Types of metals

Presented by Tim Hilditch

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Types of metals and alloys

Metals are generally classified as

ferrous or non-ferrous – that is they
contain iron or they don’t

Ferrous include steel, cast iron and

wrought iron
Non-ferrous include aluminium,
magnesium, titanium, copper, nickel,
zinc, noble metals, …...

Springer, H., Baron, C., Szczepaniak, A. et al. Stiff, light, strong and ductile: nano-structured High Modulus Steel. Sci Rep 7, 2757 (2017).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02861-3

We rarely use base or pure metals

What is an alloy?

An alloy is a mixture of a metal with at least one other element.

Steel is a common example of an alloy. It contains iron mixed with carbon and
other elements. Adding other elements to a metal changes its structure and so
changes its properties.

The final alloy may have very

different properties to the
original metal.

By changing the amount of each

element in an alloy, material
scientists can custom-make
alloys to fit a given job.
Steels
Steels
Low Alloy High Alloy
low carbon Med carbon high carbon
<0.25 wt% C 0.25-0.6wt% C 0.6-1.4wt% C

heat
Name plain HSLA plain plain tool stainless
treatable
Cr,V Cr, Ni Cr, V,
Additions none none none Cr, Ni, Mo
Ni, Mo Mo Mo, W
Example 1010 4310 1040 4340 1095 4190 304, 409
Hardenability 0 + + ++ ++ +++ varies
TS - 0 + ++ + ++ varies
EL + + 0 - - -- ++
Uses auto bridges crank pistons wear drills high T
struc. towers shafts gears applic. saws applic.
sheet press. bolts wear dies turbines
vessels hammers applic. furnaces
blades Very corros. Table based on data provided in Tables
resistant 11.1(b), 11.2(b), 11.3, and 11.4, Callister &

increasing strength, cost, decreasing ductility Rethwisch 8e.

 Steel – where does the carbon go?

A little bit of carbon goes into • If we have more than 0.02 Ferrite
interstitial solid solution – at wt% carbon at room
room temp only 0.02 wt% C can temperature, we also form
fit in b.c.c iron (called ferrite) some cementite (iron-
carbon compound)

Iron (Fe) atoms Pearlite

• Steel with more than 0.02 wt%
carbon will form pearlite,
alternating ferrite (very low
Carbon (C)
carbon) and cementite (very high in
atoms carbon)

- or martensite if quenched
 Nonferrous Alloys

Pure metal

Titanium, aluminium and magnesium are

often referred too as light metals due to
their lower density than steel
Based on discussion and data provided in Section 11.3, Callister & Rethwisch 3e.
Material Processing

Wrought or cast?

Most steel and titanium alloys are

deformed into their final shape
while in a solid form.

Aluminium and magnesium alloys

are either designed for them to be
solidified into their final shape
from a liquid form (cast) or for
them to be formed into their final
shape while a solid (wrought)

The compositions are different

depending on the intended
manufacturing process
Materials: engineering, science, processing and design, 2nd edition Copyright (c)2010 Michael Ashby, Hugh Shercliff, David Cebon
 Wrought aluminium alloys
- Formed while solid into desired
shape (either hot or cold)

• The second digit is used to indicate

purity or modifications

• The third and fourth digit are just to

identify different alloys (except 1xxx)
Cast aluminium alloys
- Solidify from liquid into desired • Low melting point of aluminium makes it attractive for
shape casting

• Needs high fluidity while in molten form, which is why

there is typically a high amount of silicon

Copper 2xx.x
Silicon (added copper and or magnesium) 3xx.x
Silicon 4xx.x
Magnesium 5xx.x
Zinc 7xx.x
Tin 8xx.x
Other elements 9xx.x
Unused series 6xx.x
 Magnesium alloys

• Low density and elastic modulus (less than

quarter of steel)
• Low melting point
• Poor corrosion resistance
• Low ductility

Cast magnesium alloys Wrought magnesium alloys

- Solidify from liquid into desired shape - Formed while solid into desired shape
(generally hot)
 Titanium alloys

• Density and elastic modulus slightly over half that of steel

• High strength (comparable to steel)
• High melting point http://www.pearldentalclinic.co.uk/implant-2-gallery.html

• Good corrosion resistance and biocompatibility

Alpha-phase (h.c.p) is stable at

room temperature

Beta-phase (b.c.c.) is stable at high

Microstructure
temperature, but alloying can
of Ti-64
make metastable at room
temperature
What you should do now

• Look up and read about the following online or in a textbook (pay attention to
any differences between wrought grades and cast grades):

o Steel grades
o Aluminium alloy designations
o Magnesium alloy designation
o Titanium alloy grades