Metal Glossary

Designed to be a quick reference guide for customers, the Cashmores glossary provides definitions of the latest metal industry terms.

Metal Glossary

Designed to be a quick reference guide for customers, the Cashmores glossary provides definitions of the latest metal industry terms.

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Acid Pickling
Pickling

The removal, by immersion in a solution containing nitric and hydrofluoric acids, of the scale left after hot working or annealing. It leaves a matt grey finish.
Related Terms: Passivation
Ageing, Age Hardening
Precipitation Hardening

The second stage in the process (solution treatment and ageing) for those aluminium alloys that respond to heat treatment as a means of increasing their mechanical properties. It entails the precipitation of a constituent from a supersaturated solid solution. The rate of precipitation, and hence ageing, is both temperature and time dependent, with some alloys ageing at room temperature. It is more usual to perform ageing at higher temperatures. It should be noted that routinely operating aged alloys at unusually high ambient temperatures will permit further ageing and even over ageing leading to loss of properties.
Related Terms: Aluminium Alloy Classifications
Alloy

A combination of two or more metals, or of metals and other elements. An alloy is formed by adding the 'alloying elements' to the 'parent' metal in the molten state. The parent metal usually accounts for more than 50% of the resultant mixture.
Alloy

A combination of two or more metals, or of metals and other elements. An alloy is formed by adding the 'alloying elements' to the 'parent' metal in the molten state. The parent metal usually accounts for more than 50% of the resultant mixture. Brass is an alloy of Copper and Zinc whilst Bronze is an alloy of Copper and Tin.
Alloy

A combination of two or more metals, or of metals and other elements. An alloy is formed by adding the 'alloying elements' to the 'parent' metal in the molten state. The parent metal usually accounts for more than 50% of the resultant mixture. Stainless Steel is an alloy of Iron plus Chromium (minimum 10.5%) with a small amount of Carbon plus various other elements (such as Nickely, Molybdenum, Titanium, Manganese) depending upon the grade.
Alocroming, Alocrom
Chromating

A family of proprietary chemical conversion coating processes based on chromate (hexavalent chromium) solutions that act as a surface pre-treatment before painting or insulation foaming. This also increases the corrosion resistance. More environmentally benign processes based on trivalent chromium are being introduced.
More information: http://shop.trimite.com/Conversion-coatings
Alumina

Aluminium Oxide – A white powder that is produced from the aluminium ore Bauxite and then smelted to produce aluminium metals.
Related Terms: Hall Heroult Process
Aluminium Alloy Classifications

Wrought aluminium alloys are specified in British, European and other National standards and are classified in an agreed 4 digit system. They fall into 2 distinct sub groups:- 1xxx, 3xxx and 5xxx series that develop strength by cold working, the number will be followed by the digit H and other numbers referring to the degree of annealing or cold work, e.g. 3105H22. 2xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx and 8xxx alloys that develop properties by solution treatment and precipitation hardening. The number is usually followed by a T and a number, defining the heat treatment condition of the alloy, e.g. 6082T6. Thus the 4 digits, the letter and following digits for a product clearly define the chemical composition and the mechanical properties of that material.
Related Terms: Temper Designations

More information: https://www.cashmores.co.uk/datasheets/
Aluminium Bronze

Not true Bronzes as they contain no Tin, Aluminium Bronzes are alloys of Copper with 5 - 12% Aluminium, some having additions of Iron, Nickel, Manganese and Silicon. They are available in cast and wrought form with designations such as CA104, Defence Standard (NES) 83. Aluminium Bronzes combine high strength with excellent corrosion and shock resistance. Widely used for stressed components in corrosive environments they are, in particular applications, frequently technically sound, cost effective, alternatives to Stainless Steels and Nickel Alloys.
Annealing

Full Annealing is a heat treatment process for fully softening Copper and Copper Alloys. It involves heating to 500-550°C and holding for an appropriate time. Partial annealing is used to leave some residual temper such as quarter hard or half hard.
Annealing, Anneal

A heat treatment cycle used to soften and restore ductility after cold working and to relieve internal stresses in a work piece.
Related Terms: Solution Treatment, Solution Annealing, Stress Relieving
Anode

The electrode in an electrochemical, or corrosion, cell from which a current flows into the cell. In corrosion processes material is dissolved at the anode.

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Metal Glossary

Metal Glossary

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