Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES – TAGUIG

BRANCH
General Santos Ave, Lower Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila
PHILIPPINE SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PUP
TAGUIG STUDENT UNIT (PSME-PUPTSU)

MEEN 30233 – MATERIAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FOR ME

WRITTEN REPORT

NON FERROUS METALS

Submitted by:
Cañon, Mary Rosefelle S.
Espartero, Mark Vincent D.
Fuentes, Christine C.
Pagaduan, Eunice M.
ME 3-1

Submitted to:
Engr. Kyle Clouie Sescon Moseños
Instructor

APRIL 23, 2023

I. Learning Objectives

At the end of this lecture, the learners should be:

 Identify and understand the properties of non-ferrous metals.
 Classify non-ferrous materials according to their composition.
 Know the areas where the non-ferrous metals are used.

II. Definition

Non-ferrous metals are metals and alloys that do not contain any detectable quantities
of iron, thus the term "non-ferrous." Non-ferrous" metals and alloys have no iron. All
pure metals except iron (Fe) are non-ferrous.
Due to their desirable properties, non-ferrous metals are used despite their higher
prices. The price of non-ferrous metals is often higher than the price of ferrous metals;
nonetheless, these metals are utilized due to the desired features they possess, such
as low magnetic properties, high conductivity, low weight, and resistance to corrosion.
However, because of their low melting points, many non-ferrous metals are unsuitable
for use in applications that require operation at high temperatures.
III. History
Non-ferrous metals were the first metals used for metallurgy by humans. Copper,
gold, and silver were all attractive materials for early humans, especially since these
metals were not as susceptible to corrosion as ferrous metals.
Humans have used non-ferrous metals for a longer period than their ferrous
counterparts. As a matter of fact, around 5000 BC humans developed a technique used
to make bronze. This technique involved smelting and alloying copper with other metals
like tin and arsenic. The onset of this smelting and the alloying period ended the stone
Age, marking the beginning of the Bronze Age.
Copper was the first metal to be forged and shaped into objects (during the ‘Copper
Age’), while gold, silver and copper all replaced wood and stone for some early
applications since they could be fashioned into a variety of forms. The rarity of these
metals meant they were often used for luxury items. Creating bronze, by alloying copper
with tin, led to the Bronze Age, which followed the Copper Age.
The history of aluminium was shaped by the usage of its compound alum. The first
written record of alum was in the 5th century BCE by Greek historian Herodotus. This
event marked the beginning of The Aluminium Age by transforming aluminium from a
rare and precious metal with a commercial value comparable to gold to an inexpensive
and abundant one. Aluminum metal and its ions and compounds have made modernity
possible and will continue to do so. Recent estimates expect a boom in aluminium
consumption in the future decades, mostly from new ore extractions.
III. Structures of Non Ferrous Metals
Iron is just one of all metals in nature, so the structures and alloys of non-ferrous
metals are more diverse.
However, under normal conditions most metals have three crystalline structures
established by their metal bonds: compact hexagonal (hcp), compact cubic (ccp) and
cubic centered in the body (bcc).

Hexagonal Closed Packed (HCP)

In this structure, the metallic atoms are packaged in the form of a hexagonal prism, thus
taking advantage of all the spaces.Crystals with a hexagonal close packed (HCP)
structure have layers of atoms or ions that are very close together. Each atom or ion is
surrounded by six hexagonally-arranged neighbors and twelve octahedrally-distorted
neighbors in this arrangement. Of all the structures, this is the densest, so it can be
expected that the metals are the same
Atoms are packed just as tightly into face-centered cubic and hexagonal close-packed
crystal formations. The crystal structures of several metals have hexagonal tight
packing, and they include:
• Titanium (Ti)
• Zinc (Zn)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Cobalt (Co)
• Rutenio (Ru)
• Osmio (Os)
• Alkaline earth metals (with the exception of barium and francium).
Cubic Closest Packed (CCP)
The phrase "Cubic Closest Packed" is used to describe the composition of crystal
structures (lattices) that takes up the least amount of room possible. Think of a single
atom as a spherical embedded in a crystal lattice. While cubes can be stacked to
completely eliminate all vacant volume, spheres can never be packed to a 100%
density. The spheres should be packed as closely together as possible to improve
packing efficiency and reduce the volume of empty space. We refer to these
configurations as "closest packed." This crystalline structure is less dense than the hcp,
and in this each atom is surrounded by twelve neighbors.
Here, the interstices (empty spaces) are larger than in the case of hcp, so these metals
can contain in these molecules and small atoms (such as molecular hydrogen, H2).
• Aluminum (Al)
• Nickel (Ni)
• Silver (Ag)
• Copper (Cu)
• Gold (Au)
• Rhodium (Rh)
• Iridium (Go)

Body-Centered Cubic (BCC)

