Engineering Stack Exchange
Engineering Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [metallurgy]

Metallurgy is the science of the production and the processing of different metals and other metallurgic usable elements.

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What material is used to hold molten iron in a furnace?

When iron is melted, I guess it has to be transported and contained. I think the container in which it is has to be able to withstand higher temperatures than what you want to melt. According to this webiste, "Iron, Wrought" has a melting…
Martin Thoma
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Can we change steel properties by application of magnetic field while quenching?

Austenite is non magnetic while $\alpha$-ferrite and pearlite are magnetic. (Magnetic properties of pearlite vary as a function of carbon content) If a strong magnetic field is applied in a particular direction while the steel is being quenched…
Subodh
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How can I tell if I got counterfeit aluminum?

I recently received an order of extruded aluminum strip 3/32" thick that supposed to be 6061 hardened to specification ASTM B221. However, when we tried to bend it, it broke and the interior looked like cast zinc coated with aluminum. Is 6061…
Wallace Park
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Could a gold/{second metal} crown be created that would pass the Archimedes test cost effectively?

Many people are familiar with the story of Archimedes submerging a crown in water to identify if the volume of the crown was consistent with the volume of the same amount of gold. The test was to see if a lighter cheaper metal (like silver) was…
James Jenkins
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What made bronze the first widely used (non-ornamental) metal in human civilization?

I recall learning about the bronze age in school. Why was bronze so important to the technological development of humans? Why not some other metal?
James Jenkins
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At what temperature do I risk altering the structure of steel?

If I have structural or tool steel that has been treated to some standard (ASTM, SAE, ISO -- e.g., for hardness) but I don't know the details of the treatment, is there a "safe" temperature below which I can work the steel without affecting its…
feetwet
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How can the alloying materials of recycled steels be separated?

As I know, a very considerable part of the currently processed steels (around half of it) is coming from recycling. But during the steels coming into the recycling process are coming normally from various sources, and thus they are containing very…
peterh
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Can titanium be used as I-beams?

Is titanium capable of being used in I-beams....
LazyReader
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Stainless steel corrosion resistance in seawater

Stainless steel comes in several qualities. AISI 303 (1.4305) (Stainless Steel A1) approximately 304 but more machinable due to sulfur. AISI 304 (1.4301) (Stainless Steel A2) comprises of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. AISI 316 (EN 1.4401) (Stainless…
Walter
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What bolts should I specify with Weathering Steel?

When using weathering steel (COR-TEN) on a project, what sort of bolts should I be using? I have yet to see fixings made of weather steel; presumably because the way it uses a sacrificial layer to form a protective rust coating makes it unsuitable…
thomasmichaelwallace
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Unknown metal-piece connected to the case of an iPod Nano 2

I disassembled an iPod Nano 2 yesterday and was surprised to find a round brass-coloured plate glued to the back. I didn't find any mention of it at the teardown over at ifixit.com, as they didn't cut the case in half. The back of the logic board…
eugen_e
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How can we prevent/detect hydrogen embrittlement?

There has recently been a series of high profile bolt failures on 'The Cheesegrater' in London, which have been attributed to hydrogen embrittlement. What can engineers do to ensure that hydrogen embrittlement doesn't effect their structures?
thomasmichaelwallace
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Why does faster cooling produce smaller grains?

I've learned that in general steel and other metals tend to have smaller grains when cooled quickly and larger grains when cooled slowly and that at higher temperatures, the grain size grows even if there is no phase transformation. My question is…
asker
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Special Considerations for Steel Plate Marketed for Laser Cutting

A contractor working for me on a steel construction project is using a steel product they refer to as 'laser plate' which is marketed as specifically as having good performance on laser cutters. This doesn't appear to be a trade name, but a…
Ethan48
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Can high alloy tool steels be quenched in brine?

It is will known that most of tool steels are quenched in oil to prevent cracking and distortion which appears when quenching in water due to non-uniform cooling caused by formation of insulating vapor blanket "film boiling". but according to some …
madara
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