Is Stainless Steel Substitutional or Interstitial?
If you’ve ever heard the terms “substitutional alloy” or “interstitial alloy” and wondered what they mean, you’re not alone. These are two major categories of metal alloys, but it can be difficult to understand how they differ and which one stainless steel falls into. In this blog post, we will break down these two types of metal alloys and discuss why stainless steel is an interstitial alloy.
What is a Substitutional Alloy?
A substitutional alloy is a metal alloy that is formed when atoms from different elements take the place of atoms in a metal lattice structure. The most common example of a substitutional alloy is bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin. When tin atoms replace copper atoms in the copper lattice structure, the result is bronze.
What is an Interstitial Alloy?
An interstitial alloy is a metal that has been formed by smaller atoms displacing larger ones in a lattice structure. The most common example of this type of alloy is steel, which consists of iron atoms surrounded by carbon atoms. The carbon atoms displace some of the iron atoms in the iron lattice structure, resulting in steel.
Conclusion:
So, when it comes to stainless steel can clearly be classified as an interstitial alloy since its formation involves smaller carbon atoms replacing larger iron ones in an iron lattice structure. It’s also important to note that there are other types of alloys out there as well, such as amorphous alloys and ordered alloys; however, these two types – substitutional and interstitial – are by far the most common ones used today in various industries around the world. By understanding how different metals can form depending on their elemental components, we can better appreciate why certain materials might be beneficial for specific applications over others.
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