Common Alloying Elements

39NiCrMo3, 1.6510 steel In simple terms, if the alloy is to be described then it is the combination of a metal with other metal or non-metal. A solid solution constitutes of this combination. An alloy is considered to be the compounded product or mixture product of two or more different metals and non-metals. The most common ways to combine metals so as to form an alloy is by melting them and later mixing them together. This product is then allowed to solidify and settled down to be all cool at room temperature. One of the common examples of the alloy is Steel 39NiCrMo3.

What’s the purpose of making alloys?

The primary purpose of making alloys is to enhance the chemical as well as mechanical properties by mixing metals. Metal alloys are provided to have these properties. In fact, alloying elements are added to metals to enhance the number of properties. Properties like strength, corrosion resistance, hardness, and many more can easily be enhanced with combining alloying elements.

For instance, Steel 39NiCrMo3 is hardened in oil and water and is specially curated for commercial purposes like steam turbine rings, heavy duty rotary shafts, crankshaft, etc.  The alloy is specially designed for automotive accessories and for heavy-duty machinery parts along with motor vehicles and for engine parts as well.

Common Alloying Elements

There is a whole variety of common alloying elements with different properties and serve different purposes for different base materials.  Some are used to add lustre, while others are used to strength. Here is the list of some common alloying elements and the properties they add when used to form alloys:

1. NICKEL is counted amongst the popular alloying element used for increasing toughness. Nickel constitutes the major element of austenitic stainless steels as nickel acts as the austenite promoter.
2. CHROMIUM is one of the most popular alloying element which is added to base metals to make them resistant against corrosion. It is also used for boosting the strength and hardness in some material.
3. COPPER forms another common metal which is added to base metal like aluminium in order to make it precipitation hardenable. It is even added to steel in order to increase the corrosion resistance.
4. TUNGSTEN forms one of the most popular choices as the alloying element commonly used to improve wear resistance along with strength and toughness.
5. MANGANESE forms the popular alloying element which is utilised for the purpose of improving the strength. The alloying element forms the common constituent used for higher temperature applications as it is not affected by heat treatment at that extent.
6. SILICON is commonly used as the alloying elements owing to its deoxidising properties. Therefore it is added to base metals as the deoxidiser in metals. The metal is also used for increasing strength along with reducing the melting temperature.
7. BORON is one of the most popular allying element which is even when added in small quantity can help in increasing hardenability.
8. LEAD is one of the preferred alloying element added to base metals to form an alloy with improved machinability.
9. TITANIUM is one of the most popular alloying element which is used as a stabilizing element in stainless steels. It is used to form alloys to improve corrosion resistance and to improve the weldability as well. Though this element is on a bit of pricey side as it is one of the rarest element.
10. CARBON is one of the popular nonmetal alloying element which forms the essentials constituent to create steel. Carbon additions form the essential addition of Steel 39NiCrMo3 for improved hardness and strength.