alloy

An alloy is a mixture of two or more different elements, where at least one is metal, combined to create a new material with improved properties. These properties can include enhanced strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, or lighter weight, depending on the combination. For example, steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, offering greater strength than pure iron. Alloys are widely used in construction, transportation, and tools to achieve specific performance characteristics not possible with pure metals alone. They are carefully crafted to balance the qualities needed for particular applications.