Pewter Casting (Y10 - Summer 1) Flashcards
Pewter Definition
Pewter is a metal alloy that is mostly made from tin. Most modern pewter is composed of 96% tin, as well as 4% copper, although there are many variations of this.
Pewter is:
- A traditional, low-temperature metal-casting material
- Used to make everything from jewelery to goblets
- An alloyed metal made primarily from tin but also often contains antimony
- A metal with a melting point of approximately equal to 230°C
Casting Definition
Casting Manufacturing process in which a liquid material is used to fill a mould.
Casting involves pouring molten metal into a mould or injecting it into a die, and then allowing it to cool.
Why Is Pewter As A Suitable Alloy To Use In School?
Pewter is a suitable alloy to use in schools, mainly due to it’s lower melting points, which makes it easier to melt and use, meaning it’s more practical in terms of how it is to mould.
What Is Stock Form?
Stock form is the form that the materials orginally come in, and used usually a standardised size, before you decide to change it (i.e melt pewter for pewter casting).
What Metal Is Not Longer In Pewter
In the 70’s, it was found out that lead in pewter was leading to lead poisoning of people that were regularly using the products. As a result of this, the materials making up the alloy of Pewter were changed to Tin and Copper.
Properties Of Antimony And Why It’s Used In Modern Pewter?
Antimony is a chemical element which is a bright, silvery, hard and brittle in it’s metalltic structure, while also being a poor conductor of heat and electricty and isn’t attacked by any dilute acids or alkalis. Antimony helps hard and bind the pewter, and has a lot less health risks that lead, although it’s not the best to inhale.
