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Titanium Nitride Coating: How Does it Work, and What Makes it Unique?
Coatings can be beneficial to engineers in various applications. For instance, they can provide improved performance characteristics of materials such as steel, carbide, and titanium alloys, such as increased hardness and adhesion. In addition, coatings offer...
Weldability of Steel: How do the Different Steel Groups Compare?
Welding is one of the most common joining methods for steel, but it can be challenging, and the stakes are high. Projects with poor weldability result in issues such as cracking, distortion, and reduced strength, which compromise the quality and safety of the welded...
The Castability of Metals and 3 Important Factors That Affect It
People have been casting metals for thousands of years, from cast iron and bronze tools to gold and silver jewelry. In the modern era, metal casting continues to play an essential role in human industry and art. Before you can even work with “raw materials” like...
Comparing the Compressive Strengths of Different Metals
Designers often need to evaluate the strength of different materials when selecting one for their product. In our previous article on metal strength, we explained that there are actually several different types of strength. These include tensile strength, compressive...
Corrosion-Resistant Metals: How to Choose the Right One for Your Project
Corrosion-resistant metals are essential components of many engineering projects. These special alloys provide scientists and engineers with technological solutions that maintain the integrity of their projects for long periods of time, even under the most extreme...
The Melting Points of Metals: Understand the Crucial Role They Play
The melting point of a metal, or any material for that matter, is the temperature at which a solid material changes phase into a liquid. You can think of it like frozen water, where once a certain temperature is reached, the ice melts to become liquid water. For...
3 Lightweight Metals and Their Key Benefits Explained
Steel is the most widely used metal in the world today and offers a great balance of material properties at a good cost. But when steel, at a density of 7.8g/cm³, is too heavy for the application, product designers must turn to one of the lighter materials available....
What is the Strength-to-Weight Ratio, and Why Does it Matter to Engineers?
Engineers must be able to accurately assess and analyze a material's various properties before incorporating it into any application. The strength of a material is important to consider, but so is the weight, as this affects both the carrying capacity and efficiency...
Titanium vs. Aluminum: Which Lightweight Metal is Best for Your Project?
When it comes to machining lightweight metals, two popular options come to mind: titanium and aluminum. Both of these metals are widely used in a variety of industries due to their strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and manufacturing capabilities....
Cast Iron vs. Steel: What Are Their Advantages and Disadvantages?
Both steel and cast iron are popular metals, but they are often used very differently. The key factor distinguishing one from the other is how much carbon each contains, and to a lesser extent, how much silicon. While this may seem like a subtle distinction, it has...