legiert

Legiert is the German participle of the verb „legieren“, meaning “to alloy” or “to combine with another metal”. In metallurgy the term designates a material whose composition has been deliberately altered by the addition of one or more alloying elements in order to achieve specific mechanical, chemical or physical properties. Common alloying elements include carbon, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and vanadium, each influencing hardness, corrosion resistance, tensile strength, ductility or temperature stability.

The process of legieren can be carried out in various ways, such as melting the base metal and mixing the alloying constituents in a furnace, powder metallurgy where fine powders are blended and compacted, or surface treatments like cladding and coating. The resulting legierte Werkstoffe (alloyed materials) are classified according to their principal constituent: iron‑based alloys (e.g., stainless steel), copper‑based alloys (brass, bronze), aluminum alloys, and nickel‑based superalloys, among others.

In addition to technical usage, legiert appears in scientific literature describing the microstructure of alloys, phase diagrams, and heat‑treatment regimes. The degree of alloying is often expressed in weight percent or atomic percent, and precise control is essential for applications ranging from aerospace components to consumer electronics. Legierte Produkte are evaluated for performance criteria such as fatigue life, wear resistance, and electrical conductivity, which are directly linked to the nature and distribution of alloying elements.

Overall, the concept of legieren reflects the engineered manipulation of material composition to tailor properties for targeted industrial, commercial, or research purposes.