The metal strength of the material you use to make parts is a huge determining factor in the success and integrity of the product. Hence the importance of a metal strength chart.
For example, amachining in aerospacethe project requires a metal with higher strength than the metal needed to make keys or other tools. Using a metal of the wrong strength can be disastrous; it can lead to a total collapse of the project or a failure of the aircraft. Hence the need to choose correctly.
But how do you choose the right metal strength for your project? You will discover it in this article.
There are several measurements that machinists use to assess the strength of metal materials. These measurements are also called metal strengths. Strength can be defined as the ability of a material to withstand stress without deforming. Metals have different strengths, which explains why not all metals are suitable for all purposes. There are different types of metal strength, including:
Tensile strength
This is the maximum amount of tensile force or stretch that a metal can withstand without being permanently damaged. It is a measure of how much stress a metal can withstand. When an external force is applied to metal and its yield point is exceeded, some of the resulting deformations that follow are permanent and cannot be reversed. It is the tensile strength of the metal.
Tensile strength is further divided into three parts, namely:
Yield strength: this is the strength that a metal can withstand without permanent deformation. It can also be said that this is the maximum strength that a part can withstand before plastically deforming. Engineers and manufacturers calculate yield strength to know the maximum load an object can absorb.
Fragile strength: this is the stress coordinate on the stress-strain curve at the point of failure.
Ultimate power: the maximum tensile, compressive, or shear stress that a given metal unit can withstand without fracture or deformation. In other words, it is the maximum amount of stress a metal can withstand.
Impact resistance
This is a measure of how much shock or sudden force applied to a metal it can withstand before it fails. Impact strength is used to measure the amount of energy the metal can absorb before it breaks, cracks or becomes damaged. If you need metal for a project and you want to know how much energy it can absorb, then the impact test is what you need to do.
A common misconception is that high impact strength corresponds to a high degree of impact resistancematerial hardness. Therefore, materials with high impact strength are hard materials. Unfortunately, that is not always true. High impact strength does not always mean high hardness.
Some of the factors that affect the impact strength of materials include temperature (increasing temperature increases impact strength), material thickness (increasing thickness decreases impact strength), and notch radius (reducing notch radius decreases impact strength).
Compressive strength
As the name suggests, compressive strength refers to the maximum amount of pressure or compression that a metal can withstand without damage. To test the compressive strength of a metal, you need a universal testing machine. This machine will gradually apply an increased load to the metal until it begins to deform. The point at which deformation begins to occur is the compressive strength of the metal.
Read our extensive article about itdifferent types of aluminum grades in rapid prototypingher.
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Metal strength chart
There are some important parameters you need to know when choosing the right metal for your project. These parameters include yield strength of steel, tensile strength of steel, density, hardness, etc. Below is a simple metal strength chart that you can use to compare metals:
| Types of metals | Tensile Strength (PSI) | Amperage (PSI) | Rockwell hardness (scale B) | Density (kg/m³) |
| Stainless steel 304 | 90.000 | 40.000 | 88 | 8000 |
| Aluminium 6061-T6 | 45.000 | 40.000 | 60 | 2720 |
| Aluminium 5052-H32 | 33.000 | 28.000 | 2680 | |
| Aluminium 3003 | 22.000 | 21.000 | 20 to 25 | 2730 |
| Steel A36 | 58-80.000 | 36.000 | 7800 | |
| Steel type 50 | 65.000 | 50.000 | 7800 | |
| Generous crap | 40.000 | 55 | 8470 | |
| Rood messing | 49.000 | 65 | 8746 | |
| Buyer | 28.000 | 10 | 8940 | |
| Phosphor bronze | 55.000 | 78 | 8900 | |
| Aluminium brons | 27.000 | 77 | 7700-8700 | |
| Titanium | 63.000 | 37.000 | 80 | 4500 |
Why is strength an important factor?
Machining is not just about obtaining every available metal; it's about using the right metal. To know whether a material is suitable for a particular purpose, its strength is an important factor. Knowing the metal strength will help you make the right choice. One of the most effective ways to compare metal strength is to use a metal strength chart.
Strength is an important factor because it determines whether or not your machine part will effectively serve its intended purpose. If a low strength metal is used instead of a high strength metal, the structure can be easily deformed. For example, parts needed for a heavy-duty machine require metals with high strength. In this case, steel or titanium is often the best choice for the project. In general, steel, titanium, tungsten and inconel are considered the strongest metals. Therefore, they can be used where high strength metals are required.
For example, using low strength metal for a part intended for use in a weight lifting crane will only compromise the integrity of the part. This makes it unusable for its intended use and causes a waste of time, effort and resources on the part of the company.
The strength of metals also shows how much impact they can take before they deform or lose their shape. This determines how long the parts made from these metals can last. This is very important, especially on parts that may be subject to hammer blows and collisions.
Therefore, strength is an important factor to consider when you need a suitable metal for your project.
Conclusion
Before choosing a metal to carry out your project, it is important that you answer two questions first. The first question is what purpose the metal will serve and the second is how much load the metal is expected to carry. You can answer the second question by performing a simple engineering calculation. After calculation, the result will determine which of the metals has the strength you need.
You don't need to buy all the metals available on the market and test one after another until you find one with the right strength. You can consult the metal strength chart. There you will see the different metals with their respective strengths, including the tensile strength of the sample card.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q:What does strength mean in metals?
A: Strength in metals means how well a metal can withstand external pressure or force without losing its original shape.
Q:What is the difference between strength and toughness in metals?
Strength is a metal's resistance to irreparable deformation, also called plastic deformation. Toughness, on the other hand, is how well a metal can resist breakage. Toughness is therefore measured as the energy required to break a metal. In other words, the former is an irreversible deformation, while the latter is a reversible deformation.
Q:What are the strongest metals?
A: In general, steel, titanium, tungsten and inconel are considered the strongest metals.
