Chapter 8 :

Chemicals
In
Industry
 8.1
Alloy
Definition of Alloy

A material that has metallic

properties and is composed of a
pure metal and one or more
pure metal or non-metal.
Alloy
• The mixture of alloy follows a specific
percentage rate. For example, bronze is
made up of 88% of copper and 12% of tin.
• Alloy have different properties from the
original metal when other elements are
added.
• The process of mixing other elements to the
pure metal is call alloying.
• Examples of alloys are pewter, brass,
bronze, steel and copper nickel.
Generally, an alloy is produced by melting a
pure metal. Some metal or non-metal are
then added to the molten metal and the
mixture is cooled.
The composition of an alloy is stated in
percentage according to its mass. For
example, brass is made up of 70% copper
and 30% zinc. Therefore, brass can be
made by mixing 30g zinc to 70g copper.
 Alloying
Changes
The
Properties
Of
Metals
• Alloying is carried out to improve the
weakness and structure of pure metals.
• After alloying, the properties of pure
metal:
~become more resistant to corrosion
~ have a shinier and more attractive
appearance
~become harder
• Prevents

Prevents
The
Corrosion
Of
Metals
1. A pure metal like ferum corrodes and
rusts easily.
2. Rusting and corrosion make a metal less
durable, weaker and not suitable for
various uses in production an building
industries.
3. Metal corrosion can be prevented by
alloying. For example, a little carbon
together with chronium and nickel are
added to iron to produce stainless steel.
4. Stainless steel is an alloy which is very
strong and does not rust.
 Improves
The
Appearance
Of
Metals
1. Originally, pure metals have a shiny
surface.
2. When exposed to air for a long period,
metal oxide is formed and causes it to
become dull. For example, copper has a dull
brown surface when its surface is oxidised.
3. Decorative items like trophies and made
from pewter have smooth and shiny
surface.
4. Chronium and nickel are usually added to
pure metals to make alloy with nice and
shiny surface.
Increases
The
Hardness
And
Strength
Of
Metals
1. Most metals like magnesium and aluminium are
soft and light.
2. This causes the to be unsuitable for building
things.
3. The addition of carbon or other metals to most
pure metals will make them, harder and stronger.
4. 30g magnesium is mixed with 70g aluminium to
produce an alloy called magnalium.
5. Cupro-nickel alloy is harder than the two
original metals, copper and nickel.
6. Carbon is mixed with iron to form carbon steel
alloy. It is used to manufacture cars, build
bridges, pipes and buildings.
 Arrangement of
Particles In Alloys
And
The Uses of Alloys
1. The atoms of pure metal are arranged very
closely and orderly.

2. This arrangement enables the layers of

atoms to slide easily over one another
when a force is applied.
3. This makes it ductile.

force

layer of pure
metals atom slides over the
other layer

Forms a long layer of atoms

4. The ability of the layers of metal atoms
to move easily also make the metal
malleable and easily shaped when a
force is applied.

Force

Arrangement of
the pure metal atoms changes
5. Alloying begins with the melting
of a pure metal.
6. When the pure metal melts, the
metal atoms which are closely
arranged move away from each
other. There are large empty space
between the atoms.
7. At this time, other substances are
added to the molten pure metal
and the mixture is quickly cooled.
8. As a result, the atoms of other
substances are filled between the pure
metal atoms.
9. In an alloy, the spaces between the pure
metal atoms are filled with atoms of
other substances which are smaller or
bigger.
10. Alloys are not malleable and ductile.
This is because the new arrangement
prevents the layers of the pure metal
atoms from sliding over one another.
 How
An
Alloy
Forms?
 pure metal atoms are
arranged closely and
orderly
Melt

atoms of molten
pure metal are far
apart
 Foreign atoms are added

Foreign atoms

cool quickly

arrangement of atoms an
alloy becomes less orderly and
uneven with the presence of foreign
atoms
foreign atoms which are
smaller than pure metals
can also form alloys
Comparison Between
A Pure Metal
And
An Alloy
Pure metal Alloy
a.) Atoms are arranged a.) other atoms are
orderly and closely randomly scattered and
are filled between pure
metal atoms
b.) the layers of atoms b.) there is no layered
slide easily over one structure. The pure
another metal atoms are unable
to move because the
addition of foreign
atoms holds them in
place
c.) ductile and malleable c.) harder, non-ductile
and non-malleable
Composition,
Properties
And
Uses of alloy
In daily life
 Type of Composition Property Use
alloys
Brass 70% copper ~ hard and malleable Is used for making
30% zinc ~ resistant to kitchen appliances
corrosion and ornaments
Bronze 88% copper ~ hard and malleable Is used for making
12% tin ~ can withstand decorative ornaments
corrosion better than and trophies
copper
Duralumin 95% aluminium ~ light and strong Is used for making
5% copper ~ resists corrosion aircraft bodies like
helicopter
Stainless steel 74% iron ~ same as carbon steel Is used for making
18% chromium but its appearance is cutlery like forks,
8% nickel shiny spoons and surgical
~ can withstand knives
better corrosion than
carbon steel
Pewter 96% tin ~ soft, shiny and Is used for making
3% copper malleable decorative ornaments
1% antimony and drinking mugs
Superconducto
r
alloys
1. Superconductor alloys are electrical
conductors which do not have electrical
resistance below a certain temperature. This
usually occurs at a very low temperature.
For example, perovskite ceramic alloy acts
as a superconductor at -146°C.
2. When an electric current flows through a
superconductor alloy, the loss in electrical
energy is almost zero. However, when an
electric current flows through a normal
conductor, some amount of electrical
energy is lost due to heat.
3. Perovskite ceramic is made up of yttrium
oxide, barium carbonate and copper oxide
heated in oxygen at 700°C.
4. The figure below shows the difference between an
ordinary conductor and a superconductor. At highest
temperature, both have high resistance. But at
temperature T(the lower temperature), the
superconductor has zero resistance. The ordinary
conductor has resistance even at 0 degree kelvin.

Resistance
ordinary
conductor superconductor

0 T temperature/K
5. Alloy superconductors also show
diamagnetic properties which repelled by
magnets.
6. Alloy superconductors are used to make
very light, small and strong magnets in
a.) bullet trains-the train uses the help of a
magnet to move as though it is floating. This
reduces the loss in electrical power as a
result of friction between the train and the
track.
Example: the Maglev train that can travel at
speed of 552km/hour.
 b.) the medical field-the magnetic resonance
imaging(MRI) machine uses superconductor
alloys to produce a strong magnetic field
which helps medical specialists to obtain the
cross-section of the internal organs of a
patient on a computer screen without
having to carry out an operation.
c.) the production of electrical energy-a
magnetic superconductor in a nuclear
reactor can produce more electrical energy.
This energy can be used to move
submarines and aeroplanes.
The End!
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≈ Hazirah ≈
≈ Shafiqah ≈
≈ Amalina ≈
≈ Syafika Alia ≈
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