The answer to your question on how the atoms and molecules are all held together is a closely guarded secret. But, I'll give you a SUPER hint that regular GLUE isn't involved.
Can anyone explain the molecular structure of metal alloys?
Metals are crystalline materials. What this means is that all of the atoms are aligned in a repeated fashion called a lattice structure. Think of how the gravestones at Arlington Cemetery are aligned except in a 3D fashion.
Metallic alloys come in two basic flavors: Substitutional and interstitial. Substitutional alloys have the solute atoms (the lesser element ) replacing the occasional solvent atom (the greater element) in a homogeneous manner. Interstitial alloys have the solute atoms sitting in spaces between the solvent atoms. The location where these atoms sit is typically in a "dislocation" which is name for the misalignment in the lattice structure.
The decision to alloy in a substitutional or interstitial manner is dependent on the size and preferred crystal structure of the solute.
How are the different metallic elements stuck together?
There are three basic primary chemical bonds. Metallic, ionic, and covalent. These bonds are used to describe the three basic divisions of materials. Metallic bonds form metals, ionic bonds form ceramics, and covalent bonds form polymers (or plastics). Thus metallic alloys are completely held together via metallic bonds (primary chemical bonds).
XpipedreamR
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But, I'll give you a SUPER hint that regular GLUE isn't involved.
Ray
Metals are crystalline materials. What this means is that all of the atoms are aligned in a repeated fashion called a lattice structure. Think of how the gravestones at Arlington Cemetery are aligned except in a 3D fashion.
Metallic alloys come in two basic flavors: Substitutional and interstitial. Substitutional alloys have the solute atoms (the lesser element ) replacing the occasional solvent atom (the greater element) in a homogeneous manner. Interstitial alloys have the solute atoms sitting in spaces between the solvent atoms. The location where these atoms sit is typically in a "dislocation" which is name for the misalignment in the lattice structure.
The decision to alloy in a substitutional or interstitial manner is dependent on the size and preferred crystal structure of the solute.
How are the different metallic elements stuck together?
There are three basic primary chemical bonds. Metallic, ionic, and covalent. These bonds are used to describe the three basic divisions of materials. Metallic bonds form metals, ionic bonds form ceramics, and covalent bonds form polymers (or plastics). Thus metallic alloys are completely held together via metallic bonds (primary chemical bonds).