Metal alloy

A metal alloy is a mixture of two or more metallic elements combined through metallic bonding, resulting in material properties distinct from those of its pure components, such as enhanced strength, corrosion resistance, or conductivity.[1][3] Alloys form via mechanisms like atom exchange in substitutional types (e.g., brass, where similar-sized atoms substitute in the lattice) or interstitial placement in others (e.g., steel, where smaller atoms like carbon fit between host metal atoms).[1][2][3] They exhibit varied crystal structures, including homogeneous solid solutions or heterogeneous phases, influencing traits like ductility, hardness, and melting point.[1][4][9] Common examples include steel (iron-carbon), bronze (copper-tin), and superalloys (nickel- or cobalt-based for high-temperature use).[1][5][8] Alloys have no established role as therapeutic targets like receptors or enzymes; they are engineering materials used in construction, aerospace, medical implants, and tools, not biological molecules.[1][2][6] No drugs interact with alloys as pharmacological targets, and they lack relevance to disease mechanisms, biomarkers, or safety issues in biotech contexts.[1][3]

Other names

alloy