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Important Alloys and Composition
A compact, tabular revision of common alloys, their constituent metals and their uses, for CAPF Paper I General Science (chemistry)
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SubjectGeneral Science
RevisionGeneral ScienceChemistryAlloysMetalsPaper 1
An alloy is a mixture of a metal with one or more other metals or non-metals, made to improve strength, hardness or corrosion resistance. Cover the right columns and recall the composition and use. CAPF tests alloy-to-composition matching. For element uses see elements and their uses.
| Alloy |
Main composition |
Use |
| Brass |
Copper + Zinc |
Utensils, fittings, musical instruments |
| Bronze |
Copper + Tin |
Statues, coins, bells, bearings |
| Steel |
Iron + Carbon |
Construction, tools, machinery |
| Stainless steel |
Iron + Chromium + Nickel + Carbon |
Cutlery, utensils, surgical tools (rust-resistant) |
| Solder |
Lead + Tin |
Joining electrical wires and metal parts |
| Duralumin |
Aluminium + Copper + Magnesium + Manganese |
Aircraft bodies (light and strong) |
| Magnalium |
Aluminium + Magnesium |
Aircraft and lightweight parts |
| German silver |
Copper + Zinc + Nickel |
Utensils, ornaments (contains no silver) |
| Gun metal |
Copper + Tin + Zinc |
Gears, bearings, guns |
| Bell metal |
Copper + Tin (high tin) |
Bells, gongs |
| Type metal |
Lead + Tin + Antimony |
Printing type |
| Nichrome |
Nickel + Chromium |
Heating elements (high resistance) |
| Invar |
Iron + Nickel |
Instruments needing low thermal expansion |
| Pewter |
Tin + Copper + Antimony |
Decorative ware, tableware |
| Amalgam |
Mercury + another metal |
Dental fillings; gold extraction |
| Alloy |
Note |
| Manganese steel |
Very hard; railway tracks, helmets, safes |
| Tungsten steel |
High-speed cutting tools |
| Nickel steel |
Cables, propeller shafts, axles |
| Chrome steel |
Cutting tools, crushing machinery |
| Stainless steel |
Corrosion-resistant; the chromium gives the rust resistance |
| Fact |
Answer |
| Alloy of copper and zinc |
Brass |
| Alloy of copper and tin |
Bronze |
| Alloy used in aircraft (light) |
Duralumin / Magnalium |
| German silver contains |
Copper, zinc, nickel (no silver) |
| Alloy used as heating element |
Nichrome |
| Alloy that resists rust |
Stainless steel (chromium) |
| Alloy with mercury |
Amalgam |