What You Need to Know About Metal Composition

Updated: April 04, 2022 There are many factors that must be considered when creating a well. One factor in particular may be more important than all the rest, because it will determine exactly what type of weld can be used. This is the metal composition. Depending upon the composition of the metal, this determines what kind of welding process can be used in the first place. In some instances, the use of the wrong type of weld or the wrong type of flame and had an adverse effect on the materials being weld. This can cause them to become brittle, cracked, or have holes or gaps in the weld, any of which can challenge the integrity of the weld itself.

When Many Types of Welds Can Be Used

In addition, there are many materials where the welder can use several different kinds of Welds and still get a great look and joined. Cast iron is one such example, where this material works very well with several different types of welds and is one of the reasons why it is a very commonly welded material. This is not true of every kind of material you will use, however. You are going to find that there are certain types of metals or metal compositions where only one or maybe even two types of welds can be employed. Any other kind of weld can cause serious issues.

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Testing the Composition

When you are assigned were hired to do a welding job, there may be instances where you are unsure of the metal composition. Unfortunately, this happens a lot more frequently than you may imagine. However, there are tests you can perform that can assist you on determining the composition. The chart below provides a list of base metals and their alloys, as well as some of the indicators that tell you about the composition of the metal. This chart provides you test that can be performed which will tell you about the metal composition. Here is a bit of an explanation of each one.

Test #1: Appearance

The first test that is to be performed is related to appearance. Things such as color and the appearance of the surface tell you a lot about what kind of metal composition you have. If you look at the shape it will also give you clues for example, looking at bumpers to cars, beams, pipes, and pipe fittings will tell you a lot about the material used, because only certain alloys can be molded in this way. An example of this would be a pipe. Cast iron is one of the few materials that can be molded and shaped in this way to provide you with a pipe. This distinguishes it from magnesium, aluminum, and brass. If the metal is oxidizing is another way to tell. If so, then its color will have a different shape, such as when rust forms on a surface. If you notice that there is rust on a material made of steel, then it is not going to be made of carbon steels.

Test #2: Fracture

You can tell a lot about the composition of the metal by studying broken pieces of that metal or by chiseling off chips from the metal and studying them. This will allow you to see the color of the base metal before it has gone through the oxidation process. For surfaces like magnesium, copper, and led, the roughness of a broken surface is one of the clear indicators that one of these three metals has been used. If the material is easy to mold or band, referred to as ductility, this will tell you about the metal. Some metals will not bend it all over are extremely brittle. These are the kinds of things you would look for and compare in the charts presented above.

Test #3: Spark

If the metal produces a spark when held against the high-speed grinding wheel is another way to test the metal composition. While this test is not a replacement for chemical analysis, it is a quick and easy method to tell you about the types of metals that may be used within your material. When pressed against one of these high-speed grinding wheels, iron and steel will produce sparks. They also very in the length, color, and shape of the spark that is produced. This is an indicator of whether you have steel or iron as part of the metal composition. To perform this test, it is important to be in a darkened room where you can make a full analysis of the color of the sparks. Too much light can distort this, creating a false impression of the metals used.

Test #4: Torch

The next type of test uses an oxyacetylene torch. By identifying how quickly the metal melts, producing a puddle of molten metal and slagged, one is able to figure out what the chemical composition may be. The color will also change during the heating process. Here is what to look for in helping you to determine the type of metal composition:

• Aluminum. If aluminum is the material, you will see a minimal amount of melting at best. Aluminum has a very high connectivity, making it so that the metal does not melt when a heat source such as a torch is applied to it.
• Zinc. If the metal contains anything, a sharp corner will melt quickly. This is because zinc is a terrible conductor.
• Copper. Copper will eventually melt, but not quickly. Copper alloys that are composed of led will begin to boil.
• Magnesium. When magnesium burns, it gives off a sparkling white flame.

Test #5: Magnetic

Most of us recognize that metals are magnetic. If you have a small magnet, you are able to test to see if there is enough of a composition of metal to produce a magnetic effect. Materials that are strongly magnetic include carbon and low-alloy steels, iron alloys, stainless steels, and pure nickel. In some instances you may get a slightly magnetic reaction. This occurs in high-nickel alloys and stainless steels made of 18 chrome, eight nickel type. Non-met Amanda materials include such things as zinc based alloys, magnesium, aluminum based alloys, copper based alloys, and precious metals.

Test #6: Chisel

The chisel test can act as a great indicator for you. In this case, the only thing that you need to perform this test is a cold chisel and a banner. Use the chisel to hammer on the edge or corner of the material whose metal composition you are looking to check. If it is easy to chip away at a small portion, this is a clear indicator of the hardness of the metal. If you are able to continually chip at the material and the chip continues, you have a ductile material. Common materials that will act in this way include mild steels, aluminum, and malleable iron. If the chips break apart easily, then you have a very brittle material. Cast iron is one such example of a material that will break apart easily. Four materials made of high-carbon steel, you’re going to find that ships are extremely difficult to produce.

Test #7: Hardness

The chart below provides information about the hardness of metals.

Test #8: Chemical

The last test we want to discuss here is the chemical test. You are able to distinguish between monel and inconel by adding one drop of nitric acid to the surface. If this turns a blue-green color, then the material is monel. If you have no reaction at all, then it is Inconel. If you add a few drops of phosphoric acid to a surface and it begins to bubble, then you have a low-chromium and stainless steel. You are able to distinguish between magnesium and aluminum using silver nitrate. A black deposit will appear on magnesium, but not on aluminum. This gives you seven test to use to determine the composition of the metals used in a project. If you do not have the information provided to you or if you simply want to check, this should help you to get the right results.