What is the difference between composites and alloys?
What are composites?
Composites are combinations of two or more separate constituent elements. When they are mixed, despite resulting in a new material which often has different properties, the individual components still remain physically distinct.
Examples of well-known composites include reinforced concrete (steel, cement, and gravel), fibreglass (glass fibres and resin/polymers), and MDF (wood fibres, synthetic resin adhesive, and water).
Composites can be used in various applications and industries and are also a popular choice for coating components. Composite materials are light, strong, durable, flexible, corrosion-resistant, malleable, and offer good thermal and electrical insulation.
Composite coating specialists
Nickel composites are becoming increasingly popular because of their multiple advantages. If you feel that nickel composite coatings could be a useful solution for your business, there are a number of experts in this field who can provide advice and guidance. Many of these have useful online resources, such as the examples seen here: www.poeton.co.uk/advanced-treatments/apticote-460-nickel-composites.
What are alloys?
Alloys are combinations of two separate chemical constituents, at least one of which must be a metal. The elements are combined to form solid materials which possess metallic properties, and which are often different to the properties of their individual components.
Examples of well-known alloys include brass (copper and zinc), steel (iron and carbon), sterling silver (silver and copper), and amalgam (mercury, silver, tin, copper, and zinc).
Alloys are found in many industries and everyday items. Their advantages are that they are usually harder and stronger than the individual elements, as well as often being lighter, and more resistant to corrosion.
What are the key similarities and differences?
The key similarity is that both alloys and composites consist of more than one element or material. The principal difference is that an alloy must consist of at least one metal.
