What types of Nickel alloys are available?

Wrought Nickel

Wrought Nickel Characteristics

Nickel-Iron Alloys

Nickel-Iron Characteristics

Nickel-Copper Alloys (Inconel)

Nickel-Copper Characteristics

Nickel-Molybdenum Alloys (Hastelloy)

Nickel-Molybdenum Characteristics

Nickel-Chromium Alloys

Nickel-chromium Characteristics

Nickel-Chromium-Iron Alloys

Nickel-Chromium-Iron Characteristics

Nickel-Chromium-Cobalt Alloys

Nickel-Chromium-Cobalt Characteristics

Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Alloys

Nickel–Chromium-Molybdenum Characteristics

Conclusion

The post Why Is Nickel Used In Alloys? appeared first on Metal Supermarkets.

Ease of Working

Thermal Conductivity

Advantages of Steel Pipes

Strength

Corrosion resistance

Cost

In some cases galvanized steel can be used in place of stainless steel as a cost effective solution, but the zinc coating can restrict its application.

Why is copper pipe so expensive?

• Low supply – compared to some metals such as Iron, Copper is relatively sparse on our planet, with only 22 million tons of copper mined in 2022, in contrast to the 2.6 billion tons of iron ore mined in the same year.
• Difficulty of refining – Whilst copper is not as complex as some materials to refine, such as aluminum, it requires some expensive measures in place to reduce the impact to the environment. We touch upon this more further on.
• Demand – Copper is not only revered for its piping uses, it is also used extensively for its electrical conductivity. Almost every electrical device uses some amount of copper. With the world ever increasing its production of electrical products, so too is the demand for copper.

Why does Copper turn green?

One of the most well known examples of this phenomenon is the Statue of Liberty, which has developed a vivid green hue since its installation over 100 years ago. For more information on why copper turns green, read our blog all about it.

Is copper corrosion a problem when used for pipes?

Data Source

What are the environmental impacts of using Copper?

When to use Copper and Steel pipes

• Use steel, stainless steel or galvanized steel if the pipes need to span gaps unsupported, e.g. across ceiling joists.
• Use Copper if in a low flow – but confined application – fittings can be soldered to copper to route around complex shapes.
• Use stainless steel if the fluid contained is at all corrosive, acidic or caustic – check the best type of stainless steel here.
• Use steel or stainless steel over copper if the pipes will regularly experience freezing temperatures, coppers lower strength makes them more susceptible to bursting

Typical uses of Copper Pipe

• Heating systems in homes – centralized heating in houses often utilizes copper piping, as it can be made into complex runs to weave around walls, appliances and other objects.
• Cold water supply – whilst being replaced by plastic (PVC) for the most part, copper piping was commonly used for the cold water supply to homes and businesses, especially inside the property.
• Refrigerant lines in industrial or domestic HVAC – AC systems will sometimes use Copper piping for refrigerant routing.

Typical uses of Steel Pipe

• Structural – Alongside fluid carrying, steel pipes are often incorporated in to structural designs in many industries. They can be fabricated to make complex but strong and relatively lightweight components.
• Compressed Air – Steel pipes are often used to route compressed air systems, as they can contain high pressures without risk of failure, as well as being easy to join and self supporting.
• Oil and Gas – the oil industry is a huge consumer of steel piping, where it is used to carry both crude and refined product to and from refineries, and then around the world.

Typical uses of Stainless Steel Pipe

• Process equipment – equipment used in many industries from the pharmaceutical, the food and beverage require hygienic pipework, meaning the systems can be kept clean of debris, corrosion and dirt. Stainless steel is ideal for this due to its high corrosion resistance.
• Cryogenic – another unique property of stainless steel is that it performs well in extremely low temperatures, this is often utilized in HVAC systems, heat exchanger applications and scientific equipment.
• Aerospace – thanks to its resistance to corrosion and low temperatures, as well as its high strength, stainless steel and its derivatives are often used in specific low mass aerospace applications.

Conclusion

To learn more about any of the materials discussed, feel free to visit our blog for many more helpful resources. If you’re ready to have material cut and delivered to your door at a great price, head over to one of our stores or start with our website.

The post Metal Pipe: Steel vs Copper Pipe appeared first on Metal Supermarkets.

Visit us at Booth 115 to meet the team, discuss your metal needs and learn more about our products and services!

You can register for Free Entry at theconstructionexpo.com.

