Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

197 results found

type metal

(Encyclopedia)type metal, alloy of lead with antimony, tin, and sometimes copper, so named because of its one time extensive use for making printing type. Expanding upon solidification, the alloy takes a fine and c...

pewter

(Encyclopedia)pewter, any of a number of ductile, silver-white alloys consisting principally of tin. The properties vary with the percentage of tin and the nature of the added materials. Lead, when added, imparts a...

plating

(Encyclopedia)plating, application of a plate, or coat, of metal to a surface for decoration, reflection of light, protection against corrosion, or increased wearing quality. The practice is of ancient origin: gild...

faience

(Encyclopedia)faience fāĕnsˈ, –änsˈ, fī– [key] [for Faenza, Italy], any of several kinds of pottery, especially earthenware made of coarse clay and covered with an opaque tin-oxide glaze. The term is part...

Llanelli

(Encyclopedia)Llanelli hlänĕhlˈē, lănĕthˈlē [key], town (1981 pop. 45,336), Carmarthenshire, S Wales, on the estuary of the Loughor (Burry) River. The town's industries include tin-plate works and steelwork...

Oruro

(Encyclopedia)Oruro ōro͞oˈrō [key], city (1992 pop. 183,422), capital of Oruro dept., W Bolivia. It is Bolivia's railroad center. Oruro's economy is based on exploitation of the region's tin, tungsten, and copp...

Macapá

(Encyclopedia)Macapá məkəpäˈ [key], city (1996 pop. 214,197), capital of Amapá state, extreme N Brazil, on the Amazon River. Mining is central to its economy. It exports tin iron, gold, and manganese, as well...

Leeuwarden

(Encyclopedia)Leeuwarden lāˈvärˌdən [key], Frisian Ljouwert, city (1994 est. pop. 87,500), capital of Friesland prov., N Netherlands. It is the center of an agricultural and dairying region and has a noted cat...

amalgam

(Encyclopedia)amalgam əmălˈgəm [key], alloy containing mercury. The alloy may be liquid or solid, depending on the proportion of mercury, although all naturally occurring amalgams, i.e., those of gold and silve...

New Britain, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)New Britain, industrial city (1990 pop. 75,491), Hartford co., central Conn.; settled c.1686, inc. 1871. The tin shops and brassworks in the city were established in the 18th cent. New Britain became ...

Browse by Subject