Extraction of
Metals Alloys
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Alloys - containing Iron.
The alloys of iron are steel, manganese steel, stainless steel and titanium steel.
Steel
is a mixture of iron and carbon.
The amount of carbon may range from 0·1% to
1·5%
giving steels of different properties.
The exact composition of the
steel
can be monitored by atomic emission
spectroscopy during
production.
Over half of the steel used each year in the UK is recycled.
Low
carbon steel (less than 0·25% carbon) is called
mild steel.
Mild steel is cheap,
strong and easily shaped.
It is the main metal for construction
and is used to make bridges, buildings,
ships and vehicles.
High
carbon steel (more than
0·5%
carbon) is stronger than
mild steel
but it is more brittle.
High carbon
steel is used to make tools and cutters.
Steel
has the disadvantage of needing a
protective coating
(for example paint) or it will
react with oxygen in the air and
rust.
Rusting is the reverse of the process in the blast
furnace - see rusting.
Manganese
steel is an alloy of iron
(84%), manganese (15%) and
carbon (1%).
Manganese steel is extremely hard
and is used for railway points and dredging
equipment.
Stainless
steel is an alloy of iron
(80%),
chromium (15%), nickel
(4%) and carbon (0·5 to 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.
Titanium
steel may contain 0·5 to 2% titanium with
varying amounts
of other metals including chromium, nickel and
vanadium.
Titanium steel is very
hard and finds uses in aircraft and armour
plating.
Extraction of
Metals Alloys
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