Different types of metals and its characteristics

TYPES OF METALS

Name of Metal - STEEL

Characteristics

Most common metal used, made mostly from iron, very strong, does not bend easily, dark gray color

Positives

Mass-produced because it can be made cheaply, very strong

Negatives

Oxidizes with exposure to water (Rusts if left unprotected)

Common Uses

Skyscrapers, bulldozers, hammers, trains, railroads, stadiums

Name of Metal  - STAINLESS STEEL

Characteristics

Same as steel, but chromium is added to make it corrosion resistant (won’t rust), silver color

Positives

Will not rust, very strong, clean surface does not hold germs

Negatives

Expensive to make

Common Uses

Pots & pans, forks & knives, surgical instruments, dental instruments (plus the St. Louis Arch!)

Name of Metal - ALUMINUM

Characteristics

Soft, bendable, lightweight, strong, non-corroding, light silver color

Positives

Cheap to make, will not rust, lightweight, easily recyclable

Negatives

Soft, melts at low temperature

Common Uses

Aluminum foil, baseball bats, airplanes, street light poles, gutters

Name of Metal - COPPER

Characteristics

Very soft, bendable, very high electrical and heat conductivity, reddishbrown color, oxidizes with exposure to air (making it green!)

Positives

Best material to conduct heat or electricity

Negatives

Soft, very expensive, oxidizes in air

Common Uses

Electrical wires, plumbing lines (plus the outside of the Statue of Liberty!)

Name of Metal - BRONZE

Characteristics

Mixture of copper and aluminum (and tin), slightly bendable, gold/yellow color

Positives

Very low metal-to-metal friction

Negatives

Expensive to make, slightly soft

Common Uses

Sculptures, bells, Olympic medals, cymbals

Name of Metal - TITANIUM

Characteristics

Very strong, hard, nonmagnetic, doesn’t corrode, dark silver in color, poor conductor of heat and electricity

Positives

Will not rust, the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal

Negatives

Very expensive to make, unstable

Common Uses

Jet engines, missiles, implants, prostheses, aircraft carriers, submarines

Name of Metal - ALLOYS (many types)

Characteristics

Combination of the above metals that take the best characteristics of each metal to make an even stronger metal

Positives

Super strong or strong and won’t rust or strong and conducts heat

Negatives

Made for a particular use, which might make it expensive

Common Uses

Space shuttle, rockets, tanks

Name of Metal - PLASTIC (not metal)

Characteristics

Blended polymers, ranges from soft to hard, generally doesn’t conduct heat; includes nylon, rubber, plastic, Teflon, etc.

Positives

Easily moldable into various shapes, cheap to make, easily recyclable, won’t rust, lasts forever

Negatives

Not as strong as metal

Common Uses

Toys, bottles, food packaging, tires, gutters