What is the term for when one type of metal falls onto another type?

The concept of alloying refers to the process in which two or more different kinds of metals are combined to create a new material with altered properties. This can include changes in strength, corrosion resistance, or ductility. Alloying generally happens in the molten state, where the various metals blend together at a certain temperature.

In contrast, welding typically involves the process of joining two pieces of metal together at their surfaces, using heat to melt the edges and forge a bond as they cool. Fusing is a broader term that can involve different methods of melting materials together, including those that are not metals, and does not specifically emphasize the creation of an alloy. Melting, while important in many metallurgical processes, is simply the phase change from solid to liquid and does not imply the combination of different metals into a single entity.

Understanding these distinctions highlights why alloying is the correct term in this context, as it focuses specifically on the intentional combination of different metals to achieve desired material characteristics.