What Are Metallic Materials?
Metallic materials are materials made by materials that have metallic properties.
They are used in a wide variety of applications due to their strength, ductility, melting properties, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and other advantages.
When selecting metallic materials, it is necessary to select the most suitable material in terms of strength, heat resistance, corrosion resistance, workability, cost, etc., according to the environment in which the product will be used and the available processing methods.
The types of metallic materials can be broadly classified into iron and steel materials, which are mainly composed of iron, and nonferrous metallic materials, which are mainly composed of metals other than iron.
Steel Materials
Steel materials are inexpensive materials with excellent strength and ductility. They are used in a variety of applications because their mechanical properties can be adjusted through heat treatment and the addition of other metals.
Iron and steel is an iron alloy containing about 0.04%~2% carbon, but it is often referred to as a generic term for materials in which iron is the main component.
Stainless steel is a material to which 12% or more chromium is added to steel.
Nonferrous Metallic Materials
Nonferrous metallic materials are a generic term for materials composed mainly of metals other than iron, such as aluminum, titanium, magnesium, nickel, and copper.
Although they are more expensive than steel materials, they are used in situations where functional properties such as light weight and wear resistance are required.
1. Aluminum
Aluminum is light, weighing only 1/3 of steel, and is used as a highly functional material with excellent corrosion resistance and elongation properties. Although it may seem low in strength, when copper or magnesium is added, it becomes a high-strength material known as duralumin.
2. Copper
Copper has excellent thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, workability, and ductility, and is used as a component material for electrical products. There are various types of copper materials such as bronze (an alloy of copper and tin), brass (an alloy of copper and zinc), and chrome copper.