Electroplating refers to a process used to bind a layer of one metal over the surface of another one. Electroplating changes the properties of an item’s surface, providing protection, improving its appearance, or very often, both. Besides creating a protective coating for a metal item, manufacturers also might use electroplating to increase its thickness or…

Though it’s not a metal, adding straw into mud to make bricks that don’t crumble easily might represent the first composite material documented in history. Surprisingly, some currently standing mud-composite buildings have lasted for hundreds of years, demonstrating adobe’s clear superiority over mud or straw alone as a building material. Relying on similar principals of…

Metal Matrix Composites, often shortened to MMC, refer to composite materials formed from at least two parts. The properties of these composites improve the material’s properties to provide benefits for certain applications. Some examples might include very durable components for drill bits or strong, lightweight parts for aerospace and transportation. According to Science Direct, some…

Industries around the world rely on base metals and alloys in the manufacturing of parts, components, and complex assemblies that will be used in their operations or as products to consumers. One such metal is zinc. As the fourth most widely used metal in the world, zinc is a versatile and adaptable material that can…