What Types of Metals Are There?
What exactly is metal?
Around 80 percent of the chemical elements in the world fall under the term metal. This natural material is found in the Earth’s crust and can be divided into heavy metals, light metals, precious metals and base metals. Heavy and light metals are distinguished by their density, while precious metals and base metals react differently to oxygen and moisture.
In general, the different types of metal are characterised by high thermal conductivity, high electrical conductivity, good formability and their typical metallic sheen. A distinction is made between non-metals, transition metals, metalloids and metals. Transition metals already have typical metallic properties, such as high conductivity or formability, while metalloids only display these properties to a limited extent.
From aluminium to brass – some of the most common types of metal and alloys and the properties of metals
Aluminium
Category: Light metal
Properties: Ductile, corrosion-resistant, good electrical and thermal conductivity
Application: Packaging industry, transport, construction, electronics
Stainless steel
Category: Precious metal
Properties: Special degree of purity due to a protective chromium layer, making it corrosion-, rust- and heat-resistant
Application: Household, industry, medicine
Brass
Category: Light metal
Properties: Corrosion-resistant, easy to form, antibacterial
Application: Construction, military, instrument making
You can find products made from all these types of metal here:
Frequently asked questions about metals
How many different metals are there?
The exact number of metals is not fixed, but in principle around 94 of the 118 known chemical elements are classified as metals. A further distinction is made between light vs. heavy metals and precious vs. base metals.
What is the hardest metal in the world called?
The hardness of metals is measured using two scales: the Brinell scale determines the hardness of a metal using the indentation method, while the Mohs scale determines scratch hardness. According to Brinell, osmium is the hardest metal, closely followed by tungsten, while according to Mohs, chromium is considered the most resistant.
What is the lightest metal?
Lithium has the lowest density among metals and is therefore considered the lightest metal. However, the lightest engineering metal is magnesium, which is widely used in technical applications.
What are metals?
Metals are chemical elements that are usually shiny, conduct heat and electricity well and can be formed. Examples include iron, aluminium, copper and gold. They are frequently used in construction, technology and everyday objects.
What properties does metal have?
Metals are generally solid, stable, formable and durable. They also conduct heat and electricity well and usually have a shiny surface. Some metals are also corrosion-resistant.
Our conclusion: What types of metals are there?
Whether aluminium or copper, brass or silver: metals are diverse and have one thing in common, namely their particular resistance. This makes metals suitable for a wide range of areas, and thanks to their good formability they can be individually adapted to different projects. With us, you can use our METALXACT product configurator to easily turn sheets, bent parts, profiles & more into your desired product: simply select the product and desired material, enter the suitable dimensions, add an individual powder coating if required and sit back!
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