Design and Technology A-Level
Alloy
What Alloy means in Design and Technology A-Level, as defined for Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Alloy
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A mixture of two or more metals, or a metal and a non-metal, created to improve performance characteristics (e.g., adding carbon to iron to make steel).
A mixture of two or more elements, where at least one is a metal, designed to improve properties such as strength or corrosion resistance.
Topics that use Alloy
- Topic 1: Materials (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
- Topic 10: Current legislation (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
Related terms
- Thermoplastic
- Thermosetting Polymer
- Composite
- Compressive Strength
- Malleability
- Performance Characteristics
- Smart Material
- Tensile Strength
Using Alloy in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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