Steel is a mixture of iron and carbon. Its main properties are: good thermal conductivity, good tensile and elastic strength.
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, carbon, and chromium. It shows good resistance to corrosion and temperature variations, it is appreciated in the food and medical industries for its hygienic properties. This alloy is antistatic, non-magnetic, polishable and durable. There are different types of stainless steel:
Stainless steel 303 is used and is ideally suited for use in mild environments. To improve its machinability, we can add sulphur which will lubricate the tools and eliminate chipping. Good resistance to corrosion. Ideal in bar turning: bolts, screws, shafts, couplings, implants, pivots ... Not recommended for welding.
Stainless steel 304L resists corrosion very well. It can be welded without difficulty, unlike stainless steel 303. Recommended for cooking utensils. Good weldability.
Very good resistance to corrosion in chlorinated media and saline waters. Possibility to be welded and is ideally suited to application areas such as medical, instrumentation, jewellery, cosmetics, ...
High mechanical strength, good resistance to corrosion, good fatigue resistance. They have good weldability and machinability.
Stainless steel 430F is easy to machine. Like stainless steel 302, its use is not recommended for welding.
Tempered stainless steel, used in cutlery, valves, pumps, valves, shafts, pistons, various mechanical parts ... Low corrosion resistance. Appreciated in the fields of plumbing for valves, pistons, and pumps, but also in cutlery. It nevertheless has a low resistance to corrosion.
Highly appreciated for its many qualities, Brass can be used in many fields of application because of its ease of use, its resistance to corrosion, its malleability, and its ease of maintenance.
There are three main categories of brass:
Made up of about 40% zinc and 1 to 3% lead.
Leaded brasses have a good machining ability, superior to that of all other industrial alloys. Ideal alloy for bar turning, because it produces good fragmentation of the chips. It is also very malleable when hot and has good lubricating qualities.
Copper and Zinc Alloy. Its properties depend on its composition, the higher the percentage of Zinc, the lower its melting point and its electrical conductivity. On the contrary, its hardness and its mechanical strength increase.
Non-allergenic and non-contaminating. We use it in the field of leather goods, jewellery ... in order to be in compliance with regulations concerning: drinking water, RoHS, ELV, REACH, ...
To obtain Special Brasses, one or more element (s) must be incorporated, such as aluminium, Tin, Iron, Silicon, Manganese, Nickel and Arsenic. Depending on the alloy obtained, the mechanical properties are improved as is often corrosion resistance. We note also on high performance brasses, that is to say brasses containing large amounts of special elements, excellent resistance to friction and wear.
Titanium is a light and hard metal, it is very resistant to erosion, corrosion, and impact at low and high temperatures. It is also biocompatible. Appreciated in the fields of aeronautics, surgical instrumentation, implants.
Gold is a very dense precious metal. It has excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. Gold is durable, in other words inert, which means that time does not alter its purity and value because it is insensitive to oxidation. It is also appreciated for its malleability and resistance to chemicals and acids. It is almost impossible to destroy gold.
Silver is a precious metal that is a very good electrical conductor, it is also a good light reflector, but its mechanical strength is low.
Platinum is a precious and rare metal. It has good physical and chemical properties: it is malleable, resists abrasion and tarnishing, does not oxidize in the air, does not corrode. Platinum also has very good catalytic properties. It is used for all of these reasons in various fields of activities.
Its main characteristic is its lightness due to its low density. Aluminium also has good corrosion resistance as well as good electrical and thermal conductivity. It is a malleable metal that can be worked at low temperatures without risk of breakage. It is also waterproof and does not let smells, light, or micro-organisms pass. It preserves heat, reflects light and is100% recyclable.
Tantalum is highly resistant to corrosion and this is undoubtedly its strongest point. With a melting point of around 3000°C, it has one of the highest melting point of all the elements, with only tungsten and carbon having slightly higher melting points. It is ductile, malleable, and resistant to acids.
Molybdenum is a versatile material. Its melting point of 2623°C, which is extremely high, adds to this a high thermal conductivity and a low coefficient of thermal expansion. Thanks to its remarkable chemical and mechanical properties, it adapts to the most delicate requirements in a wide range of applications.
Its melting temperature is very high which makes it a highly heat-resistant metal. It is also very hard, has a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a high degree of dimensional stability.
Niobium is a rare and light metal, it melts at a high temperature of 2410°C. Its technical properties depend on its purity. It shows a high general resistance, but more particularly against chemicals and corrosion. It is biocompatible and easily modulable.
Has good thermal and electrical conductivity, good mechanical properties, its magnetic permeability is close to 1, which makes it almost non-magnetic.
PTFE is a partially crystalline polymer composed of Fluorine and Carbon. Its thermal stability is from -270 ° C to 260 ° C. It has excellent non-stick, sliding, electrical insulation, and chemical resistance properties. Its commercial name is Teflon, and it has a low coefficient of friction, but good physiological safety.
Nickel Silver is a Cupronickel and Zinc alloy. Ductile and malleable, this alloy is resistant to oxidation. The higher its nickel content, the harder it will be.
Thanks to its high crystallinity and its structure, POM has good physical characteristics, such as its excellent resistance to impact, abrasion, traction, and chemical agents. Polyoxymethylene also has good dimensional stability. It can be used at low and high temperatures and can be counted on for its good electrical insulation.
Delrin is a crystalline plastic, its physical properties offer a good compromise between metal and plastic. Highly resistant and rigid against traction and impact, good dimensional stability, is used over a wide temperature range. Resists very well the attacks of chemicals, such as solvents but also moisture. Good resilience and endurance.
PMMA is very transparent, bright, and colourless. It has great hardness, medium mechanical resistance, good electrical insulation against high electrostatic charges, but also resists solvents such as oils, aliphatics, hydrocarbons, ...
Invar is an alloy composed of iron (64%) and nickel (36%), its particularity is to have a very low coefficient of expansion compared to other steels.
Kovar is a derivative of Invar, it is an alloy of iron, nickel, and cobalt. Its chemical composition is controlled to ensure precise thermal properties.
