METALLIC CRYSTALS

&
ALLOY

METALLIC
CRYSTALS
CLOSED-PACKED
STRUCTURE
Closed-packed structure is made possible with
identical particles
Two types : 1. Hexagonal closed-packed, h.c.p.
2. Cubic closed-packed, c.c.p. Or
Face-centred cubic, f.c.c.

Hexagonal close-packed structure

abab

Hexagonal close-packed structure

(a) normal side view

(b) exploded view

Packingefficiency
efficiency==74
74%%
Packing

(c) a unit cell

Co-ordinationno.
no.==??
Co-ordination

Co-ordination
number = 12

Cubic close-packed / Face-centred cubic

structure
c.c.p. or f.c.c.

rotate by 45

Co-ordinationno.
no.==12
12
Co-ordination

Packingefficiency
efficiency==74
74%%
Packing

Structural Difference
Plane A
between
HCP
and
FCC
Consider a layer
a
void
of atoms (Plane A)
b void

Plane A
Plane B
a void
b void

Another layer (plane B)

of atoms is placed in a
Void of plane A
Third layer of Atoms placed
in b Voids of plane B. (Identical
to plane A.)
HCP crystal.

Third layer of Atoms placed

in a voids of plane B. Resulting
In 3rd Plane C.
FCC crystal.

Plane A
Plane B

Plane A
Plane B

Plane A

Plane C

Figure 3.20
3-29

Open structure
Structures with more empty space between
the atoms
Most common: body-centred cubic structure

Body-centred cubic structure

(a) normal side view

(b) exploded view

Packingefficiency
efficiency==68
68%%
Packing

(c) a unit cell

Co-ordinationno.
no.==88
Co-ordination

ALLOYS
Made by mixing a metal with
one or more other elements
(metals or non-metals)

Structure and Properites of alloy

Have structures and properties different
from that of a pure metal
In a pure metal, all the atoms are of the
same size

Structure of alloy
In an alloy, atoms of different sizes are
present

Structure of alloy
Changes the regular arrangement of the
layers of atoms in the metal
Slipping of layers of atoms becomes more
difficult
Harder and stronger

Types of alloys
2 common types of alloys:
Substitutional alloy
Interstitial alloy

Substitutional alloy
Some of the host metallic atoms are
replaced by other metallic atoms of
similar sizes
e.g. in brass

Interstitial alloy
Formed when some of the interstices
among the closely packed host metallic
atoms are occupied by atoms of smaller
atomic sizes
e.g. in steel

Some common alloys - Steel

An alloy of iron
The presence of directional carbon-iron
bonds makes the resulting alloy harder,
stronger and less ductile than pure iron.
Amount of carbon present affects the
properties of steel
Mild steel: contains <0.2 % carbon, ductile,
malleable (used for nails, cables and chains)

Some common alloys - Steel

Medium steel: contains 0.2 0.6 % carbon,
harder
used in rails and structural steel beams
High-carbon steel: contains 0.6 1.5 %,
tough and hard
used for springs tools and cutlery

Some common alloys Alloy Steel

A mixed form of interstitial (carbon) and
substitutional (other metals) alloys
Example : Stainless steel (steel + Cr + Ni)
The presence of Cr and Ni greatly
increases the resistance to corrosion of
the alloy.

Some common alloys Alloy Steel

Example : Tool steel (steel + W + Co)
It is very hard and has a very high m.p.
It is used for making high-speed cutting
tools

Some common alloys Copper alloys

Brass - an alloy of copper and zinc
Attractive golden appearance
Harder and more corrosion resistant than
copper and zinc.
Used to make ornaments, buttons, musical
instruments, plugs and sockets, and water
taps.

Some common alloys Copper alloys

Brass - an alloy of copper and zinc

Article made from brass

Some common alloys Copper alloys

Coinage metals

Some common alloys Copper alloys

Silver coins = cupronickel (Cu +

Ni)

Some common alloys Copper alloys

Copper coins (copper + tin + zinc)

Some common alloys Copper alloys

Brass (Cu + Zinc)

Some common alloys Duralumin

An alloy of aluminium with Cu, Mg and Mn
It is light and is stronger and more
corrosion resistant than aluminium.
It is used for making spacecrafts and jet
fighters.

Some common alloys Solder

An alloy of lead and tin
It has a lower m.p.(about 180C) than
that of lead and tin.
It is used in joining metals together.
It melts easily to fill the gaps between
metals without melting them.
On cooling, it solidifies and completes the
circuit.

Some common alloys Carat Gold

An alloy of gold with silver and copper.
Pure gold is too soft to make jewellery.
Carat gold is harder than pure gold
Pure gold is called 24 carat (24K) gold
18 carat (18K) gold contains
18/24 or 75% gold.