Materials that have a high alloy content are commonly known as exotic alloys or superalloys. These exotic materials include titanium, aluminium, copper and bronze, and offer excellent durability and resistance to corrosion. This makes them suitable for demanding applications across many sectors, including aerospace and automotive.

Read on to discover the properties that these exotic materials offer:

Titanium

Titanium is a light material (approximately half the weight of the equivalent quantity of stainless steel) which makes it an attractive alternative for fasteners where weight savings are imperative.

Despite being lightweight, titanium fasteners are extremely durable and have a high melting point of 1,668 °C making them an ideal choice for applications subjected to high temperatures.

The dental industry favours surgical-grade titanium components as implant screws, and as the material also has a unique ability to bind with bone, it’s also suited for hip and knee replacements as well as a range of medical instruments.

Aluminium

Aluminium has a lot of impressive credentials. It’s strong, durable and recyclable, making it a popular choice for many applications.

For decades, the aviation and automation industries have favoured aluminium for all these great properties – but mainly because it is lightweight – which leads to reduced overall weight and improved energy efficiencies.

The material is usually an alloy mixed with copper, magnesium, manganese, zinc and silicon – it’s rare to find pure aluminium used for industrial purposes.  Aesthetically, aluminium looks great with a highly polished finish and is therefore often the material of choice for designers when components are on show.

Copper

Copper components combine strength and corrosion resistance properties. Copper offers the best electrical conductivity of all metals (with the exception of silver) and is also a good conductor of heat – which is why you will often see copper-bottomed saucepans!

Copper also has excellent antimicrobial properties, which makes it suitable for use in medical and sanitation industries, but its attractive finish means it is also used as a material of choice in applications that need to be decorative as well as functional.

Bronze

Bronze is an alloy that consists mainly of copper, but with the addition of other metals such as tin, it is a harder material than just copper alone.

It’s a good conductor of heat and electricity and because of this, it’s commonly used in applications such as electric motors and bushings.

Exotic material machining specialists

If you’re looking for precision components manufactured from exotic materials, then get in touch with our team.  We’re a leading supplier of precision engineered components with an enviable reputation for exceptional-quality machined parts, specialising in small diameter dowel pins and connectors—as well as bespoke, complex turned parts to customer drawing.

We offer a complete range of integrated manufacturing services – no matter how complex your requirements may be, contact us for a free, no-obligation quotation.