Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Capili Jefferson 13
Capili Jefferson 13
Capili Jefferson 13
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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
3. Weight
4. Cost
Non-ferrous metals tend to be more expensive than ferrous metals due to rarity, although this is not
always the case.
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.
FAQs
Although ferrous metals are generally seen as being stronger than non-ferrous metals, it is difficult to
make general statements about the mechanical properties of different metals. For example, while many
non-ferrous metals, such as gold, tin or lead, are soft, titanium is one of the hardest elements on Earth, as
well as being non-ferrous.
Iron is ferrous – in fact, the word ‘ferrous’ is derived from ‘ferrum,’ the Latin word for iron.
Non-ferrous metals are alloys or metals that do not contain any appreciable amounts of iron. All
pure metals are non-ferrous elements, except for iron (Fe), which is also called ferrite from the
Latin ‘ferrum,’ meaning “iron.”
Non-ferrous metals tend to be more expensive than ferrous metals but are used for their desirable
properties, including light weight (aluminium), high conductivity (copper), non magnetic properties or
resistance to corrosion (zinc). Some non-ferrous materials are used in the iron and steel industries, such as
bauxite, which is used for flux in blast furnaces. Other non-ferrous metals, including chromite, pyrolusite
and wolframite, are used to make ferrous alloys. However, many non-ferrous metals have low melting
points, making them less suitable for applications at high temperatures.
There are a large number of non-ferrous materials, covering every metal and alloy that does not contain
iron. Non-ferrous metals include aluminium, copper, lead, nickel, tin, titanium and zinc, as well as copper
alloys like brass and bronze. Other rare or precious non-ferrous metals include gold, silver and platinum,
cobalt, mercury, tungsten, beryllium, bismuth, cerium, cadmium, niobium, indium, gallium, germanium,
lithium, selenium, tantalum, tellurium, vanadium, and zirconium.
Non-ferrous metals are usually obtained from minerals like carbonates, silicates and sulphides before
being refined through electrolysis.
The difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals is that ferrous metals contain iron. Ferrous metals,
such as cast irons or carbon steel, have a high carbon content, which generally makes them vulnerable to
rust when exposed to moisture. However, this is not the case for wrought iron, which resists rust due to its
purity, and stainless steel, which is protected from corrosion by the presence of chromium.
Magnesium Alloys
Pure magnesium is a shiny gray solid which bears a close physical resemblance to the other five elements
in the second column (group 2, or alkaline earth metals) of the periodic table.
Magnesium alloys are mixtures of magnesium and other alloying metal, usually aluminium, zinc, silicon,
manganese, copper and zirconium. Since the most outstanding characteristic of magnesium is its density,
1.7 g/cm3, its alloys are used where light weight is an important consideration (e.g., in aircraft
components). Magnesium has the lowest melting point (923 K (1,202 °F)) of all the alkaline earth
metals. Pure magnesium has an HCP crystal structure, is relatively soft, and has a low elastic modulus: 45
GPa. Magnesium alloys have also a hexagonal lattice structure, which affects the fundamental properties
of these alloys. At room temperature, magnesium and its alloys are difficult to perform cold working due
to the fact plastic deformation of the hexagonal lattice is more complicated than in cubic latticed metals
like aluminium, copper and steel. Therefore, magnesium alloys are typically used as cast alloys. Despite
the reactive nature of the pure magnesium powder, magnesium metal and its alloys have good resistance
to corrosion.
Aluminium is the most common alloying element. Aluminium, zinc, zirconium, and thorium promote
precipitation hardening: manganese improves corrosion resistance; and tin improves castability.
We must add, pure magnesium is highly flammable, especially when powdered or shaved into thin
strips, though it is difficult to ignite in mass or bulk. It produces intense, bright, white light when it burns.
Flame temperatures of magnesium and some magnesium alloys can reach 3,100°C. Burning or molten
magnesium reacts violently with water. Once ignited, such fires are difficult to extinguish, because
combustion continues in nitrogen (forming magnesium nitride), carbon dioxide (forming magnesium
oxide and carbon), and water. Burning magnesium can be quenched by using a Class D dry chemical fire
extinguisher. Its flammability is greatly reduced by a small amount of calcium in the alloy.
