Page "Alloy" Paragraph 8

The term alloy is used to describe a mixture of atoms in which the primary constituent is a metal.

The primary metal is called the base, the matrix, or the solvent.

The secondary constituents are often called solutes.

If there is a mixture of only two types of atoms, not counting impurities, such as a copper-nickel alloy, then it is called a binary alloy.

If there are three types of atoms forming the mixture, such as iron, nickel and chromium, then it is called a ternary alloy.

An alloy with four constituents is a quaternary alloy, while a five-part alloy is termed a quinary alloy.

Because the percentage of each constituent can be varied, with any mixture the entire range of possible variations is called a system.

In this respect, all of the various forms of an alloy containing only two constituents, like iron and carbon, is called a binary system, while all of the alloy combinations possible with a ternary alloy, such as alloys of iron, carbon and chromium, is called a ternary system.