Metal Alloy
Metal alloys are a combination of two or more elements, one of which must be a metal. The resulting alloy has different physical properties than any of its components alone. The combination of elements is purposeful, as it is designed to bring out the desirable qualities of each element into one material.
One of the most common metal alloys is steel, an iron alloy with a fraction of carbon content. Steel is stronger than pure iron and has surpassed iron in its utility. Stainless steel is another common iron alloy, which contains a minimum of ten percent chromium. The added chromium makes stainless steel resistant to rust and very sanitary. Sterling silver is another common metal alloy; it is a combination of silver and copper and is stronger than pure silver. Sterling silver can be used to make large objects for which pure silver is too soft.