Titanium Alloys
Pure titanium is stronger than common, low-carbon steels, but 45% lighter. It is also twice as strong as
weak aluminium alloys but only 60% heavier. The two most useful properties of the metal are corrosion
resistance and strength-to-density ratio, the highest of any metallic element. The corrosion resistance of
titanium alloys at normal temperatures is unusually high. Titanium’s corrosion resistance is based on the
formation of a stable, protective oxide layer. Although “commercially pure” titanium has acceptable
mechanical properties and has been used for orthopedic and dental implants, for most applications
titanium is alloyed with small amounts of aluminium and vanadium, typically 6% and 4% respectively, by
weight. This mixture has a solid solubility which varies dramatically with temperature, allowing it to
undergo precipitation strengthening.
Titanium alloys are metals that contain a mixture of titanium and other chemical elements. Such alloys
have very high tensile strength and toughness (even at extreme temperatures). They are light in weight,
have extraordinary corrosion resistance and the ability to withstand extreme temperatures.
Grade 2
Commercially pure titanium grade 2 is very similar to grade 1, but it has higher strength than grade 1 and
excellent cold forming properties. It provides excellent welding properties and has excellent resistance to
oxidation and corrosion. This grade of titanium is the most common grade of the commercially pure
titanium industry. It is the prime choice for many fields of applications:
Aerospace,
Automotive,
Chemical Processing & Chlorate Manufacturing,
Desalination
Power generation
Grade 5 – Ti-6Al-4V
Grade 5 is the most commonly used alloy and it is an alpha + beta alloy. Grade 5 alloy accounts for 50%
of total titanium usage the world over. It has a chemical composition of 6% aluminum, 4% vanadium,
0.25% (maximum) iron, 0.2% (maximum) oxygen, and the remainder titanium. Generally, Ti-6Al-4V is
used in applications up to 400 degrees Celsius. It has a density of roughly 4420 kg/m 3. It is significantly
stronger than commercially pure titanium (grades 1-4) due to its possibility to be heat treated. This grade
is an excellent combination of strength, corrosion resistance, weld and fabricability It is the prime choice
for many fields of applications:
Aircraft turbines
Engine components
Aircraft structural components
Aerospace fasteners
High-performance automatic parts
Marine applications
Material properties are intensive properties, that means they are independent of the amount of mass
and may vary from place to place within the system at any moment. The basis of materials science
involves studying the structure of materials, and relating them to their properties (mechanical, electrical
etc.). Once a materials scientist knows about this structure-property correlation, they can then go on to
study the relative performance of a material in a given application. The major determinants of the
structure of a material and thus of its properties are its constituent chemical elements and the way in
which it has been processed into its final form.
In words, the density (ρ) of a substance is the total mass (m) of that substance divided by the total volume
(V) occupied by that substance. The standard SI unit is kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3). The
Standard English unit is pounds mass per cubic foot (lbm/ft3).
Since the density (ρ) of a substance is the total mass (m) of that substance divided by the total volume (V)
occupied by that substance, it is obvious, the density of a substance strongly depends on its atomic mass
and also on the atomic number density (N; atoms/cm3),
Atomic Weight. The atomic mass is carried by the atomic nucleus, which occupies only
about 10-12 of the total volume of the atom or less, but it contains all the positive charge
and at least 99.95% of the total mass of the atom. Therefore it is determined by the mass
number (number of protons and neutrons).
Atomic Number Density. The atomic number density (N; atoms/cm3), which is
associated with atomic radii, is the number of atoms of a given type per unit volume (V;
cm3) of the material. The atomic number density (N; atoms/cm 3) of a pure material
having atomic or molecular weight (M; grams/mol) and the material density (⍴;
gram/cm3) is easily computed from the following equation using Avogadro’s number
Materials are frequently chosen for various applications because they have desirable combinations of
mechanical characteristics. For structural applications, material properties are crucial and engineers must
take them into account.
