Defense
10 Facts About the Nickel Element
Nickel (NI) is among the most abundant materials on Earth. It’s also among the most widely used material on the planet. Most nickel is located in the planet’s core, more than 1800 miles beneath the Earth’s crust. A silvery-white material with a slight gold tinge, nickel has a relative atomic mass of 58.69, a density of 8.9g / […]
Why Titanium Is Used in Aerospace Applications
Ever wondered why titanium is used in aerospace? It’s because it gives engineers a rare mix of strength, low weight, heat performance, and corrosion resistance. In aircraft design, every pound counts. But weight savings can’t come at the expense of safety, fatigue life, or certification. Which is why titanium is specified for parts where weight, […]
Inconel Alloys VS Stainless Steel: Which is Stronger?
Are Inconel alloys stronger than stainless steel? The answer depends on how strength is measured. Tensile strength, yield strength, hardness, compressive strength, heat exposure, forming method, and treatment can all change the result. In practical terms, Inconel vs stainless steel is less about one material “winning” and more about choosing the alloy that gives the […]
Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) Explained
You’ve probably seen the abbreviation NPS on Tech Steel & Materials or similar industrial material websites. It stands for Nominal Pipe Size, the North American standard used to identify pipe sizes for systems that must handle different pressures, temperatures, and service conditions. The NPS standard is widely used across the United States in industries such […]
Metal Density Chart: Density of Common Metals Explained
A metal density chart is a valuable reference for engineers, fabricators, and procurement professionals working with metals across industries like aerospace, defense, construction, and medical manufacturing. Understanding metal density directly impacts material selection, structural performance, and overall project cost. When comparing metals such as steel, aluminum, titanium, and nickel alloys, d
AMS vs ASTM vs UNS: How Material Specifications Cross-Reference
A single alloy can carry half a dozen spec numbers. Inconel 718, for example, appears as AMS 5662 on an aerospace purchase order, ASTM B637 in a power-generation RFQ, and UNS N07718 in a cross-reference database. Each spec number points to the same nickel-chromium composition. For engineers and procurement teams sourcing specialty metals, the difference […]
