Non-ferrous metals, which come in various types, are metals or alloys that do not contain a significant amount of iron. These metals are special due to their properties, which include malleability, non-magnetism, high conductivity, corrosion resistance, and low weight.
Even though almost all these types of non-ferrous metals are more costly than ferrous metals, they serve most industrial purposes, such as roofing, pipes, electrical, and gutters. They are also suitable for highly corrosive environments such as liquid, chemical, and sewage pipelines.
Many electrical and electronic appliances use these non-magnetic types of metals.
Some non-ferrous metals like Aluminum have low weight, Copper has higher conductivity, and Zinc is non-magnetic and is resistant to corrosion. Well, in this reading, we’ll explore what non-ferrous metals are, their applications, properties, types, and examples.
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What are Non-Ferrous Metals?
We refer to alloys and metals lacking significant iron content as non-ferrous metals. Except for iron (Fe), sometimes known as ferrite from the Latin word “ferrum,” which means “iron,” all pure metals are non-ferrous elements.
Although non-ferrous metals are often pricier than ferrous metals, they remain in use because of their benefits, such as resistance to corrosion (zinc), high conductivity (copper), low weight (aluminum), or non-magnetic qualities.
The iron and steel industries employ a few non-ferrous minerals, such as bauxite, which is used as flux in blast furnaces. Ferrous alloys are made from other non-ferrous metals such as wolframite, pyrolusite, and chromite.
However, a lot of non-ferrous metals don’t melt at high temperatures, thus that makes them less useful for high-temperature applications.
Non-ferrous materials include all metals and alloys that don’t include iron in significant quantities. Copper alloys, such as brass and bronze, as well as aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin, titanium, and zinc, are examples of non-ferrous metals.
Gold, silver, platinum, cobalt, mercury, tungsten, beryllium, bismuth, cerium, cadmium, niobium, indium, gallium, germanium, lithium, selenium, tantalum, tellurium, vanadium, and zirconium are some other uncommon or valuable examples of non-ferrous metals.
Application of Non-Ferrous Metals
There are many commercial, industrial, and domestic uses for non-ferrous metals. Depending on the mechanical qualities of the material—such as how quickly it can be formed and if these properties will change during the process—careful material selection may be necessary.
Many of the characteristics of ferrous metals are present in non-ferrous materials. For example, steel may occasionally be substituted with aluminum or titanium alloys, and alloys of cobalt, nickel, or rare earth elements can mimic the magnetic properties of iron.
However, due to their higher cost, people typically choose non-ferrous metals for their unique qualities rather than just as a steel substitute. These characteristics include non-magnetic qualities, conductivity, corrosion resistance, and lighter weights.
In addition, non-ferrous metals, like silver and gold, can be used for decorative purposes since they are often softer and more malleable than ferrous metals.
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Types of Non-ferrous Metals
The different kinds of non-ferrous metals include aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin, titanium, zinc, and brass. They are used in industrial processes. Some precious types of non-ferrous metals are silver, gold, and platinum.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a type of nonferrous metal obtained from bauxite. It is composed of impure aluminum oxide that contains both combined and free water, along with impurities such as silver and iron oxide. An electrolytic reduction process can extract it in large quantities.
Aluminum Alloys
The purpose of adding alloying elements is to improve the mechanical properties (hardness, machining qualities, tensile strength, fluidity for casting purposes, and increased resistance to corrosion).
These types of nonferrous metals are also used in a cast or wrought form (‘wrought’ means work in some way: for example, forging, rolling, deep-drawing, etc.)
Some alloys’ properties can be improved by heat treatments, while others only change from annealing or work hardening.
Copper
Copper is the most important type of non-ferrous metal used in the world in a pure state, in the form of alloys, and as an added element. They are used to influence the properties of other metals, such as good electrical conductivity and high heat, malleability and ductility.
They are known for their readiness to form alloys and their ability to withstand the corrosive effects of the atmosphere by forming a protective layer of oxides. Their distinctive, warm red color easily identifies these types of non-ferrous metals.
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Copper alloys (Brass)
The term brass covers a wide range of copper-zinc alloys with a corresponding range of properties and applications. In these types of nonferrous metals, their copper content exceeds 80% and the alloy is known as “gilding metal”.
It is a rich, golden color, and it is used in decorating works. The brasses find many applications in engineering, not only because they have marked resistance to corrosive elements.
Because of the ease with which they can be rolled, pressed, forged, extruded, drawn, cast, machined, and joined by hard or soft solders.
Bronze
Bronze is a type of nonferrous metal that covers a range of copper-tin alloys. However, the term is used loosely to describe other base alloys. With an addition of 10% or more of the amount of tin content to bronze, such as phosphor bronze.
It is widely used in string making. Phosphor bronzes with higher tin contents (6–12%) are extensively used in bearings and engineering castings, while bronze with a 20% tin content is used in making bells.
Aluminum Bronze
Copper-aluminum alloys (without tin) are types of nonferrous metals used in marine and general engineering work. People often use them when high temperatures necessitate corrosion resistance, good strength, and hardness.
Manganese bronze
Special “brasses” with high tensile strength and good resistance to corrosion contain manganese, tin, iron, and aluminum.
Cupro-nickel alloys
A number of cupro-nickel alloys are classified as types of nonferrous metals commonly used. With a nickel content of 5%, the alloy greatly increases its resistance to corrosion. Furthermore, with about 15% nickel or above, the alloy has a grey-white color. with 25% nickel content, the alloy is used in the present British ‘silver’ coinage.
Condenser tubes, which require high resistance to saltwater corrosion, utilize Cupro-nickel alloys. Monel metal, with 29% copper, 68% nickel, and small quantities of iron and manganese, provides good mechanical properties with very good corrosion resistance.
It is used in chemical engineering plants and internal combustion engine components subjected to high temperatures.
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Lead
Lead is the heaviest of all types of nonferrous metals, with a specific gravity of 11.3. A handsaw or knife can easily cut them due to their softness and malleability. It has a silvery luster when first cut, but the surface quickly tarnishes in the air, forming a protective oxide film.
Oddly enough, pure water attacks these nonferrous metals, despite their resistance to many acids. Lead has a low melting point (330°C) and is an essential component in several alloys; for example, solder and tinmen are alloyed with tin in varying proportions.
Tin
Tin is a white metal showing a yellowish tinge. Despite its malleability and ability to roll into tinfoil, the canning industry primarily uses it for tin plating.
Also, as an alloying element in bearing metals. It is also used in making soft solders. Tin has a very low melting point of about 232°c.
Zinc
Zinc is a lustrous, bluish-white metal that shows excellent resistance to atmospheric corrosion. This property is used to advantage in the galvanizing of sheet ironware, piping, wire, nails, and so on, the coating of zinc being given by dipping in a molten zinc bath.
Copper-zinc alloys also use these types of nonferrous metals. They are also used in a range of zinc alloys for die-casting.
The alloys, containing zinc, copper, and aluminum, are used in a wide range of items, including carburetters, washing machine parts, model toys, etc.
The zinc concentrate is filtered and is then roasted to form a zinc oxide sinter, which is then mixed with anthracite, bituminous coal, and clay and pressed to form briquettes.
Properties of Non-Ferrous Metals
The properties of non-ferrous metals include
- Colourful
- Easy to fabricate (including machinability, casting, and welding)
- Good thermal and electrical conductivity
- High corrosion resistance
- Low density
- Non-magnetic
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