1.2 Metals Flashcards
Mild steel make up
alloy of iron+carbon
0.15-0.30% carbon
properties of mild steel
easily cut and machined
malleable
ductile
tough
high tensile strength
joined by welding
uses of mild steel
general engineering products
nuts/bolts
disadvantages of mild steel
will rust when exposed to water
Needs to have a finish such as a paint or coat or be galvanised
make up of medium carbon steel
0.3-0.7% carbon and iron
properties of medium carbon steel
can be cut, shaped and machined well
uses of medium carbon steel
garden tools and springs
disadvantages of medium carbon steel
prone to rusting
less ductile and less malleable than mild steel
high carbon steel make up
0.7-1.4% carbon and iron
high carbon steel properties
very hard
can be cut, shaped and machined well
high compressive strength
can be tough when heat treated
high carbon steel uses
Hammers, drill bits, cutting tools and files
High carbon steel disadvantages
prone to rusting
cast iron make up
2.5-4% carbon and iron
cast iron properties
casts into intricate shapes easily
easily machined
corrosion resistant
hard outer layer
soft inner layer
high thermal conductivity
Cast iron uses
cookware
car brakes
components for machinery like the tail and head stock on a lathe
cast iron disadvantages
Quite brittle despite hard outer layer.
Very tricky to weld
aluminium properties
melting point of 650c, lower than other metals
Very malleable
Ductile
Lightweight
Corrosion resistant
conductive
aluminium uses
drinks and aerosol cans
foil
castings
aircraft
engines
what’s aluminium mined from?
bauxite, its the most plentiful material in the earths crust
properties of tin
melting point of 232c (very low)
non toxic
corrosion resistant
easily alloys
tin uses
used for plating other metals, soldering, cans
copper properties
Melting point of 1100c.
Malleable
Ductile
Corrosion Resistant
Easily cut and machined
Excellent electrical and thermal conductivity
Copper uses
Electrical wiring
central heating + plumbing
copper disadvantages
While it can be worked cold, it hardens very quickly so it needs heat treatment for further work
Zinc properties
Melting point of 420c
Excellent corrosion resistance
low melting point
easy to work with
naturally forms an oxide layer to prevent rusting
Zinc uses
Casting
Car batteries
Galvanising things
Water tanks
Buckets
Stainless steel make-up
Iron + carbon
chromium + nickel
The chromium and nickel give it corrosion resistance
Stainless steel properties
Hard
Corrosion resistant
Low maintenance
Very durable
Stainless steel uses
Cutlery
sinks
medical tools
chemical and nuclear industries
stainless steel disadvantages
difficult to work with as it is so hard, specialist equipment needed
brass make up
copper + zinc
brass properties
Casts well
easily machined
good electrical and thermal conductor
corrosion resistant
brass uses
Plumbing fittings
central heating
garden taps
ship propellers
musical instruments
brass disadvantages
cracks when cold worked, needs “annealing” (heating up) constantly to work
Duralumin make up
Aluminium
Copper
Manganese
Duralumin properties
Malleable
Ductile
Excellent machining
Lightweight
Good strength to weight ratio
Duralumin uses
Aviation
Automotive industry
Duralumin disadvantages
Hardens over time, has a time limit
