This is usually found in really cheap products and looks and sounds metallic (rings a bit when dropped) , but I’m not sure if it is one.

The pictured cross section shows the greyish metal (the gold is just paint).

The cross section feels coarse and has tiny glittering specks. It also looks a bit porous (tiny air bubbles seem to be present in this alloy)

It’s also pretty weak - a pencil like object made from this stuff can easily be snapped in two with your bare hands.

Thanks!

  • moodyEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    It could be some kind of sintered ceramic, which would explain its brittleness.

    What object did this part come from?

    • hexabs@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      It’s from a cheap curtain rod end cap.

      I’m not sure if it’s a ceramic, wouldn’t that break if dropped from shoulder height?

      The end cap is definitely tougher than that but still a lot more brittle than other common metals.

      • moodyEnglish
        4·
        2 days ago

        There are many types of ceramic with different properties, but typically they’re pretty brittle. Tungsten carbide is a ceramic used in saw blade and lathe tool tips because of how strong it is, but it is weak to impacts, so they usually don’t make large objects out of it.