metal
By Dan Markham General Information • Tips and Tricks • • 0 Comments

Ways to Select the Best Type of Metal

When it comes to choosing the right metal for your project, a systematic approach can save you money and time and ensure the success of your endeavor. Here are three essential steps to guide you through the process:

Define Your Project Requirements 

The first step in selecting the best type of metal is clearly defining your project’s specific requirements. Consider the following factors:

  • Functionality

What role will the metal component play in your project? Is it for structural support, electrical conductivity, heat resistance, or something else entirely? Understanding its function is crucial.

  • Environmental Conditions

Will the metal be exposed to harsh weather, chemicals, or high temperatures? Different metals have varying levels of corrosion resistance and heat tolerance.

  • Strength and Durability

Assess the metal component’s load-bearing capacity and expected lifespan. Some metals, like steel, are renowned for their strength, while others may be more prone to deformation or wear.

  • Budget

Determine your budget constraints. Some metals are more expensive than others, so balancing performance with cost is essential.

Research and Compare Metals 

Once you have a clear understanding of your project requirements, research and compare different types of metals and consider these factors:

  • Material Properties

Examine various metals’ physical and chemical properties, such as tensile strength, conductivity, malleability, and corrosion resistance. Match these properties with your project’s needs.

  • Availability

Ensure that the selected metal is readily available in the required form and quantity. Some specialized metals may be challenging to source.

  • Environmental Influence

Assess the environmental impact of the metal. Is it recyclable? How energy-intensive is its production? Consider sustainability concerns.

  • Testing and Prototyping

Conduct tests or create prototypes to validate the suitability of the chosen metal for your project. This step can help uncover potential issues early in the process.

Seek Expert Advice 

While you may have gathered valuable information during your research, consulting with metallurgy, engineering, or materials science experts can provide critical insights. Here’s how experts can assist:

  • Expertise

Professionals in the field can offer expert guidance based on their extensive knowledge of materials and their real-world applications.

  • Optimization

Experts can help optimize your choice, ensuring that the selected metal aligns perfectly with your project’s performance, cost-effectiveness, and longevity goals.

  • Risk Mitigation

Professionals can identify potential risks or drawbacks associated with specific metals and suggest mitigation strategies.

Contact Markham Metals For Any Metal Services In New England

The process of selecting the best type of metal involves an evaluation of project requirements, metal comparison and expert advice. Making an informed choice is important to the success and longevity of your project. Consulting with Markham Metals is the next step! Our expert metal fabricators have many years of experience helping people pick the best metal for their projects. We are located in Wilmington, Massachusetts, but we serve all areas of New England. Contact us here today for a free quote on your next metal project. We look forward to hearing from you!

Metal Conduction
By Dan Markham Construction • General Information • Uncategorized • • • • 0 Comments

What Are The Main Factors That Affect the Conductivity of Metals?

The conductivity of metals is how much the specific material can transmit sound or heat. The conductivity of the metal you choose will depend on the type of project you are starting. Metals are integrated into our everyday lives, whether it be from the very conductive copper wires that power our homes to the electrical components found in our standard phones. However, have you ever wondered what factors influence the conductivity of metals? Many factors can affect conduction, like temperature, the material used, and any impurities present. This blog post will explore these main factors and why they are essential.

 

How Temperature Affects Conduction

Temperature is one of the main factors that affect conduction in metals. When temperature increases, the atoms move around more in the metal, making it less conductive. On the other hand, when the temperature decreases, particles become stiffer, increasing the conduction. If there is a higher conductivity, it is essential to keep an eye out for corrosion of the metals.

 

The Materials Used

All types of metal are made up of different materials with different conductivity levels. For example, copper, zinc, and iron are great choices if you want a highly electrically conductive material. Underground steel structures like utility piping and pipelines exposed to soil environments are vulnerable to corrosion. Knowing what metal you are using and its conductivity level is important.

 

Conductivity And Impurities In Metal

Any impurity in the metal can affect how much it can conduct. An impurity means there could be a dent or damage to the metal. The atoms that make up the metal will be changed, which can affect the conductivity negatively. Metal alloying, the opposite of conductivity, is when materials are added to the metal to increase its conductivity. Both of these alterations affect how much the metal can conduct. 

 

Contact Markham Metals Today!

Markham Metals is one of the top destinations in New England for all your metalworking needs. The conductivity of metal is important to know; we have an array of different metals, all with different conductivity. Markham Metals has everything you need if you have considered using metal in your next project. We have HR carbon steel, galvanized metal, CF carbon steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. Our experts can assist with any questions and guide you on which metal may be suitable for you. Contact us here for a free quote on your next metal project and see the difference Markham Metals can offer you!

