List of Important Alloys and their Uses | Famous Books for UPSC Exam (Summary & Tests) PDF Download

What is an Alloy?

An alloy is a metallic intimately mixed solid mixture of two or more different elements, at least one of which is metal. In molten state alloys are homogeneous and in solid state they may be homogeneous or heterogeneous.

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Properties of an Alloy

Metal Alloys have both physical and chemical properties together with mechanical. Some properties are reactivity, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, good tensile strength, resistance to deformation, malleability etc.

List of Important Alloys and their Uses

Here, we have seen some important alloys and their uses. But the question arises, how alloys are formed, how metals are mixed etc. Traditionally it was done by heating and melting metal and converts it into liquids, mixes them and then allows them to cool to solidify it. But some more methods are also there like powder metallurgy; in this method, turn the components of alloys into powders, mix them together and then fuse them with a combination of high pressure and high temperature.  Another method to make an alloy is Ion implantation, which is done with the help of semiconductors used in electronic circuits and computer chips.

Also, an alloy in which one of the components is mercury is known as amalgam and in alloys the chemical properties of the component elements are retained but certain physical properties are improved.