Metals are essential natural resources that are in many different modern products. Items in everything from aerospace to food production consist of metal. For highly specialized applications, opting for a custom investment casting service ensures precision and quality in the manufacturing process.
It’s good to know a bit about our world and the products we use. These are the types of metal used in industrial manufacturing.
Titanium
Although people first discovered titanium in the 18th century, it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that they used it for anything other than research. Industrial-level extraction of the element began in the 1930s after the refining process improved. Similar to titanium, the tzm tube—an alloy of titanium, zirconium, and molybdenum—has found applications in high-performance industries due to its exceptional strength and resistance to extreme temperatures.
Due to its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, titanium often serves in aerospace applications. It can withstand extreme temperature shifts, making it ideal for spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. Other everyday consumer products, such as computers, bicycles, and prosthetics, often contain some titanium.
Stainless Steel
Since its discovery thousands of years ago, steel has been essential for human civilization. While it has excellent properties for building lightweight structures, the metal is still susceptible to rust and corrosion. With the addition of chromium, it gains essential protective properties that help prevent degradation.
Stainless steel is easy to mass produce and offers quality materials that can work in several applications. Industrial manufacturers must know the different types of stainless steel and when to use them. While it’s often in cutlery, such as knives, utensils, and other cookware, stainless steel is also excellent for surgical equipment, dentistry, and automotive applications.
Silicon
Silicon has properties of both metals and non-metals, making it perfect for manufacturing products with unique properties. Humans have used it in one form or another since ancient times, but modern silicon production began after people made new manufacturing processes in the nineteenth century.
Refined silicon is an advantageous material that serves all kinds of purposes. Engine blocks, machining tools, and transformers all contain some amount of silicon. Modern electronics, such as circuit boards, semiconductors, and transistors, use silicon to function correctly.
After learning about the different types of metal used in industrial manufacturing here, you should have an idea of how essential they are to our modern lives.
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