In the world of metalwork, alloys are an essential part of making sure that things go according to plan and that the metal is as strong and sturdy as it can be. Keep reading for everything you need to know about metal alloys.
What is an Alloy?
An alloy is a material made by melting one or more metals together with other elements. This is an alphabetical list of alloys grouped according to base metal. Some alloys are listed under more than one element, since the composition of the alloy may vary such that one element is present in a higher concentration than the others.
List of Metal Alloys From A to Z
Aluminum Alloys
AA-8000: used for building wire
Al-Li (aluminum, lithium, sometimes mercury)
Alnico (aluminum, nickel, copper)
Duralumin (copper, aluminum)
Magnalium (aluminum, 5% magnesium)
Magnox (magnesium oxide, aluminum)
Nambe (aluminum plus seven other unspecified metals)
Silumin (aluminum, silicon)
Zamak (zinc, aluminum, magnesium, copper)
Aluminum forms other complex alloys with magnesium, manganese, and platinum.
Bismuth Alloys
Wood’s metal (bismuth, lead, tin, cadmium)
Rose metal (bismuth, lead, tin)
Field’s metal
Cerrobend
Cobalt Alloys
Megallium
Stellite (cobalt, chromium, tungsten or molybdenum, carbon)
Talonite (cobalt, chromium)
Ultimet (cobalt, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, iron, tungsten)
Vitallium
Copper Alloys
Arsenical copper
Beryllium copper (copper, beryllium)
Billon (copper, silver)
Brass (copper, zinc)
Calamine brass (copper, zinc)
Chinese silver (copper, zinc)
Dutch metal (copper, zinc)
Gilding metal (copper, zinc)
Muntz metal (copper, zinc)
Pinchbeck (copper, zinc)
Prince’s metal (copper, zinc)
Tombac (copper, zinc)
Bronze (copper, tin, aluminum, or any other element)
Aluminum bronze (copper, aluminum)
Arsenical bronze (copper, arsenic)
Bell metal (copper, tin)
Florentine bronze (copper, aluminum, or tin)
Glucydur (beryllium, copper, iron)
Guanin (likely a manganese bronze of copper and manganese with iron sulfides and other sulfides)
Gunmetal (copper, tin, zinc)
Phosphor bronze (copper, tin, phosphorus)
Ormolu (Gilt Bronze) (copper, zinc)
Speculum metal (copper, tin)
Constantan (copper, nickel)
Copper-tungsten (copper, tungsten)
Corinthian bronze (copper, gold, silver)
Cunife (copper, nickel, iron)
Cupronickel (copper, nickel)
Cymbal alloys (Bell metal) (copper, tin)
Devarda’s alloy (copper, aluminum, zinc)
Electrum (copper, gold, silver)
Hepatizon (copper, gold, silver)
Heusler alloy (copper, manganese, tin)
Manganin (copper, manganese, nickel)
Nickel silver (copper, nickel)
Nordic gold (copper, aluminum, zinc, tin)
Shakudo (copper, gold)
Tumbaga (copper, gold)
Gallium Alloys
Galinstan (gallium, indium, tin)
Gold Alloys
Electrum (gold, silver, copper)
Tumbaga (gold, copper)
Rose gold (gold, copper)
White gold (gold, nickel, palladium, or platinum)
Indium Alloys
Field’s metal (indium, bismuth, tin)
Iron or Ferrous Alloys
Steel (carbon)
Stainless steel (chromium, nickel)
AL-6XN
Alloy 20
Celestrium
Marine-grade stainless
Martensitic stainless steel
Surgical stainless steel (chromium, molybdenum, nickel)
Silicon steel (silicon)
Tool steel (tungsten or manganese)
Bulat steel
Chromoly (chromium, molybdenum)
Crucible steel
Damascus steel
HSLA steel
High-speed steel
Maraging steel
Reynolds 531
Wootz steel
Iron
Anthracite iron (carbon)
Cast iron (carbon)
Pig iron (carbon)
Wrought iron (carbon)
Fernico (nickel, cobalt)
Elinvar (nickel, chromium)
Invar (nickel)
Kovar (cobalt)
Spiegeleisen (manganese, carbon, silicon)
Ferroalloys
Ferroboron
Ferrochrome (chromium)
Ferromagnesium
Ferromanganese
Ferromolybdenum
Ferronickel
Ferrophosphorus
Ferrotitanium
Ferrovanadium
Ferrosilicon
Lead Alloys
Antimonial lead (lead, antimony)
Molybdochalkos (lead, copper)
Solder (lead, tin)
Terne (lead, tin)
Type metal (lead, tin, antimony)
Magnesium Alloys
Magnox (magnesium, aluminum)
T-Mg-Al-Zn (Bergman phase)
Elektron
Mercury Alloys
Amalgam (mercury with just about any metal except platinum)
Nickel Alloys
Alumel (nickel, manganese, aluminum, silicon)
Chromel (nickel, chromium)
Cupronickel (nickel, bronze, copper)
German silver (nickel, copper, zinc)
Hastelloy (nickel, molybdenum, chromium, sometimes tungsten)
Inconel (nickel, chromium, iron)
Monel metal (copper, nickel, iron, manganese)
Mu-metal (nickel, iron)
Ni-C (nickel, carbon)
Nichrome (chromium, iron, nickel)
Nicrosil (nickel, chromium, silicon, magnesium)
Nisil (nickel, silicon)
Nitinol (nickel, titanium, shape memory alloy)
Potassium Alloys
KLi (potassium, lithium)
NaK (sodium, potassium)
Rare Earth Alloys
Mischmetal (various rare earths)
Silver Alloys
Argentium sterling silver (silver, copper, germanium)
Billon (copper or copper bronze, sometimes with silver)
Britannia silver (silver, copper)
Electrum (silver, gold)
Goloid (silver, copper, gold)
Platinum sterling (silver, platinum)
Shibuichi (silver, copper)
Sterling silver (silver, copper)
Tin Alloys
Britannium (tin, copper, antimony)
Pewter (tin, lead, copper)
Solder (tin, lead, antimony)
Titanium Alloys
Beta C (titanium, vanadium, chromium, other metals)
6al-4v (titanium, aluminum, vanadium)
Uranium Alloys
Staballoy (depleted uranium with titanium or molybdenum)
Uranium may also be alloyed with plutonium
Zinc Alloys
Brass (zinc, copper)
Zamak (zinc, aluminum, magnesium, copper)
Zirconium Alloys
Zircaloy (zirconium, tin, sometimes with niobium, chromium, iron, nickel)
