An alloy is a mixture made up of two or more chemical elements at least one of which is a metal. It has properties which are different from the metals it is made of and most are made by melting the metals, mixing them while they are in liquid form and then leaving them to cool and turn solid again.
Some common alloys used in industry are:
- Brass is made of 35% Zinc and 65% Copper and is used for musical instruments, taps and decorative hardware
- Stainless steel is made of 18% chromium, 80.6% Iron, 1% Nickel and 0.4% Carbon and is used for tableware, cookware and surgical tools
- Steel is made of 99% Iron and 1% Carbon and is used for tools, car bodies, machinery, girders and rails
- Bronze is made of 87.5% Copper and 12.5% Tin and is used for boat hardware, screws and grillwork
- Sterling silver is made of 92.5% pure Silver and 7.5% other metals, usually Copper.
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