Iron alloys

(metallurgy) An alloy having iron as the principal component.

Solid solutions of metals, one metal being iron. A great number of commercial alloys have iron as an intentional constituent. Iron is the major constituent of wrought and cast iron and wrought and cast steel. Alloyed with large amounts of silicon, manganese, chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, niobium (columbium), selenium, titanium, phosphorus, or other elements, singly or sometimes in combination, iron forms the large group of materials known as ferroalloys that are important as addition agents in steelmaking. Iron is also a major constituent of many special-purpose alloys developed to have exceptional characteristics with respect to magnetic properties, electrical resistance, heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and thermal expansion. See also Alloy; Ferroalloy; Steel.