Strengthening Mechanisms of Non-Ferrous Alloys

The nonferrous metals principally used for industrial purposes are cop­per, aluminum, zinc, tin, nickel, lead, titanium, and magnesium. Most of the nonferrous metals cannot be hardened to a significant degree by the techniques used for hardening steels because most other metals and alloys do not undergo martensitic transformations. How­ever, the mechanical properties of most metals can be improved by cold work­ing, alloying, or by other heat treating processes. In this self-guided digital course, students will learn with the help of rich visuals, narrated animations, ASTM test procedures videos, and interactive quizzes effects of alloying elements on the strength of metals, age hardening, cold working and annealing and the optimal strengthening mechanisms for several groups of alloys.

Target Audience

• Design Engineers
• Operators
• Technicians
• Process Engineers
• QA Managers
• Product Development Specialists
• Sales and Purchasing Professionals
• Anyone with an interest in metallurgy

Learning Objectives

• Describe the effects of alloying elements on the strength of metals
• Define age (precipitation) hardening
• Define cold working and annealing
• Explain the optimal strengthening mechanisms for several groups of alloys

Course Outline

• Diffusion in metals and alloys
• Strengthening by Cold work
• Strengthening by Solid Solution Hardening
• Strengthening by second phase precipitation
• Strengthening Aluminum and Its Alloys
• General Heat Treating Practices
• Two phase Microstructures