2070 – 12 – Selecting the Best Alloy

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With such a wide variety of types and grades of alloys, how can one determine which alloy is best suited to your needs? Generally, you want the least expensive metal that still meets all your demands. This is true weather you’re choosing between different grades of steel, ferrous alloys, or non-ferrous alloys.

You will often times be able to find to different alloys that share similar mechanical properties. You may find a lightweight aluminum alloy that has strength comparable to steel thanks to a specific heat treatment. It may cost more, but the aluminum alloy would weigh less and might be better suited for your purposes. Your choice then depends on the type of material you need and the cost of the alternatives.