Master alloys are a term applied to the alliance or combination of a base metal with several other elements. The percentage of the other metal elements in this mixture is high. The master alloy is not a finished product. It is produced and sold to various metal industries for use in various processes. It arrives in their shops in the shape of ingots, plates, rods in coils and waffles. Once there, the metal fabricators may melt it, combine it with other metals and put it to further usage.
Common Master Alloys
Before becoming a master alloy, the element starts as a base metal. Among the most commonly employed are the following three:
* Aluminum
* Copper
* Nickel
To become master alloys, the base is blended with at least one other metal. Aluminum, for example, may find itself combined with a high percentage of titanium to create a binary alloy. Titanium aluminum or aluminum titanium is a rather common alloy. Another example of a common combination is aluminum chromium.
Purpose of Using Master Alloys
A master alloy may be referred to as “hardener, “”grain refiner” or “modifier. This will be governed by its specific application. As a result, the purpose of using master alloys is varied. It:
* Allows miniaturization
* Produces an improvement in efficiency
* Allows composition adjustment
Yet, a major use of master alloys by the metal fabrication industry is to adjust the properties of its components and products. They are added to introduce certain qualities, therefore changing the base properties. In other words, by using a master alloy, a fabricator can introduce or improve such qualities or properties as:
* Castability
* Corrosion resistance
* Ductility
* Electrical conductivity
* Mechanical strength
* Surface appearance
For example, to improve the qualities of corrosion resistance, a thin film coating of any of the following will act to increase the lifespan of items ranging from components to tools:
* Titanium aluminum
* Aluminum titanium
* Aluminum chromium
* Chromium
In the same way, hafnium oxide, zirconium oxide or tantalum oxide help to improve such optical products as color filters and laser mirrors.
Overall, metal producers utilize master alloys because they decrease production costs, reduce the environmental impact of the items and are appropriate technical solutions e.g. structure control. All this requires specialized equipment.
Master Alloys: Specialized Metal Applications
The employment of a master alloy in a coating process has one major purpose. This is to produce an improved product or component. Used worldwide, master alloys deliver what requested when treated with the specialized equipment required to make the improvements happen successfully.
At ACI Alloys, Inc, our company has worked with our clients to produce a broad range of products in the desired materials. We provide thin film and PVD materials that meet and even exceed our client’s demands. Our high-quality process ensures the resulting products such as Master Alloys and various unusual alloy combinations are able to be replicated. To learn more about how we can help you find the right solutions, contact our professional staff online at Website URL.