 

A set of stainless steel cookware sits on a white tabletop. You can see pans, pots, kettles and plates among the group.
By Dan Markham General Information • • • 0 Comments

How Does Alloying Metal Make It Better?

Metalworking processes can accomplish a lot of things in terms of gifting metals with desirable traits. For example, galvanizing your metal can make it stronger. Polishing your metal can give it extended life and greater corrosion resistance. Forming and shaping metal can get it into the shape it needs to be in for a noteworthy application. But, how does this apply to metal alloys? Alloying a metal with another element or metal has the ability to enhance its current traits. But, what exactly does it do and how is it accomplished? We give you a crash course on alloying metal below!

Increased Corrosion Resistance

The key thing to remember about metal alloys is that the two components are combined to strengthen a certain characteristic. For example, if a metal like iron is alloyed with a metal that has increased corrosion resistance, the resulting product will have a much higher corrosion resistance! The most common example of this is stainless steel, which is the result of the aforementioned combination of iron and chromium. It helps make it useful for applications such as cookware and automotive parts.

Increased Strength

Sometimes, the pure strength of a single metal won’t be enough to be useful in applications. Another common reason for alloying metals is to increase its strength to a point where normal metals can’t reach. For example, titanium is considered one of the world’s strongest metals. When alloyed with metals like iron, however, they become durable enough to be used in heavy duty applications such as airplane parts and automotive applications. Gold and silver are usually alloyed together to make stronger and longer lasting jewelry.

Decreased Conductivity

In terms of conductivity, metals will vary on how much of it they need. Alloying metals also has the ability to decrease a property’s effectiveness. Conductivity is a prime example of this trait. Pure metals tend to have higher conductivity than metal alloys, but decreased conductivity is necessary for certain applications. For example, stainless steel is commonly used in building structures, where conductivity isn’t necessary. In fact, conductivity may actually be dangerous here, which makes it all the more important!

Metalworking at Markham Metals

Do you have a metal alloy or pure metal that you need to be fitted for a specific application? Bring it down to Markham Metals! We offer a full range of metalworking services to bend, cut, form and shape your metal into any product you wish. To increase the effectiveness of your metal and get it ready for use in the field, click here to contact us directly!

Three stainless steel water bottles in a line. They are black, green and orange from left to right. This is meant to display steel's corrosion resistance to water.
By Dan Markham General Information • • • 0 Comments

What’s The Most Vital Metal Characteristic?

Do you know how much of your everyday life is influenced by the properties of different metals? Take a look around the room that you’re in. There are likely several objects, appliances, and devices that all use metal characteristics to function. It’s safe to say that society wouldn’t run anywhere near as efficiently if metals didn’t have these traits! With so many different traits that our Earth’s metals can have, which one is the most important for everyday life? It’s not an easy question to answer; we unpack it below!

Conductivity

If you still have your holiday lights up, go and take a closer look at them. This also works if you have an electronic home appliance. If you take it apart and look closely, you’ll realize that the wires connecting and powering everything are made out of copper. Metals that have great conductivity of heat and electricity are paramount to how well our household objects function. Telephone lines and power lines also take advantage of this metal characteristic. Much of the technology and cookware that we use today relies on metal conductivity.

Corrosion Resistance

No two metals that have good resistance to corrosion are the same. Why is this the case? It’s because it depends on what element that the metal best resists corrosion from! Metals can do well against water, heat, electricity and cold. Metals like these are important for seacraft and aircraft parts, making them a vital component of transportation as we know it. Corrosion resistance is also important for marine and interstellar research, meaning we wouldn’t know everything we know without it!

Strength

Metals are definitely known for being strong, but the strongest and most durable metals are important for a variety of applications. For example, aluminum is commonly used to construct window frames. Thanks to its strength and durability, windows with aluminum frames do a better job of providing insulation to your home. The strength of steel makes it a viable option for use in automobile and aircraft parts. Sometimes, these vehicles can be hit with insane force; the strength of their material prevents the worst damage to the valuables inside.

What’s The Answer?

So, what is the most important metal characteristic? It depends on who you ask! All of these strengths are what make our society as well-functioning as it is today. If you need metal shaped and formed for your next application, bring it to Markham Metals! We specialize in a variety of metalworking services that prepare them for use in the most important aspects of life. To get started, click here to request a quote!