There is no doubt that metal is one of the most important construction materials that humanity has ever used, from prehistoric eras to the present. In fact, a few prehistoric eras are named after the most commonly used metals of the time, such as the Iron Age and the Bronze Age. But metal production was fairly limited until the Industrial Revolution, when steel was mass produced at mills in Europe and the United States. Starting at this point, mass production of metal became the norm, and it allowed for the construction of trains and railroads, skyscraper I-beams, steam ships, and much more. Now, in the present, many grades of steel, along with stainless steel and high yield steel, are widely used for nearly every application imaginable. But there is more. Nickel alloys and copper alloys, such as cupro nickel 70 30, are vital for certain fields of work where even steel or aluminum would fall short. Monel and titanium alloys can do even more, and aluminum bronze alloys are sometimes used to make sheet metal goods. When is it time for the purchase of wholesale cupro nickel 70 30 or related alloys? And when can steel or aluminum do the job just fine?
Steel and Aluminum
While steel and aluminum cannot truly do everything, these metals are indeed widely used around the world, and for good reason. In fact, steel is one of the most generously exported and traded materials around the globe, and the United States produces a lot of steel while also importing some from Germany, China, and Canada. Steel is also one of the most widely recycled materials, enjoying a 90% recycling rate. Made of refined iron, steel is lighter and stronger than iron is, and it has been used since the Middle Ages. But where it was once used to make swords and armor, it is now used to make surgical equipment and cutlery, often with stainless varieties. Steel is also central to making I-beams, railroad tracks, and many vehicles and manufactured goods.
Steel sheets are made when the raw material is passed through pressurized rollers at high temperatures, which results in “hot rolled” steel that has imprecise dimensions. It is useful for making I-beams and railroad tracks, and the like. But if those steel sheets are passed through the rollers again at room temperature, the result is cold rolled steel, which has precise dimensions and a protective coating on it. Such steel is ideal for making manufactured goods, though it must be shipped carefully.
What about aluminum? This soft metal is even lighter than steel is, and it is ideal for making parts for all kinds of household electronics and appliances. Due to its low weight, aluminum is often used to make vehicle components, to make those vehicles lighter and thus more fuel efficient. Many cars have aluminum rims, for example.
Using Alloys Like Cupro Nickel 70 30
Where to metal alloys fit in all this? Steel and aluminum are light and tough and widely used, but they cannot be used for all applications. So, other metals are used, which may have unique properties such as tungsten’s extremely high melting point or copper and brass’s resistance to corrosion. Copper is often use by itself, or in alloys, to make items that must endure corrosive forces without getting compromised, such as in naval applications. But what is an alloy? This describes a composite metal that is made up of two or more “ingredient” metals ranging form steel and iron to titanium, copper, brass, nickel, and more. The resulting alloy, such as cupro nickel 70 30 (copper and nickel) will have certain properties that make it desirable for certain types of work.
Copper and brass can resist corrosion, and thus they (and alloys made with them) are vital for any marine work, such as undersea pipes that carry and are exposed to salt water. Other metals would suffer and corrode, but not copper alloys like cupro nickel 70 30. Other alloys endure extremes of pressure or heat, and they are ideal for making train and jet engine parts, not to mention space shuttle parts. A metal bellows may be an alloy, since it must flex and bend without rupturing while containing very hot or cold materials.