What defines an alloy?

An alloy is defined as a mixture of two or more metals, which often incorporates properties from each of the constituent elements, resulting in improved characteristics such as strength, durability, or corrosion resistance. This blending allows for the engineering of materials tailored for specific applications, making alloys highly valuable in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and construction. By combining different metals, alloying can also enhance certain properties beyond what is achievable with a single metal. This is fundamentally what sets alloys apart from pure elements, which consist of only one type of atom and lack the combined benefits found in alloys.