Chapter 8 chemicals in industry

Alloys

Bullet train

National monument Malaysia

Alloys
Is a mixture of a metal and one or more metals or non metals. The mixture of metals in an alloy has a fixed composition. For example, brass is made up of 75% copper and 25% zinc

Alloys
The process of mixing other elements to the pure metal is called alloying
An alloy is produced by melting a pure metal. Some metals or non metals are then added to the molten metal and the mixture is cooled.

Arrangement of atoms

Pure metal

Alloy

Arrangement of atoms

Pure metal

Alloy

 Pure metals are usually soft and weak, because the layers of atoms can easily slide over each other when an external force is applied on them. This make the metals ductile. In an alloy, adding of one or more other elements disrupt (ganggu) the orderly arrangement of atoms in the metal. This is because the atoms added are of a different size. Hence, the layer cannot slide over each other easily. This makes the alloy harder and stronger than pure metals.

Aims of making alloys:

1. To increase the strength and hardness of a pure metal. 2. To increase the resistance to corrosion of a pure metal 3. To improve the appearance of a pure metal.

Types of alloys:
Brass
Composition: 70% Copper, 30% Zinc

properties: hard and shiny

uses: - electrical connector
- musical instrument - kitchenware - food containers

Types of alloys:
Bronze

Composition: 88% Copper, 12% tin

properties: hard and strong do not corrode easily uses: - medals
- ships propellers - decorative ornament - statues

Types of alloys:
Duralumin

Composition: 95% Aluminium, 3% Copper, 1% Magnesium, 1% Manganese

properties: light, hard and strong

uses:

- body of aeroplane
- window frame - racing bicycles

Types of alloys:
Pewter Composition: 96% tin, 3% copper and 1% antimony

properties: lustrous, strong

uses: - making of mugs, candlesticks, decorative ornaments and souvenirs

Types of alloys:
Steel

Composition: 99.5% iron, 0.5% Carbon

properties: hard, Strong

uses: - Framework of building and bridge

Types of alloys:
Stainless steel

Composition: 74% iron, 8% Carbon, 18% Chromium

properties: Shiny, strong and resists rusting

uses: - Cutlery - Surgical instruments

Relate the arrangement of atoms in pure metal to its ductile and malleable properties.
Pure metal is made up of one type of atoms. The atoms in a pure metal are orderly arranged to produce a packed regular structure. Pure metal can easily change its shape

Explain why an alloy is harder than its pure metal.

Alloys have more than one kind of atoms. These different atoms are of different size. They are mixed when they are in the molten state. The layers of atoms in an alloy cannot slide over each other as easily. The movement of atoms get jammed up. This makes the alloy not ductile and not malleable.

Superconductor Alloy
Are conductors that can conducts electricity with no resistance at a very low temperature.

Niobium germanium acts as a superconductor at - 250C

Superconductor Alloy
Superconductors can conduct a high current flow without any loss in electric energy compared to normal conductors.

Hence, the use of superconductor alloy could avoid wastage of energy.

The uses of Superconductor Alloy

a) Medical field a superconductor electromagnet is put into a patients body to enable doctors to examine some of the patients organs visually using a computer.

The uses of Superconductor Alloy

b) Bullet trains These trains use strong electromagnetic field to levitate on their tracks. This reduces the friction (geseran) between the trains and the tracks. Hence, they can travel at a high speed.

The uses of Superconductor Alloy

c) Production of electrical energy The magnetic power of superconductor alloys in a nuclear reactor can produce more electrical energy. This energy is used to move nuclear submarine.

The uses of Superconductor Alloy

d) Telecommunications and astronomy a superconductor alloy can detect rays at wavelengths that cannot be detected by existing instrument.