Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 8 views

    Mse Lec Module 6 Ferrous and Non Ferrous Metals

    Uploaded by

    giamaureendelrosario

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Mse Lec Module 6 Ferrous and Non Ferrous Metals

    Uploaded by

    giamaureendelrosario
    8 views7 pages

    Original Title

    MSE-LEC-MODULE-6-FERROUS-AND-NON-FERROUS-METALS

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    8 views7 pages

    Mse Lec Module 6 Ferrous and Non Ferrous Metals

    Uploaded by

    giamaureendelrosario

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 7

    MODULE 7

    FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS

    OBJECTIVES:
    By the end of this module, you must be able to:
    1. Understand the definition of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and their properties
    2. Cite examples of ferrous and non-ferrous metals
    3. Differentiate ferrous and non-ferrous metals

    INTRODUCTION:
    Chemists and metallurgists alike know the two types of metals, ferrous metals and non -ferrous
    metals, as elements. The history of these metals dates back over 7,000 years ago with the
    discovery of copper, thus the start of the Copper Age. Eventually combining copper with tin
    created a new alloy and started the Bronze Age. With the production of iron ore around 1,200
    BC, we entered into the Iron Age.

    These metals are still used today throughout the metal fabrica tion industry. They are divided
    into two groups due to their distinctive properties and the applications for each type, making the
    differentiation between the two crucial.

    DISCUSSION:
    FERROUS METALS
    The word ‘ferrous’ comes from the Latin word ferrum, which means, ‘containing iron.’ One sure
    way to tell if a metal is ferrous is to test for magnetic properties. Ferrous metals are generally
    magnetic by nature and have high tensile strength, making them ideal in construction.

    MSE (LECTURE) – FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS Page 1


    Any form of iron and steel are considered ferrous metals. Small amounts of other elements can
    be added to iron and steel to get the desired property. For example, copper is added to steel to
    increase corrosion resistance. Adding nickel to steel increases strength and toughness, and is a
    property of stainless steel. The small amounts of each metal do not change the composition of
    steel to non-ferrous metal, however, only into alloy steel.

    The most common ferrous metals are cast iron, wrought iron, alloy steel, and carbon steel, also
    referred to as structural steel. Iron predates steel by hundreds of years. The latter being an alloy,
    invented by adding the former with carbon. Tensile, ductile, durable, and strong, iron is a heavy
    but soft material, with high thermal conductivity. Though for the most part, in terms of usage,
    iron has been replaced by its offspring, steel, a harder metal.

    Worldwide, carbon steel is the backbone of building and construction, and is quite possibly the
    most widely used material by engineers and in construction. Some of the tallest skyscrapers in
    the world are built with heavy carbon steel. Ships and shipping containers, trains and train
    tracks, industrial piping, automobiles, trucks, fencing, nails, tools, and much more are made with
    ferrous metals.

    With the exception of wrought iron (because of its purity) and stainless steel (because it’s at
    least 10% chromium when exposed to the elements), ferrous metal is subject to rust and
    corrosion. All ferrous metals must be anodized if it is to be exposed t o the elements. On the
    other hand, the magnetic properties of ferrous metal are prized for sorting and recycling in the
    scrap metal industry and are even better for attaching postcards and grocery lists to refrigerator
    doors.

    PROPERTIES OF FERROUS METALS


    Ferrous metals are any metal that contains iron, such as stainless steel. They are known for their tensile
    strength, which makes them ideal for architectural and structural uses such as the tallest skyscrapers, as
    well as bridges, railways and more.

    MSE (LECTURE) – FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS Page 2


    Ferrous metals are also have magnetic properties, which is why you can use magnets to pin things to
    your refrigerator door, although their high carbon content means that many ferrous metals are prone to
    rusting. The exceptions to this are stainless steel, which doesn’t rust because of the chromium, and
    wrought iron which doesn’t rust due to the high pure iron content.

    EXAMPLES AND USES OF FERROUS METALS


    Commonly used examples of ferrous metals include steel, stainless steel, carbon steel, cast iron and
    wrought iron:
    1. Steel
    A combination of iron and carbon, steel is renowned for its strength and machinability. It is widely used
    in construction, manufacturing and industrial metal fabrication.
    2. Stainless Steel
    Stainless steel is an alloy steel made with the addition of chromium to steel, which provides resistance
    against rust.
    3. Carbon Steel
    Carbon steel contains a high carbon content that is added to iron to create an exceptionally hard metal
    that is used for tools.
    4. Cast Iron
    Cast iron is a hard and wear resistant metal that is widely used for items including cookware, machine
    tools, engines, manhole covers and water pipes.
    5. Wrought Iron
    Unlike most other ferrous metals, wrought iron is able to resist corrosion and oxidation. It is typically
    used for fences, railings and gates.

    MSE (LECTURE) – FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS Page 3


    NON-FERROUS METALS
    Non-ferrous metals have, too, been used since the dawn of civilization. Primary examples of non -
    ferrous metals are copper, aluminum, nickel, zinc, lead, and tin, but also precious metals like
    gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Non-ferrous metals have advantages over ferrous metals
    because they are lighter in weight and more malleable.

