Heavy Metals Glossary
( A )
ALLOY
An alloy is a solid solution or homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, which itself has metallic properties. It usually has different properties from those of its component elements. Alloying one metal with others often enhances its properties. For instance, steel products are stronger than iron, their primary element.
ALUMINUM
Next to steel, aluminum products are the most commonly used and commercially available metals. Its light weight and high strength-to-weight ratio make it a good choice for everything from aircraft to flashlights to jigs. Aluminum is produced in several heat temper grades including 6061-0, 6061-T4 and 6061-T6.
ALUMINUM (2024)
2024 is an aluminum alloy with copper and magnesium as the alloying elements. It is used in applications requiring high strength to weight ratio, as well as good fatigue resistance. It is not weldable, and has average machinability.
ALUMINUM (5052)
5052 is the alloy most suited to forming operations, with good workability and higher strength than that of the 1100 or 3003 alloys that are commercially available. 5052 is not heat-treatable, but is stronger than most of the 5xxx series of alloys. It has very good corrosion resistance, and can be easily welded. 5052 is not a good choice for extensive machining operations, as it has only a fair machinability rating.
ALUMINUM (6061)
6061 Aluminum is the most commonly used aluminum alloy and is available in angle, channel, plate, tube and pipe forms. It is specified in most any application due to its strength, heat treatability, comparatively easy machining, and weldability. The main alloy ingredients of 6061 aluminum are magnesium and silicon.
ALUMINUM (6063)
6063 is also referred to as architectural aluminum. It has a smoother surface finish with significantly less strength, making it suitable for applications where strength is not the foremost consideration. 6063 is rated as “Good” for forming and cold working operations, “Excellent” for anodizing, and “Fair” for machining.
( C )
CARBON STEEL
Carbon Steel is a metal alloy with a combination of two elements, iron and carbon. It is separated into three main categories – high carbon steel, medium carbon steel and low carbon steel.
CAST ALUMINUM TOOLING PLATE
Cast tooling plate is highly versatile and can be used for a wide range of manufacturing applications. It has outstanding machinability and excellent high speed cutting rates with consistent mechanical and dimensional characteristics. It also offers superior anodizing and hardening response, excellent weldability and a high strength to weight ratio.
CHROMOLY STEEL
Chromoly Steel is a high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel with elements chromium and molybdenum. They have an excellent strength to weight ratio, are easily welded and are considerably stronger and more durable than standard 1020 steel. Common uses of Chromoly Steel include automotive and bicycle frames, roll cages and aircraft parts.
COLD ROLLED STEEL
Cold formed steel is the common term for steel that is rolled to its final dimensions well below scaling temperatures so it is harder and stronger and has tighter tolerances than hot rolled steel. Stock bars and sheets of cold-rolled steel are commonly used in all areas of manufacturing.
( D )
DOM STEEL
DOM stands for Drawn-over-mandrel and it is a cold drawn electric resistance welded tube with all the flash removed. Each tube is tested for soundness of weld. DOM is often chosen over seamless tubing because of its excellent concentric OD (outer diameter) and ID (inner diameter) measurements.
DUCTILITY
Ductility is a mechanical property used to describe the extent to which materials can be deformed without fracture. It is the quality of being pliable and flexible, like a piece of metal that can be bent into a thin wire. Metals like silver, lead, and copper have ductility – a metalsmith can bend, hammer, and even stretch these materials without breaking or shattering them.
( E )
ELECTRO GALVANIZED
A zinc plating process where the molecules on the positively charged zinc anode attach to the negatively charged steel. This process helps protect against corrosion and offers an excellent finish for paint, enamel and lacquered applications. This is similar to hot-dipped galvanized but electroplating offers a superior appearance and a better finish for close fitting parts.
( G )
GALVANIZED
Hot Dip Galvanizing is a process that is used to apply a coat of zinc to steel. This process is similar to Electro-galvanized in which the zinc is applied to the steel through electroplating. Hot dipping will give much better corrosion resistance because the zinc coating will be much thicker than with the electro-galvanized process.
GALVANNEALED
Is the result from the combined process of galvanizing and annealing the steel. Galvanneal does not flake off its galvanized coating when formed, stamped, and bent. The very fine matte finish acts like a primer, easily adheres to paint, and is rust proof. Galvanneal sheets offers good paintability, weldability, corrosion resistance, and formability.
( H )
HARDENABILITY
The hardenability of a metal alloy is its capability to be hardened by heat treatment. It should not be confused with hardness, which is a measure of the material’s resistance to indentation or scratching. It is an important property for welding, since it is inversely proportional to weldability, that is, the ease of welding a material.
HOT ROLLED STEEL
Hot rolled steel is steel that has undergone the rolling process at a temperature above its recrystallization temperature (usually 1700°F or greater). Compared to unprocessed steel, the processed material exhibits greater formability and workability, making it easier to work with in subsequent processing operations.
( M )
MACHINABILITY
Machinability is a measure of the ease or difficulty with which a material can be cut with a cutting tool. A material that can be cut using minimal power, without causing deformation of the surrounding areas, is more machinable that one that requires more effort and causes more deformation.
MIC-6 ALUMINUM CAST PLATE
Aluminum Cast Plate offers very consistent mechanical and dimensional characteristics and is often the product of choice when flatness and dimensional control are critical. It has outstanding machinability and excellent high speed cutting rates. It also offers superior anodizing and hardening response, excellent weldability and a high strength to weight ratio.
( P )
P & O STEEL
P & O stands for pickled and oiled and occurs when hot rolled steel is pickled in acid to remove the mill scale and then oiled to keep it from rusting.
PAINTLOK
Paintlok is the result from the combined process of galvanizing and annealing the steel. The galvanization is made through the hot-dipping (Hot-dip galvanizing) process and gives a very fine grayish matte finish. Galvanneal does not flake off its galvanized coating when formed, stamped, and bent. It is extensively used in the automotive, signage, electric equipment, and other industries requiring a metal with good paintability and long reliable service life.