About Metal Supermarkets
Metal Supermarkets, the world’s largest supplier of small-quantity metals, has more than 125 brick-and-mortar stores across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom with 8 franchise locations in development. Known for its speed and convenience, Metal Supermarkets sells a wide variety of metals including Aluminum, Hot-Rolled Steel, Cold-Rolled Steel, Stainless Steel, Alloy Steel, Galvanized Steel, Tool Steel, Brass, Bronze and Copper. With highly specialized staff, customers can get the metal they need in a size that is convenient for them. We are metal experts and have been providing quality customer service and products since 1985.

About The Steel Conference
The Steel Conference is the leading global event that connects buyers and suppliers �?planners and contractors �?companies and designers �?all in the construction industry taking place at Cloverdale Agriplex Building 17798-62nd Ave Surrey BC Canada from April 6-7, 2024.

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March 11, 2024 | Ventura County, CA �?Metal Supermarkets, the world’s largest supplier of small-quantity metals, will open its newest location in Ventura County, California on March 11th. The premier metal supplier is set to become the one-stop shop for local professionals, businesses and hobbyists alike, offering speed, variety and convenience.  

As the fourth Metal Supermarkets location in California, Metal Supermarkets Ventura County offers 8,000 types, shapes and grades of metal, cut to each customer’s exact specifications. Brandishing its signature, world-class customer service, Metal Supermarkets will be the trusted metals supplier for local manufacturers, machinists, maintenance and repair, artists, hobbyists, tool and die shops, and more in Ventura County.  

Metal Supermarkets stores specialize in the sales and distribution of a wide range of metal, including hot and cold rolled steel, aluminum, stainless, copper, brass and more. Various shapes such as bar, tube, angle, channel, sheet and plate are stocked to meet the needs of a wide and diverse variety of customers that require these essential products.  

Andrew Harding: the newest member of the Metal Supermarkets network

Metal Supermarkets Ventura County is owned and operated by Andrew Harding, a sales and marketing leader with over 11 years of experience. Harding brings expertise in customer service, sales operations, marketing strategy, inventory management and team leadership to his new role at Metal Supermarkets.  

”With customer service being at the center of everything I do, I am excited to provide local businesses and consumers with fast access to the highest quality metal products,�?said Andrew Harding. “Metal Supermarkets Ventura County is dedicated to providing a hassle-free metal-buying experience for our customers, giving them quick access to any type of metal, cut-to-size, for whatever job or project they have on the go.”�?/span> 

Passionately providing metal for 250,000+ customers worldwide

Each Metal Supermarkets location provides solutions to customers�?metal needs in both the business-to-business and business-to-consumer categories. With a diverse product base and no-minimum order quantity, Metal Supermarkets has earned long-lasting relationships with customers as a result of delivering a world-class customer experience.  

“Our product is metal, but our passion has always been our customer service and providing businesses, homeowners and hobbyists with solutions to their metal needs,�?said Stephen Schober, President and CEO of Metal Supermarkets. “Our team has been impressed with the drive and commitment that Andrew has displayed as he works to open the Metal Supermarkets store in Ventura County, and we will help position him to serve other essential businesses in the community.�?/span> 

Located at 2630 Lavery Court, Unit D, Newbury Park, CA 91320, Metal Supermarkets Ventura County is open 5 days a week, Monday �?Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. 

For additional information about Metal Supermarkets Ventura County, visit //autismspotlight.com/location/ventura-county/. 

ABOUT METAL SUPERMARKETS

Metal Supermarkets, the world’s largest supplier of small-quantity metals, has more than 120 brick-and-mortar stores across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom with 10 franchise locations in development. Known for its speed and convenience, Metal Supermarkets sells a wide variety of metals including Aluminum, Hot-Rolled Steel, Cold-Rolled Steel, Stainless Steel, Alloy Steel, Galvanized Steel, Tool Steel, Brass, Bronze and Copper. With highly specialized staff, customers can get the metal they need in a size that is convenient for them. Additional information can be found at autismspotlight.com. 

For further information: John Swinimer, Senior PR & Communications Specialist | (905)-362-8226 ext. 9985.

The post Local Entrepreneur Brings Metal Supermarkets To Ventura County appeared first on Metal Supermarkets.

You can register for FREE at aisc.org/nasccregister. Just use promo code VIPEXPO

About Metal Supermarkets

About The Steel Conference

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What is the difference between Wrought and Cast Iron?

