For how much metals account among all elements?
About 2/3
For how much metals account in the mass of the entire planet?
About 24%
What are some common physical properties of metals?
They are malleable and ductile
For what industries are metals fit?
Automotive and metal working
What are two broad categories for metals?
Ferrous and non-ferrous
What's the most common metal?
Iron
Describe iron.
It’s malleable, ductile, magnetic and a good conductor of heat.
What's steel?
It's an alloy containing iron and other elements (up to 3%), including carbon.
What are steel's characteristics?
Its characteristics change according to the percentage of carbon: mild steel (very high tensile strength), medium carbon steel and high carbon steel (very hard)
What's cast iron?
Cast Iron is an alloy of iron (up to 98%) and carbon (2% to 6%)
What are cast iron's characteristics?
It is hard and brittle and is specifically used for low-stress components (such as engine blocks).
Describe non-ferrous metals.
Non-ferrous metals and alloys do not contain iron and are required for components that need to be lightweight, non-magnetic and heat resistant.
What is aluminium extracted from?
Bauxite
Describe aluminium's characteristics.
It’s very lightweight, rust resistant, non-magnetic and a very good thermal and electrical conductor.
Where and why is copper used?
Copper is an element with excellent electrical conductivity and is therefore especially used in telecommunications and electrical applications.
What is brass? Where is it used?
Brass is a very malleable alloy of of copper and zinc, it is used where low friction is required, such as for gears and valves.
