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Process of shaping iron and other malleable metals by hammering or pressing them after application of heat. Forging techniques are useful in working with metal because the material can be given the desired form, and the process improves the structure of the metal, particularly refining the grain size. Forged metal is stronger and more ductile than cast metal and exhibits greater resistance to fatigue and impact.
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Coat metal with oxide: to coat a metal, for example, aluminum, with a protective or decorative oxide by making the metal the anode of an electrolytic cell.
Electrochemical process for depositing a thin layer of metal usually on a metallic base. Objects are electroplated to prevent corrosion, obtain a hard surface or attractive finish, purify metals (as in the electro refining of copper), separate metals for quantitative analysis, or as in electrotyping, to reproduce a form from a mold. Cadmium, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, silver and tin are the metals most often used in plating. Typical products of electroplating at are silver-plated tableware, chromium-plated automobile accessories, and tin-plated food containers.
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Symbol Cr, gray metallic element that can take on a high polish. The atomic number of chromium is 24, and is one of the transition elements on the periodic table. The addition of chromium imparts hardness, strength, and corrosion resistance to the alloy. In the stainless steels, chromium makes up 10 percent or more of the final composition. Because of its hardness, an alloy of chromium, cobalt, and tungsten is used for high-speed metal-cutting tools.
Symbol Ni, silver white, magnetic metallic element used chiefly in making alloys. Nickel is also one of the transition elements on the periodic table. Nickel is primarily used in the form of alloys. It imparts great strength and corrosion resistance on steel. Nickel steel, containing about two to four percent nickel, is used in automobile parts such as axles, crankshifts, gears, valves and rods; in machine parts; and in armor plates.
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| 13 | Entry | 87% Steel - for strength |
| Chrome | Level | 13% Chrome - for stain resistance |
| 18/0 | Medium/Better | 82% Steel - for strength |
| Chrome | Grade | 18% Chrome - for stain resistance |
| 18/8 | High | 74% Steel - for strength |
| Chrome | Quality | 18% Chrome - for stain resistance |
| 8% Nickel - for luster | ||
| 18/10 | Highest | 72% Steel - for strength |
| Chrome | Quality | 18% Chrome - for stain resistance |
| 10% Nickel - for high luster |
THE 18/0 AND 18/8 DESIGNATIONS ARE THE MOST COMMONLY CARRIED IN THE HOUSEWARES ARENA. AS ONE CAN SEE, THE FIRST NUMBER IN THE DESCRIPTION IDENTIFIES THE PERCENT OF CHROME, FOR STAIN RESISTANCE, AND THE SECOND NUMBER REPRESENTS THE PERCENT OF NICKEL, FOR LUSTER.
Flatware is also produced in various gauges or thickness. The unit of measure used for flatware thickness is millimeters (mm), with the exception of dinner knives, which are measured in gram weight. Also, dinner forks and soup spoons are in general 0.2 to 0.3 mm thicker than salad forks and teaspoons in a set.