Wrought Iron

Chemical properties of Wrought Iron

Physical properties of Wrought Iron

Cast Iron

Cast iron can be split into two distinct categories: Grey and Ductile, the former being the first and original version, and the latter being an updated, more versatile variant.

Chemical properties of Cast Iron

Physical properties of Cast Iron

Advantages of Cast and Wrought Iron

Advantages of Cast Iron

• Cheaper: Cast iron is a cheap way to make complex parts, with the raw materials being lower than steel or wrought iron
• Complex shapes: The casting process allows repeatable, complicated shapes to be formed from molds
• Hardness: Cast iron has a high hardness and abrasion resistance level, making it perfect for using in abrasive environments
• Vibration damping – due to its molecular structure cast iron has excellent vibration damping effects
• Heat retention – great heat retention comes from the materials high density

Advantages of Wrought Iron

• Strength: the manufacturing process and composition make parts made from wrought iron suitable for structural applications such as bridges
• Re-working: Wrought iron can be heated and reworked, unlike cast iron
• Corrosion resistance: wrought iron has a natural resistance to rust, meaning for less maintenance issues and cost for finishing

Applications of Cast Iron

• Valve bodies – the ability to form complex shapes makes cast iron great for pipework components
• Gearbox casings on industrial equipment – the stiffness and vibration damping effect of cast iron is perfect for gear trains.
• Engine blocks – good machinability alongside heat retention and casting flexibility makes cast iron engine blocks extremely economical
• Brake rotors – the high strength and low thermal expansion allows for brake rotors that resist warping
• Cookware – heat retention makes cast iron pans and dishes perfect for baking and frying

Applications of Wrought Iron

• Furniture – such as garden tables and chairs
• Gates and railings – ornamental railings made from wrought iron were very common in 19th and 20th century domestic architecture
• Balconies – framework and handrailing in cities such as Paris and Rome are traditionally wrought iron

The post Wrought vs Cast Iron: What is The Difference? appeared first on Metal Supermarkets.

What sheet material can be perforated?

Sheet sizes typically follow the standard sheet metal sizes, but at Metal Supermarkets we can cut to any size you require.

What are the uses of using perforated sheets?

Automotive uses for perforated sheet

• Exhaust baffling – perforated sheet is often used inside mufflers, to both dissipate sound waves and to allow wadding to be contained, without impeding gas flow.
• Speaker grilles – this is typically made from thin aluminum sheets.

Construction and architectural uses of perforated sheet

• Facades on buildings – aluminum or painted steel perforated sheet is sometimes used as a feature on the front of modern buildings, providing both an interesting design feature as well as acoustic damping.
• As aggregate filters – Heavy perforated sheet as part of a filtration system is often used when landscaping on construction sites, allowing grading of bulk materials into particle size.

Perforated sheet used in acoustic applications

• Acoustic panels – Perforated sheets can be used to dampen, reflect or dissipate sound waves, when installed as part of an acoustic barrier. These are usually placed on walls and ceilings of sound-critical rooms such as recording studios.
• Acoustic equipment framework – As an integral part of a sound system, perforated sheet can enhance the performance of sound equipment, whilst providing structural support and encasement of the electronic components.

Perforated sheet in bespoke fabrications

• Cooling and ventilation – Panels on electrical equipment are often made from perforated sheet, to allow closing off from people and objects but also allow good airflow for cooling.
• Store displays – another use that makes the holes in the sheet a feature, some shop display designers have used perforated sheets to break up the design of a store display.

Filtration in the water & waste management industry

• Filters and screens – the small holes in a perforated sheet and their range availability are ideal for making filters and screens. They can allow water and small particles to pass through whilst stopping larger debris.
• Staged filtration – as the hole size and frequency are customizable, a perforated sheet can be used to produce stages of filtration, blocking smaller and smaller particles as the fluid passes through the system.

What are the benefits of using perforated sheets?

Cost

Workability

If bespoke shapes and sizes are needed, perforated sheets can still be processed by laser, guillotine, and press brake as regular sheet metal is. To read more about these processing methods, we have a great guide here.

A wide range of sizes for all applications

At Metals Supermarket we carry both mild steel and aluminum perforated sheets, in a wide variety of thicknesses. Check them all out or find your nearest store here.

The post What Are The Uses Of Perforated Sheet? appeared first on Metal Supermarkets.

Why use Aluminum tubing?

How is Aluminum tubing made?

Once purified, processes are used to introduce new alloying elements, creating many variations, in grade and temper, depending on the requirement. From here the material is cast into ingots or slugs.

