A metal alloy is a mixed material that has metal properties and is made by melting at least one pure metal along with another pure chemical or metal.
Examples of metal alloys Steel is an alloy of carbon and iron, pewter is more than 90% tin with antimony and lead, or copper, antimony and lead. Modern lead free pewter may have tin, copper and antimony. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Most gold and silver jewellery are not made from pure metals, but are alloys of metal, a percentage of gold or silver, along with a percentage of copper or some other metal. Alloy metals are usually formed to combine properties of metals and the exact proportion of metals in an alloy will change the characteristic properties of the alloy.
White Metal alloys are usually made of blends of light colored metals, mainly antimony, tin, lead, cadmium, bismuth, and zinc. In Britain the term white metal may also show up in auction catalogues to describe objects made of foreign silver which does not have a British Assay Mark.
Miniaturists should use metals certified to be lead free alloys and solders whenever possible for health and environmental reasons.