    Aluminum, for instance, is lightweight and can be easily cast, forged, machined and welded.
    Aircraft are manufactured with aluminum, as are fenders, frames, pistons, radiators and like
    parts used in building autos, trucks, boats, and bikes.

    Copper’s ductility, malleability, and high conductivity make it the principal metal in sheet
    roofing, bearings, pipes, statues, and the electrical industry in the form of wire and other
    conductors. Zinc is most widely used to galvanize the protective coating of iron or steel to
    prevent rust.

    PROPERTIES OF NON FERROUS METALS


    Non-ferrous metals do not contain iron. They are lighter and more malleable than ferrous metals,
    making them ideal for applications where strength is required but weight is a consideration, such as with
    the aerospace industry.

    Non-ferrous metals are not magnetic but do offer good resistance to corrosion and can conduct heat
    and electricity. They are used in for items including industrial piping, gutters, roofing and electrical
    applications.

    MSE (LECTURE) – FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS Page 4


    EXAMPLES AND USES OF NON FERROUS METALS
    Commonly-used non-ferrous metals include aluminium, lead, silver, brass, gold, zinc, copper and tin:
    1. Aluminium
    Lightweight and easy to machine, shape and weld, aluminium is used for a range of applications from
    food cans and cookware to aeroplane parts and cars.
    2. Copper
    A good conductor of heat and electricity, copper is highly ductile and malleable. It is widely used for
    electrical wiring as well as in appliances and vehicles.
    3. Lead
    With a low melting point and low tensile strength, lead is used in electrical power cables, batteries,
    pipes, fuels, paint and for soldering.
    4. Tin
    Soft and malleable with a low tensile strength, tin is used as a coating to prevent steel from corroding.
    5. Silver
    Silver is used for a range of applications, including jewellery, cutlery, electrical contacts and in mirrors.
    6. Brass
    Brass is used for fixtures and fittings including taps, hooks, and doorknobs, as well as being used for light
    fittings and screws, among other uses.
    7. Gold
    Used for jewellery, gold also has applications including within the medical industry, in computers and
    also electronics.
    8. Zinc
    A medium strength metal with a low melting point, zinc is used to galvanise iron and steel to prevent
    rusting.

    MSE (LECTURE) – FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS Page 5


    THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS IS THAT
    FERROUS METALS CONTAIN IRON AND NON-FERROUS METALS DO NOT.

    This basic difference imparts distinctive properties on the two types of metals, which add to their own
    personal physical properties and determine the applications they are most suited for.

    Non-ferrous metals have been used for thousands of years, with the discovery of copper in 5,000 BC
    marking the end of the Stone Age and the start of the Copper Age. The Bronze Age followed this, when
    copper was alloyed with tin. Alloys, which are a mixture of metal with an element to improve the
    properties or aesthetic, can be either ferrous or non-ferrous.

    PROPERTIES OF FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS COMPARISON


    Ferrous and non-ferrous metals typically have differing properties, although there are some exceptions
    to some of these general rules:
    1. Resistance to Rust and Corrosion
    Ferrous metals are vulnerable to rust when exposed to the elements due to their high carbon content.
    Exceptions to this rule include stainless steel and wrought iron, which resists rust because of its high iron
    content.
    Non-ferrous metals have a naturally higher resistance to rust and corrosion because of the lack of iron
    content, making them good for applications including roofing and gutters.
    2. Magnetic Properties
    Most ferrous metals have magnetic properties.
    Non-ferrous metals are not magnetic.
    3. Weight
    Non-ferrous metals are lighter than ferrous metals.
    4. Cost
    Non-ferrous metals tend to be more expensive than ferrous metals due to rarity, although this is not
    always the case.

    MSE (LECTURE) – FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS Page 6


    5. Recycling
    Both ferrous and non-ferrous metals can be recycled. Non-ferrous metals can be recycled repeatedly as
    they don’t lose chemical properties or degrade during recycling. By contrast, ferrous scrap metals need
    to be melted, purified and then compacted into solid blocks.

    Sources:
    Difference Between Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals | Quest-Tech. (2021, September 24). Quest-Tech

    Precision Inc. https://questtech.ca/blog/difference-between-ferrous-and-non-ferrous-metals/

    Ferrous vs Non Ferrous Metals (What is the Difference?). (n.d.-b). https://www.twi-global.com/technical-

    knowledge/faqs/ferrous-vs-non-ferrous-metals

    Recycling, A. M. (n.d.). Ferrous Metals and Non-Ferrous Metals - ASM Metal Recycling. ASM Metal

    Recycling. https://www.asm-recycling.co.uk/ferrous-and-non-ferrous-metals/

    Disclaimer: This is a compilation of topics from different sources wherein most discussions are explicitly copied. The objective of this work is
    purely for educational purposes only to discuss similar contents to undergraduate students taking up the same course. Figures,
    tables, examples, and most discussions are credited to the owners.

    MSE (LECTURE) – FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS Page 7

    You might also like