Aluminium

A large Aluminium
billet from which
wrought products will
be produced.

Aluminium Smelter (Norway)

Cast Structure of Al Ingot

Boat Hulls
Aluminium boat hulls
offer corrosion
resistance and light
weight.

XJ6 Aluminium Body

XJ6 Aluminium Chassis

Aluminium Bumper Beams

Aluminium Engine Blocks (Lupo)

Audi A2 engine block

Aluminium Bottles

Aluminium Forging

Forged Aluminium Wheels

Al heat transfer components

Aluminium Roofing

Other non-ferrous metals

Copper
Tin
Lead
Zinc
Titanium
Lithium
Nickel
Chromium

Copper
Moderate strength in the pure state
Malleable and ductile
Very good electrical and thermal
conductor
Good corrosion resistance
Alloys with Zinc to give brass
Alloys with Tin and others to make bronze

Copper Roofing

Copper as a Biocide

Copper as a Heat Exchanger

Tin
Soft and corrosion resistant.
Used to alloy with lead to make solder
Used to alloy with copper to produce
bronzes, e.g. Bell metal

Bell Metal

Lead

High Density
Corrosion Resistant
Malleable, but not ductile
Very soft and weak

Lead Applications

Lead as a Roofing Material

Zinc
No structural engineering uses in pure
state
Used as sacrificial anodes to protect steel.
Used as an alloy with copper to produce
brass
Used to corrosion coat steel by:
Galvanising or
Plating

Brass Components

Magnesium
Light weight S.G. of 1.7
Burns easily when being machined
Used with Aluminium to make lightweight
alloys.

Magnesium

Magnesium Wheel

Lithium
Very light, S.G. of 0.5!
Used to make alloys with Aluminium for
aerospace applications.
Used in batteries for mobile phones etc.

Titanium
Low density (S.G. of 4.5, as compared to
steel at approx 8)
Similar strengths to steels
Highly corrosion resistant
Melts at 1670C
Use restricted to <400 C

Titanium
Used in
Aerospace parts
Racing cars, motorcycles and bicycles
Pipework and heat exchangers in
chemical plants and oil installations.

Titanium heatexchangers

Nickel
Corrosion resistant forms strong oxide
layer.
Brittle in the pure state
Used in stainless steels
Alloyed with copper to produce
cupronickels for coinage and Monel for
corrosion-resistant valve parts.
Used in Nimonic and superalloys for
aerospace engine parts.

Nickel-based superalloys

Single-crystal blades

Chromium
Corrosion resistant forms strong oxide
layer.
Brittle in the pure state
Used in stainless steels
Used with Ni & Mo to produce strong steel
alloys for bicycle and motorcycle frame
tubes.