Of the three structures, this is the least dense and compact, being at the same time the
one that presents the interstices of greater volumes. One of the most common ways for
atoms in metals to organize themselves is in a structure called a crystal. Based on the
same-named Bravais lattice, the BCC crystal structure has one atom at each corner and
one atom in the middle. The large number of nearest neighbors and next-nearest
neighbors gives BCC a relatively close-packed structure and excellent stability.
Therefore, it more easily accommodates small molecules and atoms. Likewise, in this
cube each atom is surrounded by eight neighbors.
• Vanadio (V)
• Niobium (Nb)
• Chromium (Cr)
• Alkaline metals
• Tungsten (W)
IV. Types of Ferrous Metals
1. Copper
Is a chemical element with the sign Cu (from the Latin word cuprum) and atomic
number 29. It is a soft, pliable, and flexible metal that is also very good at
conducting heat and electricity. Pure copper has a surface that is pinkish-orange
when it is first exposed to air.
Write to

2. Aluminum
An element in chemistry that has the sign Al and atomic number 13. Aluminum is
less dense than most other metals; it weighs about one-third as much as steel. It
likes oxygen a lot, and when exposed to air, a layer of oxide forms on the top to
protect it.

3. Nickel
Known for its toughness, ability to perform in high-temperature and low-
temperature environments, and corrosion resistance.

4. Zinc
A medium-strength metal with a low melting point, zinc is used to galvanize iron
and steel to prevent rusting.

5. Lead
Has the symbol Pb, which comes from the Latin word for lead, and the atomic
number 82. It is a thick metal that is much heavier than most other things. Lead is
soft and easy to shape, and its melting point is not very high.

6. Tin
A chemical element with the symbol Sn (from Latin: stannum) and atomic number
50. Tin is a silvery-coloured metal. Soft and malleable with low tensile strength,
tin is used as a coating to prevent steel from corroding.

7. Magnesium
Is a chemical element with the symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny
gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. A
fairly strong, silvery lightweight metal (one-third lighter than aluminum) that
slightly tarnishes when exposed to air. Used in pyrotechnic (i.e fireworks).
8. Brass
Brass is a mixture of copper and zinc. Stronger and harder than copper, but not
as strong or hard as steel.

9. Bronze
A metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive.
It is hard and brittle metal. It has a very high resistance to corrosion.

10. Silver
Have the chemical symbol Ag and the atomic number 47. It is a soft, white, shiny
transition metal that conducts electricity, heat, and light better than any other
metal.

11. Gold
Au (from Latin aurum 'gold') is a chemical element with atomic number 79. It's
one of nature's higher-atomic-number elements. Its pure form is brilliant,
somewhat orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile.
V. Properties of Non Ferrous Metals

 Easy to fabricate (including machinability, casting, and welding)

They have good malleability and ductility, making them good metals for fabrication as
they are easily shaped
 High corrosion resistance
Non-ferrous metals do not have significant iron content, making them highly resistant to
rust and corrosion. This makes them ideal for making gutters, roofs, and other
applications that require exposure to the elements.
 Good thermal and electrical conductivity
With very little, or no iron content, non-ferrous metals have higher resistance to rust and
corrosion. Because of their non-magnetic properties, they are ideal for wiring and every
conceivable electronic gadget, and all other types of conductive applications.
 Low density
These metals are often lighter than ferrous metals. The difference in weight is due to the
disparity in the carbon content of both metal types.

 Non-magnetic

This metal type is non-magnetic, making them ideal for wirings and electronics.

 Colorful
They tend to be colorful as compared to ferrous metals making them aesthetically
appealing for use in jewelry and other artistic uses of metals
 Recyclability
All metal types are recyclable. Non-ferrous metals can be recycled severally with
minimal risk of degradation compared to ferrous metals. They also retain their chemical
properties during the process. It is important to recycle these metals because they are
not readily available.
VI. Composition

TYPES COMPOSITION
Copper Pure Metal— cannot be broken down
Aluminium 99.5%–99.9% of Aluminium and 0.12–
0.5% of Copper

Nickel Pure Metal, consists of five stable

isotopes:
nickel-58 (68.27%), nickel-60 (26.10 %),
nickel-61 (1.13 %), nickel-62 (3.59 %),
and nickel-64 (0.91 %).

Zinc Pure Metal, Zn-64 (48.6 %), Zn-66

(27.9%), Zn-67
(4.1%), Zn-68 (18.8%), and Zn-70 (0.6%).

Lead Pure Metal, Pb-204 (1.48%), Pb-206

(23.6%), Pb-207
(22.6%), and Pb-208 (52.3%).

Tin Pure Metal, alloys with the mixture of

92% of tin, 7%
antimony, and 1–2% copper, sometimes
with bismuth or silver.

