Alloy

A Substance that has metallic properties.

Composed of two or more chemical elements, of which at least

one is a metal.
How many metals?

How many alloys?

An alloy system:

Contains all the alloys .

that can be formed by several elements.

Combined in all possible combinations.

Types alloy systems:

Binary alloy system: If the system is made up of two elements.

Ternary alloy system: If the system is made up of three

elements.
45 common metals forms.

990 binary alloy system.

14000 ternary alloy system.

In each system, large number of different alloys are possible.

If the composition is varied by 1%, 100 alloys may be formed.

Commercial alloys contains many elements.

Therefore, number of possible alloys is almost infinite.

Alloys may be classified according to their structure.

Alloy system may be classified according to the type of

equilibrium/phase diagram.
Phase: Anything which is homogeneous and physically
distinct.
Alloys: May be of homogeneous phase or structure.
Homogeneous: Single phase
Mixture: Combination of several phases.

Uniformity of alloy not determined on an atomic scale but on

a larger scale.
Any structure which is visible as a physically distinct
microscopically may be considered as a phase.
For pure metals

Phase is synonymous with state liquid, solid and gaseous.

For allotropic materials: Different solid phases.

When they undergo a change in crystal structure, phase change occurs.

Each type of crystal appears differently.

In solid states
Possible 3 phases are:
1. Pure metal
2.Intermediate alloy phase or compound
3.solid solution

If an alloy is homogeneous in solid state it can only be a

solid solution or compound.

If an alloy is a mixture
Mixture of two pure metals
Two solid solution
Two compounds
Pure metal and solid solution and so on
Under equilibrium conditions ,

All metals exhibit a definite melting point or freezing point.

Equilibrium conditions: extremely slow heating and cooling.

Intermediate alloy phase::

Compounds :Most general, combination of positive and

negative valence elements.

Various kinds of atoms are combined in definite proportion

expressed by chemical formula.

Example: H20
NaCl :
One Na atom and one Cl atom combined to form the molecule
this molecule is the smallest unit
has the properties of compound.
Atoms are held in a definite bond.
Bond: Generally strong, atoms are not separated.
In compounds, elements lose their individual properties.

Na active metal, oxidizes rapidly, stored under kerosene

Cl poisonous gas,

Nacl harmless and important compound.

Compounds
Exhibits a definite melting point with narrow limits of temperature

Therefore cooling curve is similar to that of pure metal.

Intermediate phases are the phases

Whose chemical compositions are intermediate between the two pure metals

Crystal structure is different from those of pure metals

Intermediate Phases/Compounds

1. Intermetallic compounds/valency compounds

2. Interstitial compounds

3. Electron compounds
Intermetallic compounds/valence compounds
Formed between chemically dissimilar metals
Combined by following the rules of chemical valence
They have strong bonding (ionic or covalent)
Example: CaSe, Mg2Pb, Mg2Sn and Cu2Se
Properties : nonmetallic
Poor ductility
Poor electrical conductivity
May have a complex crystal structure
Interstitial compounds
Formed between transition metals
Transition metals such as Scandium, Titanium, Tantalum, Tungsten, Iron
With
Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Boron and nitrogen
Metallic
Narrow range of composition, high melting points and are extremely
hard
Examples
TiC, TaC, Fe4N, Fe3C, W2C, CrN and TiH

Useful in hardening of Steel and in cemented carbide tools.

Electron Compounds
In alloys of Cu, gold, silver, iron and nickel
With Cd, Mg, Tin, and Al

Definite electron ratio and similar lattice structure.

Electron compounds

Propeties resembles the properties of solid solution

Wide range of composition, high ductility, and low hardness.
Electron Compounds