In the new novel I'm working on, the main character is a Gearhead. He's going to be excellent with fixing just about anything, which is awesome. But, in case you hadn't already gleaned from interactions with me, I'm not a Gearhead, which means I have studying to do. So as of now, I'm reading up on diffrent metals and their properties (especially since he's an engineer for his apprentice's prosthesis, which are metal)
I'm looking for a metal that corrodes over time in humidity, either seizes up in the cold or melts in the heat, and which ones are best for conductivity. Also, weight is a consideration.
Here's what I've learned:
The link for the first three metals:
Copper is good for hot/cold conductivity as well as electrical, the purer the copper the better (Pure meaning there is less oxygen in it) Also, Copper does very well in the water corrosion category, it takes a long time for water to make a difference to it, making it a fantastic choice for water piping.
Brass is an interesting metal, because it's properties (including color) change based upon how much zinc is added to it. When it's 32%-39% zinc, its heat working abilites will be higher, but the cold working will be more limited. If you reach 39% zinc, it actually is very tough, but lower *ductility, but the lower ductility isn't a concern with my secondary character's prosthetic arms.
Bronze has low metal on metal friction, making it good for industrial applications, and it does well against corrosion, making it great for nautical applications. It consists of mostly copper, interestingly.
The link for the next two:
Titanium is lightweight and sturdy, and it is 'biologically inert', meaning it's non poisonous, which makes it an ideal choice for surgical implants. Titanium does well in both high and low temperatures, and is also noncorrosive and nonmagnetic.
Steel is another option, which is very strong, but it is magnetic and corrosive, and it has more fatigue life than titanium. Steel shatters in extreme high or low temperatures, but compared to titanium, it does better in the strong and hard material. Although it doesn't make for the lightest prosthetic, and it rusts as well.
A link for aluminum:
Aluminum is another metal I've considered. It's abundant, light and strong, so it can be found in applications ranging from duct work to aircraft construction. It doesn't do well in extreme heat because it burns rapidly (But the melting point of aluminum is 933.52 Kelvin, or 1220.6 Ferenheit, so don't worry, your aluminum ducts won't melt), and if it's ground into a fine dust, it has explosive properties. It's also used in the manufacturing of mirrors since it's so reflective. Certain types of aluminum do well in salt water, where others do not. It does corrode, but it does not rust.
And a link for iron:
Iron is definitely the heaviest metal listed here, and it rusts easily, and is highly magnetic (a lot of magnets are made with iron) but it is naturally abundant (the fourth most common element, by mass, in the earth's crust) So I'm not even going to consider this one, to be honest.
There you have it, a rundown of all the metals I've been learning about! I hope you found it interesting and informative.
Love, Mackenzie
*Ductility is when a solid material stretches under tensile stress. If a substance is ductile, it can be stretched into wire.
I'm looking for a metal that corrodes over time in humidity, either seizes up in the cold or melts in the heat, and which ones are best for conductivity. Also, weight is a consideration.
Here's what I've learned:
The link for the first three metals:
Copper is good for hot/cold conductivity as well as electrical, the purer the copper the better (Pure meaning there is less oxygen in it) Also, Copper does very well in the water corrosion category, it takes a long time for water to make a difference to it, making it a fantastic choice for water piping.
Brass is an interesting metal, because it's properties (including color) change based upon how much zinc is added to it. When it's 32%-39% zinc, its heat working abilites will be higher, but the cold working will be more limited. If you reach 39% zinc, it actually is very tough, but lower *ductility, but the lower ductility isn't a concern with my secondary character's prosthetic arms.
Bronze has low metal on metal friction, making it good for industrial applications, and it does well against corrosion, making it great for nautical applications. It consists of mostly copper, interestingly.
The link for the next two:
Titanium is lightweight and sturdy, and it is 'biologically inert', meaning it's non poisonous, which makes it an ideal choice for surgical implants. Titanium does well in both high and low temperatures, and is also noncorrosive and nonmagnetic.
Steel is another option, which is very strong, but it is magnetic and corrosive, and it has more fatigue life than titanium. Steel shatters in extreme high or low temperatures, but compared to titanium, it does better in the strong and hard material. Although it doesn't make for the lightest prosthetic, and it rusts as well.
A link for aluminum:
Aluminum is another metal I've considered. It's abundant, light and strong, so it can be found in applications ranging from duct work to aircraft construction. It doesn't do well in extreme heat because it burns rapidly (But the melting point of aluminum is 933.52 Kelvin, or 1220.6 Ferenheit, so don't worry, your aluminum ducts won't melt), and if it's ground into a fine dust, it has explosive properties. It's also used in the manufacturing of mirrors since it's so reflective. Certain types of aluminum do well in salt water, where others do not. It does corrode, but it does not rust.
And a link for iron:
Iron is definitely the heaviest metal listed here, and it rusts easily, and is highly magnetic (a lot of magnets are made with iron) but it is naturally abundant (the fourth most common element, by mass, in the earth's crust) So I'm not even going to consider this one, to be honest.
There you have it, a rundown of all the metals I've been learning about! I hope you found it interesting and informative.
Love, Mackenzie
*Ductility is when a solid material stretches under tensile stress. If a substance is ductile, it can be stretched into wire.
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