metal

Ferrous metals

Name/Grade	Properties and working characteristics	Uses	Tensile strength
Cast iron	Brittle metal with a hard surface and a soft core. Strong under compression but cannot be bent or forged. Self -lubrication	Heavy equipment and machinery frames and components. Brake drums and discs for transportation industry. Tool such as vices and small machine parts	20,000 - 80,000 psi
Carbon steel - 1000 series	Low carbon series of "mild steel," containing between 0.10% - 0.25% carbon. Can be cold or hot formed and welded. Relatively soft with low strength. Medium grade contain 0.25 - 0.55% carbon. High carbon steel contains between 0.55 - 1.7 carbon. Carbon generally increases the strength of the metal	Fasteners such as rivets and nails. Also used to make wire, pipe, chains, machine parts, and structural components. Medium carbon steel is used for gears, shafts, tool shanks, and heat treated machine parts. High carbon steel is used for screwdrivers, cutting tools, blades, drills, spring, knives and striling dies.	40,000 - 190,000 psi
Carbon steel - 4000 series Alloy with molybdenum, chromium and nickel in various combinations	Good workability, fabrication and welding characteristics. May be heat treated. Good impact toughness, stress and fatigue resistance	Aircraft components, "chro-moly" bicycle frames	100,000 - 165,000 psi
Carbon steel - 5000 series Alloy with chromium	High tensile strength, tough, and ductile. Not easily machine or welded	Springs and bearing applications	280,000 psi
Stainless steel - alloy with chromium, nickel, and magnesium	Hard and tough. Very good corrosion and wear resistance. Difficult to cut and fabricate	Sinks, cutlery, kitchen utensils. Medical and surgical tools and equipment	190,000 psi

Nonferrous metals

Name / grade Properties and working characteristics Uses Tensile strength

Aluminum - 1000 series
(Min. 99% pure metal) Pure - grade aluminum. It is soft and ductile, with excellent working characteristics. Non heat treatable but the most weldable of all aluminum alloys. Excellent resistance to corrosion Good for intricate forms. Takes decorative finishes well. Used in chemical and food processing industries # 1010
13,000 - 24,000 psi

Aluminum - 2000 series
Alloy with copper Alloy with excellent machining characteristics and high strength. Good strength-to-weight ratio. Machines to a high finish. May be heat treated. Not weldable. Usually anodized to improve corrosion resistance Part such as fasteners, heavy-duty structural members, or items needing extensive machining, 2025 is used in aircraft structural components, hardware, truck wheels, and part for the transportation industry #2024
27,000 - 70,000 psi

Aluminum - 3000 series
Alloy with manganese Excellent working characteristics, with 20% increase in strength through addition of manganese. May be deep drawn, spun, brazed and welded. The most used aluminum alloy. Good for cooking utensils, decorative trim, awnings, siding, storage tanks, chemical equipment #3003
16,000 - 30,000 psi

Aluminum - 5000 series
Alloy with manganese Similar to 3000 series, with very good resistance to marine environment and salt water corrosion Marine and transportation parts, heavy duty cooking utensils, and bulk food processing. #5052
28,000 psi

Aluminum - 6000 series
Alloy with magnesium and silicon The least expensive heat treatable aluminum. Good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. If annealed, it has good workability. Well suited for anodizing in a variety of colors Truck bodies, screws, and structural components where better corrosion resistance is desirable, such as in window and door frames, store front, and trim #6061
18,000 - 45,000 psi

Aluminum - 7000 series
Alloy with zinc Highest strength aluminum alloy. Heat treatable. Can be spot welded, but arc welding is not recommended High-stress parts #7075
33,000 - 83,000 psi

Aluminum
Casting alloy with copper and silicon Cast well both by sand and die methods. Good machinability, and tougher, harder, and greater fluidity over other aluminum alloys Transportation industry; engine blocks and components 23,000 - 38,000 psi

