For jewelry casting, manufacturers have a wide range of base metals and alloys to select from for their pieces. Most common metals that consumers are familiar with are gold, silver, platinum, and sterling silver. Yet there are many other types of alloys that may be used, including tin and zinc. When determining which alloy to…

When evaluating metals used to strengthen other alloys and to provide unique mechanical and physical properties, tin in higher purities is one metal that manufacturers take a close look at. Tin is an abundant metal as it is used in a number of manufacturing purposes and industries. This metal is often used as an outer…

Copper’s immense popularity in products made around the world requires manufacturers to develop this alloy in high quantities to meet rising demand. However, copper by itself is often not suitable for products when it is melted and cast into shape. Its soft properties require strengthening yet also elasticity so it does not become brittle. In…

While tin (Sn) is not mentioned as often as copper, it is another widely used metal for industrial applications. Tin is used most in electroplating, where the metal is used to coat other base metals to provide protection from other factors such as corrosion. Electroplating can also provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. The tin…

Due to advanced manufacturing processes, companies today can use a range of base metals and alloys to create the right products and components to their industries. When obtaining the metals that will be used in casting, extruding and forming processes, manufacturers can request the alloys and base metals in various sizes and shapes. Ingots, cubes,…

Copper alloys are widely used metals for manufacturing purposes around the world. From copper pipes, electrical wires, mechanical components and other applications, manufacturers are creating the products for companies to run their operations and for the public to improve their daily lives. This unique alloy offers excellent thermal and electrical capabilities. Other elements will also…

Babbitt metals are either lead or tin based, and the metal makes excellent bearings that are easy to pour as a DIY project. However, before you pour your bearings, you must select the correct babbitt metal in order to ensure your engine or piece of machinery operates correctly and efficiently. If you know the composition…

Are you looking for high-quality copper boron that can be easily mixed with other metals in order to create custom alloys? If you are, we offer 2 percent boron copper, which is a great degassifier, deoxifier and grain refiner. Boron: Uses and Properties Boron is a non-metallic element located in group 13, period 2, block…

Metals such as copper are very popular in a range of industries including manufacturing, plumbing and construction. However, it can be prone to deformations when hot worked or during machining. The deformations can cause the metal to fail to keep its desired shape and impact its structure, especially during pipe bending processes. Adding zirconium can…

When discussing lithium, most people associate this element to the lithium batteries that are found in computing devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablet devices. Yet lithium is a metal that is used throughout a range of commercial, manufacturing and industrial processes including the aviation and aerospace industries. The Properties of Lithium Lithium is considered…

Semiconductors, machine bearings, and utensils are all made from varying amounts of metal alloys. Yet these items also possess one common factor: antimony. Antimony is a semi-metal element that comes in both a powdered form as well as a hard and brittle metal. Possessing a silvery, blush white appearance, this element is highly desired when…

Name a metal alloy that has been used for centuries, and many people will think of aluminum, iron or copper. Yet Zirconium should also be added to the list. There are numerous products in our workplaces and our homes that uses this silvery-gray metal, such as lamp filaments, television glass, and even in some deodorants….

Working with various copper, pure copper and nickel-based alloys allow for manufacturers to create end products for customers and the necessary components for their operations. However, one issue that companies experience is alloy quality during the melting and casting process. When copper and nickel-based alloys are melted, oxygen becomes introduced into the alloys from the…

The deoxidation of copper alloys involves removing the oxygen using a chemical process, usually other metals. As the oxygen and other gases are removed from the metal, certain properties are either enhanced or decreased. For example, when Phosphor is added to bronze alloys, it reacts by removing the oxygen content from the metal which can…

Custom alloys can help streamline production Although custom alloys often are associated with new and advanced applications, they also can solve real-world production problems. For more than a century, Belmont Metals, based in Brooklyn, New York, has been working collaboratively with its customers to create materials that can improve their manufacturing processes. Coming up with…

Babbitt metals ensure machinery runs smoothly Bearings play an integral role in machine efficiency by reducing friction between moving parts. The earliest recorded examples of bearing usage date back to the Romans, and in the year 1500, Leonardo da Vinci sketched a design for a helicopter that incorporated ball bearings. Today, common types of bearings…

Using lead-free pewter alloys for making jewelry helps alleviate health concerns Adding lead to an alloy can help create characteristics—such as softness and lower melting temperatures—that are useful for many applications. However, lead also is a neurotoxin that is dangerous to animals and humans. Small children are more vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure…

Master alloys help copper shine Red metals have played an important role in many cultures, including those of the ancient Egyptians and Romans, who crafted tools, cookware, dishes, mirrors and razors out of copper. Modern uses for copper include electrical, heating/cooling applications, fluid handling and plumbing applications, as well as an increasing demand for the…

Create materials that meet specific needs by adding master alloys to the mix It’s important to choose the right materials for a job. Using inferior or unsuitable materials can make completing a project more difficult or even derail it entirely. In the metals industry, combinations of metals, called alloys, are generated to meet the specific…