2. INTRODUCTION
o Pure metals usually have high densities; high melting and boiling points are good
conductors of heat and electricity, shiny, malleable and ductile.
o Pure metals are composed of the same type of atoms and are of the same size.
o In the solid state, the atoms are closely packed in an orderly manner.
o This arrangement of atoms in metals gives the metals their ductile and malleable
properties when a force is applied.
o Ductility of metals
The layers of atoms can slide over one another when a force is applied. Therefore,
metals are ductile or can be stretched.
o Malleability of metals
There are some imperfections in the orderly arrangement of atoms. When a metal is
knocked, atoms slide into new positions. Therefore, metals are malleable (can be
hammered into different shapes without cracking) or can be shape
o Alloys may contain mixtures of metals or mixture of metals and non metals.
o Foreign atoms added may be larger or smaller than the atoms of the pure metal.
Arrangement of atom in alloy
o The presences of foreign atoms that are of different sizes disturb the orderly
arrangement of metal atoms.
o This reduces the layers of atoms from sliding over one another. Thus, an alloy is stronger
and harder than its pure metal.
4. WHAT ARE ALLOYS?
1. Pure metal are usually too soft for most uses. They also have a low
r e s i s t a n c e t o corrosion. They rush and tarnish easily.
2. To improve the physical properties of metal, a small amount of
a n o t h e r e l e m e n t (usually metal) is added to form another alloy.
3. An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals (something non -metal) in a
s p e c i f i c proportion. For example
a) Bronze (90% of copper and 10% of tin)
b) b. Steel (99% of iron and 1% of carbon)
4. The purposes of making alloys include the following:
a) Increase the strength
i. Pure iron is soft and vary malleable. When a small amount of carbon is added to iron, an
alloy, steal is formed. The more carbon is added, the stronger the steel becomes.
ii. ii. Pure aluminium is light but not strong. With a small amount of
copper and magnesium are added to aluminium , a strong, light and
d u r a b l e a l l o y c a l l duralumin is produced.
b) Improving the resistance to corrosion
i. Iron rust easily but stainless steel which contains 80.6% of iron, 0.4% of carbon, 1 8 %
of chromium and 1% of nickel does not rush. These properties make
stainless steel suitable for making surgical instrument and cutlery.
ii. Pure copper tarnish easily. When zinc (30%) is added, the yellow alloy which is known as
brass develops a high resistance to corrosion
c) Enhancing the appearance
i. Pewter, an alloy of tin (97%), antimony and copper is not only hard but also has a
more beautiful white silvery appearance.
ii. When copper is mixed with nickel to form cupronickel, an alloy
t h a t h a s a n attractive silvery, bright appearance is formed which is
suitable for making coins
5. EXAMPLES OF ALLOY
ALLOY COMPOSITIONS PROPERTIES USES
Duralumin Al 94% Light and strong Aeroplane part,
Cu 4% electric cables
Mg 1% racing bicycles
Steel Fe 99% Hard, strong and Vehicles, bridges
C 1% cheap and buildings
Stainless steel Fe 73% Hard, rust and Kitchen
Cr 18% resistant appliances,
Ni 8% watches, knifes,
C 1% fork, spoon,
machine parts
Bronze Cu 90% Hard, strong and Decorative items,
Sn 10% shining medals, artworks
Brass Cu 70% Harder and Musicals
Zn 30% cheaper than instrument, bells,
copper nails, screw pots
Pewter Sn 91% Malleable, ductile, Decorative items,
Sb 7% rust resistant souvenirs
Cu 2%
6. DISCUSSION
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete
solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or
more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal (heat
treatment) history. Alloys usually have different properties from those of the component
elements.
Alloy constituents are usually measured by mass. Alloys are usually classified as substitution or
interstitial alloys, depending on the atomic arrangement that forms the alloy. They can be
further classified as homogeneous, consisting of a single phase, heterogeneous, consisting of
two or more phases, or intermetallic, where there is no distinct boundary between phases.
7. CONCLUSIONS
We must appreciate these various synthetic industrial materials. One of the ways is by doing
continuous research and development (R & D) to produce better materials used to improve our
standard of living. As we live in a changing world, our society is getting more complex. New
materials are required to overcome new challenges and problems we face in our daily lives.
Synthetic materials are developed constantly due to the limitation and shortage of natural
materials. New technological developments are used by scientists to make new discoveries.
New materials for clothing, shelter, tools and communication to improve our daily life are
developed continuously for the well-being of mankind. New needs and new problem will
stimulate the development of new synthetic materials. For example, the new use of plastic
composite material will replace metal in the making of a stronger and lighter car body. This will
save fuel and improve speed. Plastic composite materials may one day used to make organs for
organ transplant in human bodies. This will become necessity with the shortage of human
organ donors.
The understanding of the interaction between different chemicals is important for both the
development of new synthetic materials and the disposal of such synthetic materials as waste.
A responsible and systemic method of handling the waste of synthetic materials and their by-
product is important to prevent environmental pollution. The recycling and development of
environmental friendly synthetic material should been forced.
8. REFERENCES
1. Spotlight SPM Chemistry, Ooi Yong Seang, Darric Lim, Pan Asia Publications SDN BHD,
2009.
2. www.scribd.com