Magnesium Pure Metal, magnesium-24 (79.0 %),

magnesium-26
(11.0% ), and magnesium-25 (10.0% )

Brass An alloy composed of 66% copper and

34% zinc

Bronze An alloy of 88% nickel and 12% tin.

Pure metal, silver-107 (51.839 percent)

Silver and silver-109
(48.161 percent). An alloy with gold and
other metals, and in minerals such as
argentite and chlorargyrite

Gold Pure Metal, An alloy with mixture of

copper and silver.
VII. Application and Uses
In virtually every aspect of the production process, non-ferrous metals are
indispensable. They are distinguished by the fact that there is a little or nonexistent
amount of iron. Moreover, non-ferrous metals do not contain any significant quantity of
iron, which results in a number of advantages.

 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 , plumbing
fittings, and roofing materials,

 ALUMINUM
Lightweight and easy to machine, shape, and weld, it is used for a range of
applications from food cans and cookware to airplane parts and cars such as;
aircraft frames, automotive parts, and yachts.

 NICKEL
Commonly used in cryogenic equipment such as tanks; hot-section aerospace
equipment such as combustion chamber components; and marine equipment.
 ZINC
It is used to galvanize iron and steel to prevent rusting and can produce lampposts,
heat exchangers, metal roofs, guardrails, car bodies, and suspension bridges,
rubber manufacturing.
 LEAD
Lead is used in electrical power cables, batteries, pipes, fuels, paint, and for
soldering. Also producing cable sheathing, lead crystal glass, and weight belts for
diving, production of acid tanks, power cables, and batteries.
 TIN
Tin is used as a coating to prevent steel from corroding. Tin is also used to make
glass, bearing alloys, covers for steel containers, solders for connecting pipes or
electrical/electronic circuits, and for other chemical uses.
 MAGNESIUM
Used in pyrotechnic (i.e fireworks). and they are also often used in the aircraft and
automobile industries.
  BRASS
Brass is a mixture of copper and zinc. Stronger and harder than copper, but not as
strong or hard as steel. 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.

 BRONZE
It is hard and brittle metal. It has a very high resistance to corrosion. Used for ship
propellers, underwater fitting, statues, and medals.
 SILVER
A soft, white, lustrous transition metal. Silver is used for a range of applications,
including solar technology and electronics to brazing and soldering, engine bearings,
currency, water purification, tableware, medicine, and jewelry.
 GOLD
A dense, soft, shiny, malleable, and ductile metal. Gold has applications including within
the medical industry, in computers, and electronics. Legal tender for finance and
investment, production of electronics and computer devices.

VIII. Conclusion
There are innumerable industrial uses for non-ferrous metals. Metals that do not include
iron as their primary or basic element are considered non-ferrous.
Fabrication methods (such as rolling, forging, casting, welding, and machining),
electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, low weight, etc. all make non-
ferrous metals useful in industry. However, their strength decreases and their shrinkage
exceed that of ferrous metals when exposed to high temperatures.
In addition, the primary advantage of non-ferrous materials over ferrous ones is their
reduced weight and greater malleability. Non-ferrous metals have greater resistance to
oxidation and corrosion because they contain little or no iron. Due to their non-magnetic
properties, they are ideal for wiring and every electronic device imaginable, as well as
all other conductive applications. They are also used in environments that are
combustible or explosive because they cannot produce a flame.
REFERENCES

• Debbi and Chris Leuteritz. (2008). Patriot Foundry & Castings FERROUS VS
NON-FERROUS METALS December 19, 2017, from
https://www.patriotfoundry.com/news/ferrous-vs-non-ferrous-metals/

• TWI Ltd. (2023) Types of Nonferrous metals. ranta Park, Great Abington,
Cambridge from https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-
metals-are-non-
ferrous#:~:text=Non%2Dferrous%20metals%20include%20aluminium,alloys%20l
ike%20brass%20and%20bronze.

• Michelle Otutu. (2023) Corrosionpedia Inc. - Terms of Use. Hexagonal Close

Packed (HCP) from https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/1594/hexagonal-
close-packed-hcp

• Camber. (2022, November 29). Cubic Close Packing (ccp) from

https://81018.com/ccp/

• 2023 Copyright Materials Science & Engineering Student Body-Centered Cubic

(BCC). from https://msestudent.com/body-centered-cubic-bcc-unit-cell/

• Empire Abrasives. (2020, September 21). Ferrous vs Non-Ferrous Metals: Brief

History and Their Differences. from
https://www.empireabrasives.com/blog/ferrous-vs-nonferrous-metals-differences-
history

• Monroe engineering. (2021, July 22). The Benefits of Non-Ferrous Metals. from
https://monroeengineering.com/blog/the-benefits-of-non-
ferrousmetals/#:~:text=Non%2Dferrous%20metals%20are%20used,any%20mea
ningful%20amount%20of%20iron.