component is a metal
 THE AIM IN MAKING
ALLOYS
•To increase the hardness and
strength of metal
•To prevent corrosion or rusting
•To improve the appearance of
the metal surface
EXAMPLE OF ALLOYS
Example of alloys
• Bronze
• Brass
• Steel
• Stainless steel
• Duralumin
• Pewter
PROPERTIES OF ALLOYS
ALLOY COMPOSITION PROPERTIES USES
Bronze ~ 90% copper ~ Hard and strong ~ to build statues and
~ 10% tin ~ Does not corrode monuments
easily ~ in the making of
Has shiny surfaces swords, medals and
artistic materials
Brass ~ 70% copper ~ Harder than copper ~ in the making of
~ 30% zinc musical instruments
and kitchenware
Steel ~ 99% iron ~ Hard and strong ~ in the construction of
~ 1% carbon building and bridges
~ in the building of
cars and railway
tracks
Stainless steel ~ 74% iron ~ shiny ~ to make surgical
instruments
~ 8% carbon ~ strong
~ 18% chromium ~ does not rust
Duralumin ~ light ~ ~ to make the body of
~ 93% aluminium
strong aeroplanes and
~ 3% copper
bullet trains
~ 3% magnesium
~ 1% maganese
Pewter ~ in the making of
~ 96% tin ~ luster
souvenirs
~ 3% copper ~ shiny
~ 1% antimony ~ strong
THE ARRANGEMENT OF
ATOMS IN PURE METALS
When force is applied, layers of atoms in pure
metal slide. So, metals are ductile.

There are empty space between the atoms. When it is knocked, the
shape of the metal changes.

So, metals are malleable.

ARRANGEMENT OF ATOM
IN ALLOYS
 The presence of atoms of other metals that are of different
sizes disturb the orderly arrangement of atoms in the metal.
This reduces the layer of atoms from sliding. Thus, an alloy
is stronger and harder than its pure metal