Monday February 13, 2012
Wood's metal (aka Lipowitz's alloy) is a eutectic alloy - that is, it melts at a lower temperature than any of its component metals - which is made of bismuth, lead, tin and cadmium.
With a melting point of only 158°F (70°C), Wood's metal is used as a solder and casting metal. It's largest use, however, is as the triggering element in fire sprinkler systems. This is because bismuth - like ice - expands as it hardens. So heat not only melts, but also shrinks the metal, which is the key to triggering fire sprinkler systems.
Wood's metal is also used in medical gas cylinders, as a faller when working with thin metal tubes and as a high temperature coupling fluid in heat baths.
Sunday February 5, 2012
Accounting for approximately 25% of global production, the world's ten largest steel companies produced roughly 340 million metric tonnes of crude steel in 2010.
In total, the steel giants, which represent seven different countries, collect hundreds of billions of dollars in gross annual revenues and employ well in excess of 500,000 individuals.
Learn who the biggest steel producers are here.
Read More...
Wednesday January 18, 2012
Steel is arguably the most important structural material ever invented.
By discovering how to efficiently use oxygen to de-carburize iron, Henry Bessemer is often seen as the father of modern steelmaking. But the history of steelmaking has many important contributors and critical developments.
Stretching back 4000 years and including some of the wealthiest individuals ever, the history is itself a story of mankind's efforts to better understand metals and how to make them work for our own ambitions.
To read a brief history of steel, click here. Read More...
Wednesday January 11, 2012
China recently released its first batch of rare earth element (REE) export quotas for 2012. Expected to total just over 30,000 metric tons this year (including provisional and second batch quotas), the amount of export quotas available has been relatively stable since large cuts drove up REE prices in 2009 and 2010.
Despite concerns about access to the metals, due to Chinese restrictions on their production and export, only a fraction of China's rare earth export quotas were used in 2011. China currently accounts for about 95% of global REE production. Rare earth metals are used to make high strength magnets and are critical to many alternative energy applications.
To read more about REE applications, as well as the history, production and properties of the metals, click here. Read More...