Demand for high-strength, low-reactivity materials capable of meeting rigorous performance standards continues to increase. Enhancing base metals with additional elements expands and fine-tunes the final product’s potential applications. Innovations such as stainless steel for medical equipment and Ti-6Al-4V for aerospace applications are just the beginning. One impressive alloying element, which can transform base metals into…
When businesses spend money on maritime equipment, they need to feel protected against the effects of saltwater corrosion. Unfortunately, saltwater contains dissolved ions, or charged particles, involved in metal corrosion. To protect expensive equipment against corrosion, it’s essential to invest in cathodic protection. Understanding the Dangers of Saltwater Corrosion Sodium chloride and other dissolved ions…
When aluminum comes into contact with air, it oxidizes and creates a thin layer of aluminum oxide. Although copper offers a higher level of oxidation resistance, it still reacts with oxygen. The reaction creates copper oxide, which produces a telltale blue-green patina on the metal. In some cases, the oxide layer weakens the underlying metal,…
Alloys have several benefits over using pure metals, including increased strength and improved corrosion resistance, but reinforcing alloys can enhance the properties of individual metals even further. Alloy reinforcement is key in creating a material that meets exact specifications. Manganese is one of the most critical elements in this process and, when added to aluminum and…