Composition
Properties
Uses
Demerits
Ferrous
Pig Iron, scrap steel,
various additions
dependants on use
White cast iron-very hard and brittle, Grey cast ironeasily casts and good corrosion resistance. Iron is
one of the three magnetic elements (the others are
cobalt and nickel). Wrought iron is malleable and is
mainly used in ornamental work for gates.
Heavy crushing machinery, Bench vices. Cast iron
is used for manhole covers on roads and
pavements
and as engine blocks for petrol and diesel engines.
Gates
Cast iron is very brittle (it cracks easily) but it has a greater
resistance
to corrosion (see rusting) than either pure iron or steel.
Pure iron is called wrought iron.
Iron is also the catalyst in the Haber Process.
Ferrous
General construction steel, car bodies, nuts and
bolts
Easily rusts and will not withstand the condensation
problems of bathrooms unless it is either it is chromium
plated, plastic coated or protected in some other way.
Ferrous
This category represents medium strength steels which are
still cheap and command mass market. They are general
purpose but can be specified for use in stressed
applications such as gears, pylons and pipelines.
Ferrous
These steels are not normally used in stressed applications
subjected to shock. They are used where hardness is
valued, such as for blades, springs, collars.
Ferrous
Stainless steels have higher resistance to oxidation (rust)
and corrosion in many natural and man made
environments
Ferrous
Very difficult to join by soldering or welding without
specialised equipment. This may restrict designs to sheet
forms or a reliance on screw threads or rivets
Non-Ferrous
Cast Iron
1000-1200
Mild Steel
1400
Iron (99%.5%), Carbon less
than 0.3-0.7%
Ductile and tough , Cannot be hardened and
tempered
Medium Carbon Steel
1400
Iron, Carbon less than 0.30.7%
Harder than Mild Steel less ductile. Heat treatment
and work hardening are now effective methods for
modifying mechanical properties.
High Carbon Steel
1400
Iron, Carbon less than 0.71.4%
Hardness can be improved by heat treatment.
Although high strengths and harnesses are
attainable, impact strengths are poor.
Hammers, cutting tools and files
Stainless Steel
1400
Medium carbon steel 12%,
Chromium, 8% Nickel
Corrosion resistant
Kitchen taps, cutlery
Aluminium
660
Pure metal
Malleable and ductile, very conductive of heat and
electricity
Aircraft, boats, window frames and castings
Duralumin
660
Aluminium 95%, copper
4%, Magnesium 1%
Work hardens, ductile and machines well
Aircraft parts
Rigid airship frames, it was well suited to the new
monocoque construction techniques.
Non-Ferrous
Copper
1083
Pure metal
Malleable and ductile, Excellent conductor of heat,
when very pure a good conductor electricity.
Wire, central heating pipes, cry radiators and PCBs
Copper is malleable and ductile, a good conductor of heat
and, when very pure, a good conductor of electricity.
Non-Ferrous
Brass
927
Copper 65%, Zinc 35%
Corrosion resistant, casts well,, Good conductor of
heat/electricity
Casting, ornamented and marine fittings
Expensive. Easily discolours and tarnishes if not constantly
polished or protected with a 'lacquer'.
Non-Ferrous
Bronze
900-1000
90-95% Copper, 5-10% Tin
Harder tougher than brass, Hard wearing, Corrosion
resistant
Boat/ship propellers, pots, armour, axes. cannons.
develops a patina, it does not oxidize beyond the surface.
It is less brittle than iron.
Non-Ferrous
Lead 30%, Tin 70%
Very malleable, being soft enough to carve with
hand tools, and it also takes good impressions from
punches or presses. Pewter cannot be used to make
tools itself.
Ornaments, early plates, knifes, forks. Lead content
would make eating from a toxic experience
Physically, pewter is a bright, shiny metal that is very
similar in appearance to silver. Like silver, pewter will also
oxidize to a dull grey over time if left untreated.
Non-Ferrous
Tin plant, tin coatings, and tin cans and soft solders,
The tin adheres strongly and uniformly to the steel,
protecting it from attack. Cans made of tinplate are used
for food products, since the tin was not attacked by most
foods in the absence of air.
Non-Ferrous
Often used as steel coating, or mixed with other
metals to creative materials
Often used as a coating for mild steel pipe/plate.
Non-Ferrous
Steel
Steel
Iron
Melting Point
Alloy
Alloy
Alloy Pure Metal
Alloy
Alloy
Alloy
Steel
Springs, Axles and shafts
Alloy Pure Metal
Pure Metal
Pewter
225-240
Tin
232
Pure metal
Soft, Corrosion resistant, currently applied to steels
and iron for protection. Its two main uses, both past
and present, have been the coating of other metals,
and in alloys.
Zinc
420
Pure metal
Ductile and easily worked, A layer of oxide prevents
it from further corrosion
Iron 95%, Tungsten 5%
Tough, hard, even at high temperatures
Edges of high-speed cutting tools
Titanium 92.5% Aluminium
5%, Tin 2.5%
Can catch fire, not good in high temp applications.
Good chemical resistance when palladium (0.15
wt%), added
Most chemical plant use steel vessels which are
clad with titanium. Golf clubs
Alloy
Tungsten Steel
Titanium Alloy
Candidate Number:
1670
Icknield School: 62111
Man-Made Boards-Woods
robust physical properties, has the highest melting point of
all the non-alloyed metals and the second highest of all the
elements after carbon.
The Kroll process is a method of extracting titanium metal,
using magnesium as the reducing agent. Kroll process).
This makes titanium an expensive metal.
Name:
Ferrous
Non-Ferrous