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Questions tagged [metals]

531 questions
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Do Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) work harden?

We had a piece of this thin Shape Memory Alloy in class, (I think it was called nitinol, but I think thats a brand name) the teacher showed how it is very flexible and springy, and will return to it's original shape when placed in warm water. Normal…
Deep
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Can work hardening of a metal be avoided?

My left earbud recently broke mid-wire: the bit that I like to fiddle with and bend. I fixed it, but I was wondering whether there are metals that don't work harden, or resistant to it? Is there a way that you can treat normal metal to prevent it…
Deep
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Why does carbon alloy with iron specifically?

Everyone knows what an alloy is: it's a metal made by melting two (or more) other metals together. Unless of course you're talking about steel. That's a metal made by mixing carbon (very much not a metal) into molten iron. But you never hear about…
Mason Wheeler
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What makes some aluminium alloys so strong while remaining light?

Compared to cast iron, for example, certain alloys of aluminum have both strength and weight advantages. How can aluminum be so strong while being so light?
pavan
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Vertical vs. lateral malleability of copper plate in fine art etching

The malleability of copper has, in part, contributed to the viability of copper plate etching in fine art through the ages, by offering the ability to “erase” or flatten inadvertently placed or too deeply bitten canal lines in which printing ink…
Sketcher
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Can I use ultrasound to detect metal underground?

I am doing research which aim to detect metal underground. I know that most metal detectors are based on the concept of change of inductance of an inductor caused by mutual inductance with a neighbouring metal or ferromagnetic material (like this).…
nhattan.khtn
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Calculate Force Needed to Squeeze a set of prongs together?

I have an anodizing rack that has hundreds of prongs. These prongs are made of titanium and need to be squeezed together in order to place the parts on the rack. I am wondering how I would calculate the force needed to make the prongs touch so that…
Jack Duffy
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Quenching a metal spring with coffee

“With” meaning involving, not in. My coffee maker isn’t draining properly anymore, so the drip basket is overflowing. The spring that lets coffee flow out at the right rate seems to have stiffened over time. But how could that happen? Could the…
bob
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Voids in steel?

I have found black areas in the the surface of some steel. Are these voids from the original manufacure or are they created by corrosion? This one is approx 1mm x 0.5mm.
Richard
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Colors observed as an heating effect on steel

On steel utensils there are certain colour combination observed, why is so? May be it is due to heating, but how can heating create such kind of colours ? Description : certain group of blending colours like violet blue etc.
Rana
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In nichrome wire do adding more chrome increase tensile strength?

If i add 60% chrome and 40% nickel will the strength increase? I have reading somewhere it should increase to upto 800-1000 MPa. But does this also make it less hest resistant and brittle? I am using this wire cause of the large heat resistance but…
DeusIIXII
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Any liquid metallic alloys which are safe to handle with bare hands?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_metal describes some alloys which are liquid at room temperature containing gallium, and sodium-potassium. We are advised not to handle them, and mercury, with unprotected skin. Are there any which are safe (as…
Gnubie
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Is there an alloy of iridium/tungsten or iridium / molybdenum?

I searched everywhere, but just couldn't find any iridium/tungsten or iridium / molybdenum alloy. What can be their properties if there any.
autodidact
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Industrial recycling of mirrors

I learned recently that mirror is mostly manufactured by pouring thin metal coating (i.e alumunium) on top of a substrate surface (i.e glass), Due to the nature of this composition it cannot be easily disposed. I searched everywhere on how to…
gardin
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Carbide machining inserts are supposedly extremely brittle but they don't break when machining why?

So everywhere I read I hear that carbide inserts for metal machining are extremely brittle and they will break very easily if you say drop them. However, you put them in your tool holder and spin up your lathe or mill and you can easily use them to…
csteifel
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