BT - metals

• Metal


  Any of a class of substances characterized by high electrical and thermal conductivity as well as by malleability, ductility, and high reflectivity of light
• Metal


  Any of various substances (as gold, tin, or copper) that have a more or less shiny appearance, are good conductors of electricity and heat, can be melted, and are usually capable of being shaped
• Malleable


  • Able to be hammered or pressed permanently out of shape without breaking or cracking
• Ductile


  • Able to be deformed without losing toughness; pliable, not brittle
• Checklist for what is a metal

  • Good conductor of electricity
  • Good conductor of heat
  • Can be melted
  • Can be shaped (malleable)
  • Can be deformed (ductile)
  • Shiny (luster)
• Iron makes up 5 percent of Earth's crust and is second in abundance to aluminum among the metals and fourth in abundance behind oxygen, silicon, and aluminum among the elements
• Iron is the chief constituent of Earth's core and is the most abundant element in Earth as a whole (about 35 percent) and is relatively plentiful in the Sun and other stars
• Ferrous metal


  Refers to any metal that contains iron. They are favored for their tensile strength and durability, so are often utilized in housing construction, large-scale piping and industrial containers
• Non-ferrous metal


  Refers to metals that don't contain iron. They are much more malleable and lighter than ferrous metals, making them particularly suited for use where strength is required but weight needs to be considered, such as in the aircraft industry
• Pig iron


  Crude high-carbon iron ore that has been smelted and cast into ingots; may be remelted and used as a source of material for architectural cast-iron products, or may be further refined for use in producing steel
• Smelting


  Process by which a metal is obtained, either as the element or as a simple compound, from its ore by heating beyond the melting point, ordinarily in the presence of oxidizing agents, such as air, or reducing agents, such as coke
• Ingots


  A mass of molten metal which has been poured into a mold to solidify; it differs from a casting in that it requires rolling or forging to become a finished or semifinished product
• Blast furnace


  A vertical shaft furnace that produces liquid metals by the reaction of a flow of air introduced under pressure into the bottom of the furnace with a mixture of metallic ore, coke, and flux fed into the top. Blast furnaces are used to produce pig iron from iron ore for subsequent processing into steel. Rapid combustion is maintained by the current of air under pressure
• Wrought iron


  A commercially pure iron of fibrous nature; valued for its corrosion resistance and ductility; used for water pipes, water tank plates, rivets, stay bolts, and forged work. Usually contains less than 0.1 percent carbon and 1 or 2 percent slag
• Cast iron


  Very brittle with high compressive strength and ability to absorb vibrations; ideal for gratings and stair components but too brittle for structural work. An alloy of iron that contains 2 to 4 percent carbon, along with varying amounts of silicon and manganese and traces of impurities such as sulfur and phosphorus
• Malleable iron


  Produced by casting, reheating, and slowly cooling to improve workability; similar to cast iron in use
• Mild iron


  Ordinary structural steel with a low carbon content
• Steel


  Iron with low amounts of carbon (carbon increases strength, but decreases ductility and welding capabilities); used for structural components, studs, joists, and fasteners, and in decorative work. Alloy of iron and carbon in which the carbon content ranges up to 2 percent
• Stainless steel


  Produced by alloying with other metals, primarily chromium or nickel for corrosion resistance and molybdenum when maximum resistance is required (in sea water, for example). Though harder to form and machine than mild steel, its uses are many, including flashing, coping, fasteners, anchors, hardware, and finishes that can range from matte to mirror polish. A family of alloy steels usually containing 10 to 30 percent chromium
• Aluminum


  When pure, it resists corrosion well, but is soft and lacks strength; with alloys, it can achieve various levels of strength and stiffness, at one-third the density of steel, and can be hot- or cold-rolled, cast, drawn, extruded, forged, or stamped. Sheets or foil, when polished to a mirror finish, have extremely high levels of light and heat reflectivity
• Uses of aluminum

  • Curtain wall components
  • Ductwork
  • Flashing
  • Roofing
  • Window and door frames
  • Grills
  • Siding
  • Hardware
  • Wiring
  • Coatings for other metals
• Brass


  Alloy of copper, zinc, and other metals; can be polished to a high luster and is mostly used for weather stripping, ornamental work, and finish hardware
• Bronze


  Alloy of copper and tin that resists corrosion; used for weather stripping, hardware, and ornamental work
• Cadmium

  Similar to zinc; usually electroplated onto steel
• Chromium


  Very hard and will not corrode in air; like nickel, often used as an alloy to achieve a bright polish and is excellent for plating
• Copper

  Ductile and corrosion-, impact-, and fatigue-resistant; it has high thermal and electrical conductivity, and can be cast, drawn, extruded, hot-, or cold-rolled. Widely employed as an alloy with other metals, it can also be used for electrical wiring, flashing, roofing, and piping
• Lead


  Extremely dense, corrosion resistant, limp, soft, and easy to work; most often combined with alloys to improve hardness and strength. Foil or sheets are ideal for waterproofing, blocking sound and vibrations, and shielding against radiation. Can also be used as roofing and flashing, or to coat copper sheets (lead-coated copper) for roofing and flashing. High toxicity of vapors and dust have made its use less common
• Magnesium


  Strong and lightweight; as an alloy, serves to increase strength and corrosion resistance in aluminum. Often used in aircraft, but too expensive for most construction
• Tin


  Soft and ductile; used in terneplate (80 percent lead, 20 percent tin) for plating steel
• Titanium


  Low density and high strength; used in numerous alloys and its oxide has replaced lead in many paints
• Titanium uses


  • Aerospace
  • Phones
• Zinc


  Corrosion resistant in water and air, but very brittle and low in strength. Primarily used in galvanizing steel to keep it from rusting; also electroplated onto other metals as an alloy. Other functions include flashing, roofing, hardware, and die-casting
• Alloy


  A composition of two or more metals fused together, usually to obtain a desired property
• Interstitial alloy


  • Alloys where the atoms of the second element are much smaller, so they can slot into the gaps between atoms of the first element
• Galvanization


  A manufacturing process where a coating of zinc is applied to steel or iron to offer protection and prevent rusting
• Cathodes


  • Noble or stable metals, meaning they are less prone to corrosion
• Anodes


  • Less stable and more prone to corrosion, such as zinc and aluminum
• Anodes

  Less stable and more prone to corrosion
• Anodes are less stable and more prone to corrosion. Zinc and aluminum are common metals with higher anodic properties.
• Statue of Liberty originally had a copper color but has turned green over time due to oxidation