• Selecting and loading the correct tube die – this depends on the size and shape required, the dies are oiled and in some cases water-cooled
• The aluminum slug is preheated – this aids the extrusion process and reduces surface imperfections, damage to the dies, and makes complex shapes easier
• The heated slug is loaded into the extrusion chamber
• Hydraulic rams force the slug into the extrusion die – anything from 100 to 1,500 tons of force is used, depending on the material and shape
• The shaped aluminum is cut to length and allowed to cool to room temperature

Typical Uses of Aluminum Tube

• Aerospace – almost all commercial airplanes use aluminum for structural components
• Motorsport – aluminum finds uses in all sorts of bracketry, tanks and heat shielding
• Rigging – Aluminum towers and structures are commonly used in lighting and rigging to create lightweight, easy-to-carry assemblies

Typical Uses of Aluminum Pipe

• Air Conditioning – from car AC to industrial units, aluminum pipe is often used due to its lightweight, thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance
• Process pipework – in settings that use nitrogen or helium, aluminum pipe is often used to handle low – medium pressure systems

The difference between Pipe and Tube

Benefits of Aluminum Tubing

• Lighter: Aluminum is lighter than steel, stainless steel and titanium
• Stronger: Aluminum has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel and stainless steel, perfect for lightweight high-stress applications
• Corrosion resistant: Whilst steel is cheaper than aluminum, any product that sees outdoor use will need secondary finishing by way of painting or galvanizing, Aluminum is corrosion resistant in most applications.
• Cheaper: Aluminum is considerably cheaper than titanium, another lightweight corrosion-resistant alloy

Types and Grades of Aluminum Pipe and Tube

Aluminum Grades

• Aluminum 6061 – A high-strength alloy, commonly used for walkways, platforms, cover plates, and truck runways
• Aluminum 6063 – Whilst not as strong as 6061, 6063 is better suited for complex extrusions, meaning it is ideal for air cylinders (thin-walled), furniture and frames

Aluminum Shapes

• Round Pipe – used for carrying fluids and gasses
• Round tube – used for framework in commercial or cosmetic applications
• Rectangular tube – often used for lightweight industrial frameworks and bracketry
• Square tube – also used for industrial frames, as well as motorsports chassis and bracketry
• Oval tube – commonly used in architectural applications

For more detailed information on what type and shape of aluminum to use, check out our blog page here, from there you can also order your material, with cutting, drilling and more offered across our many locations.

The post Aluminum Tubing: What Is It Used For? appeared first on Metal Supermarkets.

Tin is a relatively scarce element, with a low abundance in the earth’s crust. For context there is approximately 45x more Zinc in the Earth’s crust than tin, and 25,000x more Iron.

Where is Tin Found?

What is the Tin Belt?

Not a fashion accessory, but a wide region of the world where large amounts of Tin are mined to this day. It stretches for approximately 2,800km south from Thailand.

Various other countries fall into the Tin belt region, including Myanmar, Indonesia, China and Malaysia. Around 55% of the world’s tin supply comes from these countries, amounting to nearly 10 million tons.

How is Tin Extracted and Manufactured?

Historically Tin mines were deep conventional mines used to tap into vein deposits of Tin ore, predominantly found in the UK and South America. The mines producing most of the worlds Tin supply in modern times, are Alluvial, meaning they originate from ancient riverbeds or valleys.

How is Tin Refined?

How is It Used?

One of the most common uses for tin was to combine it with Copper, creating Bronze. Bronze was a pivotal material in human development, with it being used for everything from weapons and armor to tools and drinking vessels.

Whilst it is used less and less now, in favor of Aluminum, Tin coating affords excellent corrosion resistance,

What are the Grades Available?

Unlike other metals such as steel and aluminum, Tin is generally used in a relatively pure form. The grading schemes are designated by letter, with A as the highest purity at nearly 99.99& pure Tin. Grade B is around 99.8% and so on.

The post Where Does Tin Come From? appeared first on Metal Supermarkets.

The name Nitinol is derived from both its composition and where it was discovered: Nickel, Titanium, Naval Ordnance Laboratory. The NOL was a US military center for research and development, which in 1959 accidentally invented Nitinol.

Why is it so Expensive?

The Superelasticity of Nitinol

Shape Memory of Nitinol

What is the use of Nitinol?

Nitinol in medicine: Stents and braces

Practical uses for Nitinol’s memory affect

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