Alloy

9.1

Alloy

An alloy is a mixture of several types of metals or a mixture of metal and non-metal by a certain percentage

Purpose of alloying:

Properties of alloy

Alloy	Properties and Uses
Steel Iron 99% Carbon 1%	Hard and strong Construction materials for buildings and bridge To make frame of vehicles and railway tracks
Pewter Tin 96% Copper 3% Antimony 1%	Lustre Resistant to corrosion To make decorative items such as photo frame
Bronze Copper 88% Tin 12%	Hard Resistant to corrosion Attractive colour To make monuments, metak sculptures, coins, medals and others
Brass Copper 75% ZInc 25%	Strong Has shony surface Malleable Gold in colour To make keys, door knobs, musical instruments such as trumpet
Duralumin Alluminium 95% Copper 3% Magnesium 1% Manganese 1%	Light Strong Resistant to corrosion To make frame of aircrafts, aeroplanes and others

The arrangement of atoms in pure metals and alloy

Pure metals	Alloy

Metals are ductile because when force is applied, layers of atoms in pure metal slide. Metals are malleable because there are empty space between the atoms.	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.

The use of alloys in daily life

Alloy	Uses
Duralumin	To make the body of aeroplane light and strong
Brass	To make some musical instrument shiny and resistant to corrosion
Superconductor	To construct railway track to make sure the train moves by floating To prevent friction between thr track and the body of train