Copper Good working characteristics, ductile, tough. Suitable for hot and cold working. Excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Corrosion resistant, easily joined by soldering or brazing. Finishes well but is relatively expensive Domestic and heating water pipes. Electrical wire and electronic circuit boards 25,000 psi

Brass
Copper alloy with zinc Stronger and harder than pure copper. Golden color. Corrosion resistant, good for casting and good machinability. Easily joined by brazing. Good conductor. Finishes well by polishing and enameling Jewelry, water valves, boat fitting, and other marine hardware. electrical socket, rifle shells, ornaments 37,000 psi

Bronze
Copper alloy with tin Strong, tough, and good wear characteristics. Good corrosion resistance. High tensile and fatigue strength. Also alloyed with silicon, aluminum and beryllium Pipe fittings, statues, coins and bearings 37,000 psi

Tin plate
Steel plated with tin Nontoxic coating on a malleable steel core tin cans

Name / grade	Properties and working characteristics	Uses	Tensile strength
Aluminum - 1000 series (Min. 99% pure metal)	Pure - grade aluminum. It is soft and ductile, with excellent working characteristics. Non heat treatable but the most weldable of all aluminum alloys. Excellent resistance to corrosion	Good for intricate forms. Takes decorative finishes well. Used in chemical and food processing industries	# 1010 13,000 - 24,000 psi
Aluminum - 2000 series Alloy with copper	Alloy with excellent machining characteristics and high strength. Good strength-to-weight ratio. Machines to a high finish. May be heat treated. Not weldable. Usually anodized to improve corrosion resistance	Part such as fasteners, heavy-duty structural members, or items needing extensive machining, 2025 is used in aircraft structural components, hardware, truck wheels, and part for the transportation industry	#2024 27,000 - 70,000 psi
Aluminum - 3000 series Alloy with manganese	Excellent working characteristics, with 20% increase in strength through addition of manganese. May be deep drawn, spun, brazed and welded.	The most used aluminum alloy. Good for cooking utensils, decorative trim, awnings, siding, storage tanks, chemical equipment	#3003 16,000 - 30,000 psi
Aluminum - 5000 series Alloy with manganese	Similar to 3000 series, with very good resistance to marine environment and salt water corrosion	Marine and transportation parts, heavy duty cooking utensils, and bulk food processing.	#5052 28,000 psi
Aluminum - 6000 series Alloy with magnesium and silicon	The least expensive heat treatable aluminum. Good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. If annealed, it has good workability. Well suited for anodizing in a variety of colors	Truck bodies, screws, and structural components where better corrosion resistance is desirable, such as in window and door frames, store front, and trim	#6061 18,000 - 45,000 psi
Aluminum - 7000 series Alloy with zinc	Highest strength aluminum alloy. Heat treatable. Can be spot welded, but arc welding is not recommended	High-stress parts	#7075 33,000 - 83,000 psi
Aluminum Casting alloy with copper and silicon	Cast well both by sand and die methods. Good machinability, and tougher, harder, and greater fluidity over other aluminum alloys	Transportation industry; engine blocks and components	23,000 - 38,000 psi
Copper	Good working characteristics, ductile, tough. Suitable for hot and cold working. Excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Corrosion resistant, easily joined by soldering or brazing. Finishes well but is relatively expensive	Domestic and heating water pipes. Electrical wire and electronic circuit boards	25,000 psi
Brass Copper alloy with zinc	Stronger and harder than pure copper. Golden color. Corrosion resistant, good for casting and good machinability. Easily joined by brazing. Good conductor. Finishes well by polishing and enameling	Jewelry, water valves, boat fitting, and other marine hardware. electrical socket, rifle shells, ornaments	37,000 psi
Bronze Copper alloy with tin	Strong, tough, and good wear characteristics. Good corrosion resistance. High tensile and fatigue strength. Also alloyed with silicon, aluminum and beryllium	Pipe fittings, statues, coins and bearings	37,000 psi
Tin plate Steel plated with tin	Nontoxic coating on a malleable steel core	tin cans