Clad Metals 101 - The Basics to Clad Metals

Michael with Michael Talks Metal back for episode 147! Today we're going to introduce you to clad metals. You may not know it but there are clad metals around us every day. Lets define clad as where two or more alloys are bonded together to provide improved performance at reduced cost. We want to take advantage of the properties each component metal contributes to the combination in a cost effective way.
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One example is almost any coin in your pocket or purse. All current US coins except the nickel are clad. Or for those of you that only pay by way of electrons, check in some desk drawer or jar for a stash of coins.
Here the issue is cost of manufacture. Coins have intricately detailed engraved portraiture and need to have a long lifetime. Core material used is zinc for the Penny with copper clad. Dimes, Quarters, and Half Dollars are made with a copper core and a nickel alloy clad.
Even using a lower cost core, a penny costs more than twice its face value to produce at the mint.