Metals Recall some everyday uses of iron/steel, aluminium and copper.

September 8, 2002

Metals

Question

Recall some everyday uses of iron/steel, aluminium and copper.

Answer

Iron is one of the three magnetic metal, there others being cobalt and nickel. Iron from the Blast Furnace contains about 5% carbon, which comes from the coke in the furnace. It is cast into moulds called pigs, and the iron is called cast iron or pig iron. It is very brittle but has a greater resistance to corrosion than either pure iron or steel.

Cast iron is used for manhole covers and as engine blocks for petrol and diesel engines. Carbon is removed from molten cast iron by bubbling oxygen through it. The oxygen reacts with the carbon in preference to the iron because carbon is more reactive.

Pure iron, which has had all the carbon removed, is called wrought iron. Wrought iron is malleable (easily shaped) and is mainly used in ornamental work for gates.

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The large majority of iron from the blast furnace is made into steel for construction, steel contains 0.1% -1.5% carbon.

The alloys of iron are steel, manganese steel and stainless steel. Steel is a mixture of iron and carbon. The proportion of carbon may range from 0.1%-1.5%, giving steels of different properties. Steel is cheap, strong and easily shaped. It is the main metal for construction, including bridges, buildings, ships and vehicles.

Manganese steel is an alloy of iron (84%), chromium (15%), nickel (4%) and carbon (0.5-1%). Stainless steel is strong and hard, with a ...

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The large majority of iron from the blast furnace is made into steel for construction, steel contains 0.1% -1.5% carbon.

Manganese steel is an alloy of iron (84%), chromium (15%), nickel (4%) and carbon (0.5-1%). Stainless steel is strong and hard, with a very high resistance to corrosion (due to chromium). It is used for cookware, cutlery and industrial chemical plant.

The main characteristics of aluminium are:
light weight combined with high strength, resistance to atmospheric corrosion and to attack from many chemicals; excellent conductivity of heat and electricity; the ability to reflect light and radiate heat; ease of fabrication and welding; a non-toxic barrier against moisture and vapours; and a pleasing appearance which can take a variety of special finishes.

These combine to make aluminium a most versatile material. Some of the thousands of applications of aluminium include:

The main alloy of aluminium is Duralumin. Aluminium is also a constituent of Titanium Alloys. Duralumin is an alloy of aluminium (94%), copper (4%) and magnesium (1%). Small quantities of manganese and silicon may also be present.

Duralumin is a low-density alloy, having a higher strength/weight ratio than aluminium. Duralumin is used for aircraft construction.

Copper is essential to all living things, and plays an important role in modern technology. Copper is the main metal used for electrical wiring because copper is an excellent conductor of electricity. Copper is used in Gas pipes because it is soft and easily bent making it an ideal material for pipes. Copper is also used in water pipes because it is soft and easily bent makes copper an ideal material for pipes and also since copper is below hydrogen in the Reactivity Series, it does not react with water.

Copper is mixed with other metals to form alloys. Copper alloys include brass, bronze, cupro-nickel and duralumin.

Brass is an alloy of copper (70%) and zinc (30%). Brass is harder and cheaper than copper and is used for musical instruments, corrosion resistant screws and fixtures, and ornamental objects.

Bronze is an alloy of copper (90%) and tin (10%). Bronze is hard, strong and corrosion resistant. Bronze is used for castings (statues) and bearings.

Cupro-nickel is an alloy of copper (70-80%) and nickel (20-30%). Cupro-nickel is easily shaped, resistant to corrosion and is used to make “silver” coins such as the 5, 10, 20 and 50p piece.

Duralumin is an alloy of aluminium (94%), copper (4%) and magnesium (1%). Small quantities of manganese and silicon may also be present. Duralumin is a low-density alloy, having a higher strength/weight ratio than aluminium. Duralumin is used for aircraft construction.