Material Science and Technology for kids

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A metallic material that is a combination of two or more metals.  An alloy has better characteristics than a pure metal. 

 

Pure metals are rather soft, ductile and corrosive.  Adding other substances can make the pure metal stronger and/or corrosion resistant.  This is the advantage of alloys as opposed to pure metals.

 

One of the most common alloys is steel.  It is a mixture of iron and carbon, along with a few other added metals such as chromium and manganese.  The chromium prevents the steel from rusting, while the manganese adds hardness.  Also, carbon makes the steel stronger and harder.  So, the hardness of the steel can be increased by a greater addition of carbon.  A steel with a great amount of carbon is called a cast iron.  These properties are what make steel so popular in structural applications, such as buildings and bridges.