Question

Y alloy is a nickel-containing _________ alloy.
1. Aluminium
2. Copper
3. Brass
4. Bronze

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Aluminium

Explanation:

Non-ferrous metals

• Metals containing elements other than iron as their chief constituents are usually referred to as non-ferrous metals.
• There is a wide variety of non-metals in practice. However, only a few exemplary ones are discussed below:

Aluminium

• This is the white metal produced from Alumina.
• In its pure state, it is weak and soft but the addition of small amounts of Cu, Mn, Si, and Magnesium makes it hard and strong.
• It is also corrosion-resistant, low weight and non-toxic. 

Duralumin

• This is an alloy of 4% Cu, 0.5% Mn, 0.5% Mg, and aluminium.
• It is widely used in automobile and aircraft components.

Y-alloy

• This is an alloy of 4% Cu, 1.5% Mn, 2% Ni, 6% Si, Mg, Fe and the rest is Al.
• It gives large strength at high temperatures.
• It is used for aircraft engine parts such as cylinder heads, piston, etc 

Copper alloys

• Copper is one of the most widely used non-ferrous metals in the industry.
• It is soft, malleable, and ductile and is a good conductor of heat and electricity.
• The following two important copper alloys are widely used in practice:

Brass (Cu-Zn alloy)

• It is fundamentally a binary alloy with Zn up to 50%.
• As Zn percentage increases, ductility increases up to 37% of Zn beyond which the ductility falls.
• A small number of other elements viz. lead or tin imparts other properties to brass.
• Lead gives good machining quality and tin imparts strength.
• Brass is highly corrosion-resistant, easily machinable, and therefore a good bearing material. 

Bronze (Cu-Sn alloy)

• This is mainly a copper-tin alloy where tin percentage may vary between 5 to 25.
• It provides hardness but tin content also oxidizes resulting in brittleness.
• Deoxidizers such as Zn may be added.
• Gunmetal is one such alloy where 2% Zn is added as a deoxidizing agent and typical compositions are 88% Cu, 10% Sn, 2% Zn.
• This is suitable for working in a cold state.
• It was originally made for casting guns but used now for boiler fittings, bushes, glands, and other such uses.