In mechanics of materials, the strength of a material is its ability to withstand an applied load without
failure or plastic deformation. Strength of materials basically considers the relationship between
the external loads applied to a material and the resulting deformation or change in material
dimensions. Strength of a material is its ability to withstand this applied load without failure or plastic
deformation.
The ultimate tensile strength is the maximum on the engineering stress-strain curve. This corresponds to
the maximum stress that can be sustained by a structure in tension. Ultimate tensile strength is often
shortened to “tensile strength” or even to “the ultimate.” If this stress is applied and maintained, fracture
will result. Often, this value is significantly more than the yield stress (as much as 50 to 60 percent more
than the yield for some types of metals). When a ductile material reaches its ultimate strength, it
experiences necking where the cross-sectional area reduces locally. The stress-strain curve contains no
higher stress than the ultimate strength. Even though deformations can continue to increase, the stress
usually decreases after the ultimate strength has been achieved. It is an intensive property; therefore its
value does not depend on the size of the test specimen. However, it is dependent on other factors, such as
the preparation of the specimen, the presence or otherwise of surface defects, and the temperature of the
test environment and material. Ultimate tensile strengths vary from 50 MPa for an aluminum to as high
as 3000 MPa for very high-strength steels.
Yield Strength
Yield strength of Elektron 21 – UNS M12310 is about 145 MPa.
Yield strength of Ti-6Al-4V – Grade 5 titanium alloy is about 1100 MPa.
The yield point is the point on a stress-strain curve that indicates the limit of elastic behavior and the
beginning plastic behavior. Yield strength or yield stress is the material property defined as the stress at
which a material begins to deform plastically whereas yield point is the point where nonlinear (elastic +
plastic) deformation begins. Prior to the yield point, the material will deform elastically and will return to
its original shape when the applied stress is removed. Once the yield point is passed, some fraction of the
deformation will be permanent and non-reversible. Some steels and other materials exhibit a behaviour
termed a yield point phenomenon. Yield strengths vary from 35 MPa for a low-strength aluminum to
greater than 1400 MPa for very high-strength steels.
Rockwell hardness test is one of the most common indentation hardness tests, that has been developed
for hardness testing. In contrast to Brinell test, the Rockwell tester measures the depth of penetration of an
indenter under a large load (major load) compared to the penetration made by a preload (minor load). The
minor load establishes the zero position. The major load is applied, then removed while still maintaining
the minor load. The difference between depth of penetration before and after application of the major load
is used to calculate the Rockwell hardness number. That is, the penetration depth and hardness are
inversely proportional. The chief advantage of Rockwell hardness is its ability to display hardness
values directly. The result is a dimensionless number noted as HRA, HRB, HRC, etc., where the last
letter is the respective Rockwell scale.
The Rockwell C test is performed with a Brale penetrator (120°diamond cone) and a major load of
150kg.
In general, melting is a phase change of a substance from the solid to the liquid phase. The melting
point of a substance is the temperature at which this phase change occurs. The melting point also defines
a condition in which the solid and liquid can exist in equilibrium.
Thermal Conductivity of Magnesium Alloy vs Titanium Alloy
The heat transfer characteristics of a solid material are measured by a property called the thermal
conductivity, k (or λ), measured in W/m.K. It is a measure of a substance’s ability to transfer heat
through a material by conduction. Note that Fourier’s law applies for all matter, regardless of its state
(solid, liquid, or gas), therefore, it is also defined for liquids and gases.
The thermal conductivity of most liquids and solids varies with temperature. For vapors, it also depends
upon pressure. In general:
Most materials are very nearly homogeneous, therefore we can usually write k = k (T). Similar
definitions are associated with thermal conductivities in the y- and z-directions (ky, kz), but for an
isotropic material the thermal conductivity is independent of the direction of transfer, kx = ky = kz = k.
REFERENCE
Ferrous vs Non Ferrous Metals (What is the Difference?) - TWI (twi-global.com)
Types of Alloys - Explore alloys and their applications (wieland-diversified.com)
What Metals are Non Ferrous? (A Complete Guide) - TWI (twi-global.com)
Magnesium Alloy vs Titanium Alloy - Comparison - Pros and Cons | Material Properties (material-
properties.org)