What defines a metal alloy?

A metal alloy is defined as a combination of different metals. Alloys are created to enhance certain properties of the base metals, such as strength, corrosion resistance, and ductility. By blending metals, manufacturers can tailor the material to meet specific performance requirements or to optimize characteristics for various applications.

Metals can be combined in various proportions, and the resulting alloy usually exhibits properties that are distinct from those of its individual components. For example, steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, where the presence of carbon significantly improves the strength and hardness of the iron.

While oxide formation on metals and coatings applied to them are related to surface treatments or protective measures, they do not constitute a change in the fundamental composition of the metal itself. Similarly, welding two dissimilar metals together does not create an alloy, as they remain separate entities at the atomic level, rather than forming a homogeneous mixture. Thus, the nature of an alloy lies specifically in the integration of different metals into a single material.