Alloys

An alloy is a mixture of metals, and sometimes carbon. Steel is an alloy of iron with small amounts of other metals and some carbon. Steel is stronger than iron and more resistant to corrosion.

Shape memory alloys
Smart materials have different properties in different conditions. Shape memory alloys are smart materials, so their shape changes when the temperature changes. Nitinol is an alloy of nickel and t

itanium. If the shape of something made from nitinol is changed, it will return to



its original shape when it is heated.

Gold
Pur gold is too soft to be useful, so it is alloyed with other metals to make it stronger and harder. The percentage of gold in a alloy is measured in carats or described by a fineness. The fineness is the parts per thousand of gold in a alloy.