Glossary
A glossary of terms relating to alloys, their properties, and the processes used in metallurgy.
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Term Definition
AbrasionA surface discontinuity caused by roughening or scratching.
 
Age Hardening

A process of increasing the hardness and strength by the precipitation of particles of a phase from a supersaturated solid solution alloy. The hardening cycle usually consists of heating or annealing at a temperature sufficiently high to maintain solid solution, rapid cooling or quenching to retain the supersaturated solid solution, and subsequent heating at a temperature lower than the solution anneal to effect the precipitation.

 
Age SofteningThe loss of strength and hardness at room temperature which takes place in certain alloys due to the spontaneous reduction of residual stresses in the strain hardened structure.
 
AgingPrecipitation from solid solution resulting in a change in properties of an alloy, usually occurring slowly at room temperature (natural aging) and more rapidly at elevated temperatures (artificial aging).
 
Alloy

An alloy is a combination, either in solution or chemical compound, of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, and where the resulting material has metallic properties. The resulting metallic substance usually has different properties (sometimes significantly different) from those of its components.

For more information on "Alloy" see our Encyclopedia Page on this topic.

 

 
Aluminum Alloys

Aluminum alloys or aluminium alloys are alloys of aluminum, often with copper, zinc, manganese, silicon, or magnesium. They are much lighter and more corrosion resistant than plain carbon steel, but not quite as corrosion resistant as pure aluminum.

See our encyclopedia page on Aluminum Alloys for more information.

For Aluminum Alloys we supply please visit our Aluminum Catalog Page

 
AMSThe abbreviation for "Aerospace Material Specification".
 
AngularityConfomity to, or deviation from, specified angular dimensions in the cross section of a shape or bar.
 
Annealing

A thermal treatment to soften metal by removal of stress resulting from cold working or by coalescing precipitates from solid solution

 
Anode(1) In corrosion processes, usually the metal that has the greater tendency to dissolve. (2) In electroplating, the positive electrode used in a plating bath.
 
ANSIAbbreviation for American National Standards Institute.
 
Anvil EffectIn an indentation hardness test, the bulge formed on the anvil side of the specimen which indicates that the hardness determination is of questionable accuracy.
 
ArborA cylindrical core around which metal is wound to obtain a desired inside diameter of the wound coil or roll.
 
Architectural Bronze

A Copper Alloy (C38500) often used in building hardware and for other ornamental, architectural uses.

Chemical Composition for C38500

(%max., unless shown as range or min.)


Cu Fe Pb Zn
Min./Max. 55.0-59.0 .35 2.5-3.5 Rem.
Nominal 57.0 - 3.0 40.0

 

 

 

 
Area ReductionThe decrease in cross-section of a product by rolling or drawing. This is a measure of the temper of metal in the cold worked condition.
 
As-ExtrudedA condition of a metal mill product resulting from hot extrusion; soft, not cleaned nor drawn or rolled to size.
 
As-Hot-RolledA condition of a metal mill product resulting from hot rolling; soft, not cleaned nor drawn or rolled to size.
 
ASTMAbbreviation for the American Society for Testing Material.
 
Beryllium copper

Copper Alloys C17200, C17300, C17500, and C17510

Beryllium copper, also known as copper beryllium, CuBe or beryllium bronze, is a metal alloy of copper and 0.5 to 3% beryllium, and sometimes with other alloying elements, and has significant metalworking and operating performance qualities.

 

Chemical Composition for C17200


Cu Al Be Co Si
Min./Max. Rem. .20 1.80-2.00 .20 min .20
Nominal 98.1 - 1.90 - -

 

Chemical Composition for C17300


Cu Al Be Co Pb Si
Min./Max. Rem. .20 1.80-2.00 .20 min .20-.6 .20
Nominal 97.7 - 1.90 - .40 -

 

Chemical Composition for C17500


Cu Al Be Co Fe Si
Min./Max. Rem. .20 .4-.7 2.4-2.7 .10 .20
Nominal 96.9 - .55 2.6 - -

 

Chemical Composition for C17510


Cu Al Be Co Fe Ni Si
Min./Max. Rem. .20 .2-.6 .3 .10 1.4-2.2 .20
Nominal 97.8 - .4 - - 1.8 -

 

For more information on beryllium copper see our Encyclopedia Page on this topic.

For Copper Alloys we supply please visit our copper Catalog Page

 
BilletA hot-worked semifinished product suitable for subsequent working by such methods as rolling, forging, extruding, etc.
 


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