What is non-ferrous metal?

The term non-ferrous represents a type of material category in which iron/iron components are are not present whereas, ferrous metals consist of high iron content. The resistance capacity against rusting/corrosion of non-ferrous metals is very high. Due to absence of iron content in non-ferrous metals, malleability of non-ferrous metals is more in comparison to ferrous metals. Non-ferrous metals are more costly in comparison to ferrous metals.

What is non-ferrous alloy?

Whenever more than one non-ferrous metals mix together at atomic level, the resultant material is referred as non-ferrous metals. Non-ferrous metals have high strength, toughness, resistance against corrosion etc. Some example of non-ferrous alloys are copper based, lead based, aluminium based etc like brass and bronze.

Properties of non-ferrous metals and alloys

• High resistance against rusting/corrosion
• More malleability
• Good thermal and electrical conductivity
• Lower density
• Non-magnetic in nature
• Easy fabrication
• Colorful in nature
• Less hardness

Types of non-ferrous metals and alloys

The non-ferrous metals and their alloys are of different types that are represented and explained in the following steps.

Aluminium

The term "Aluminum" refers to a type of non-ferrous metal obtained from its ore bauxite. It extracts from its ore in a larger quantity and consists of impurities like oxides, water molecules, and some other types of impurities. The machinability of aluminum is easy due to its lightweight, more malleability, less strength, etc. It can not use in a high-temperature zone, but it is recommendable for the aircraft industry.

Aluminum alloys

Whenever some alloying elements add in pure aluminum, then it becomes aluminum alloy. The alloying elements help to increase the properties like hardness, strength, corrosion resistance, etc. Some of the components made up of aluminum and its alloys represent in the below figure.

Copper

It is an important non-ferrous metal that exhibits some properties like more electrical conductivity, malleability, ductility, and more resistance against corrosion. Generally, the color of copper is a warm red. The copper can use in its pure form as well as its alloys.

Copper alloys

A famous example of copper alloy is brass, which is made up of copper and zinc as constituents. The highest percentage of the constituent in brass is copper, and zinc has less percentage. Copper alloys have a wide range of use in the field of engineering. Copper alloys have good machinability, corrosion resistance, etc. Some of the components made up of copper and its alloys represent in the below figure.

Lead

Lead is also a type of non-ferrous metal that is soft and malleable. It has low melting point and offers resistance against corrosion and the chemical environment. Lead is used in the construction of the battery, soldering, etc. It has more specific gravity, due to which it is the heaviest non-ferrous metal.

Bronze

Bronze is an alloy of nonferrous metals, copper and tin. It is of different types like phosphor bronze, and it has extensive use in the field of bearings, string construction and other engineering components.

Aluminum bronze

The alloys of copper and aluminum without the addition of tin represent aluminum bronze. It can be used for marine applications as well as in engineering applications. This alloy has high resistance and hardness against corrosion and is durable in high-temperature environments.

Manganese bronze

It is also a non-ferrous alloy consisting of manganese, tin, iron, and aluminum. The tensile strength and corrosion-resistant property of the manganese bronze is high.

Zinc

Zinc is also a type of non-ferrous material that has low strength and low melting point. The machining of zinc is easy with the help of heat to avoid the cleavage of crystals. It is very useful in the galvanizing process to protect an iron metal from rusting/corrosion. To protect iron pipes from rusting, zinc can spray at the outer surface of the pipes that form a zinc layer.

Tin

Tin is also a non-ferrous metal that refers to white metal, which shows yellowish color. It has high malleability, due to which it can be used in tin plating. It is widely used for making Cannes, soft soldiers, etc. The melting point of tin is very less. An example of a component that is made up of tin metal is given below.

Silver

It is a precious non-ferrous metal that consists of high electrical, thermal conductivity and is more malleable and soft. The reflectivity of silver is more and also has high corrosion-resistant properties. It is generally used in the field of jewelry, electrical appliances, water filtration process, etc.

Gold

It is also a very precious non-ferrous metal with high electrical and thermal conductivity and is the most malleable non-ferrous metal. It is very less used in the electrical industry due to its high cost, but it is used for jewelry, computer devices, etc.

Titanium

Titanium is also a non-ferrous metal that consists of high strength to density ratio, high corrosion resistance, and high thermal capacity. The melting point of titanium alloy is very high compared to other non-ferrous metals.

Nickle

Nickle is also a non-ferrous metal that helps to increase the ductility of hard metal. The corrosion resistance against a corrosive environment is also more. It is used in the formation of ferrous metal like stainless steel.

Mechanical properties of non-ferrous metals and alloys

Malleability

It is a property that represents the capacity of metal to deform in thin sheet form. If the material is more malleable, it can deform into thin sheet forms. The non-ferrous material is malleable compared to ferrous so that it can deform into thin sheet forms.

Hardness

It is the property of a material that can be predicted by its property of malleability. If a material is more malleable, it means the hardness of that material would be less. The non-ferrous metals are malleable, so that the harness would be less.

Ductility

It is a mechanical property that indicates that if a material can easily stretch and compress up to a certain limit without any fracture, it is ductile. Some of the non-ferrous metals have high ductility, but some of them have less ductility.

Disadvantages of non-ferrous metals and alloys

• Non-ferrous metals reflect no magnetic property
• The cost of non-ferrous metals and its alloys is high compared to ferrous metals.
• The strength of non-ferrous metals have limited value.
• The weight of non-ferrous metals is less in comparison to ferrous metals.

Common Mistakes

• Students sometimes get confused regarding the main difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals and their alloy. However, the major difference is that ferrous metals have carbon content, whereas non-ferrous metals do not have iron or iron components.
• Sometimes, students also get confused about why non-ferrous metals and their alloy have less corrosion than ferrous metals. However, the absence of iron components from non-ferrous metals makes it free from corrosion/rusting.
• The student also gets confusion regarding the strength of non-ferrous metals in comparison to ferrous metals. However, non-ferrous metals have less strength than ferrous metals due to the absence of iron/carbon and different types of atomic bonding.

Context and Applications

Non-ferrous metals and alloys are very significant in the several professional exams and courses for undergraduate, Diploma level, graduate, postgraduate. For example:

• Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering
• Bachelor of Technology in Materials Engineering
• Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering
• Master of Technology in Mechanical Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering
• Diploma in Mechanical and Civil Engineering

Related concepts

• Mechanical behavior of non-ferrous metals and its alloys
• Mechanical testing of non-ferrous metals.
• Recycling and pollution control
• Mechanical and structural applications
• Load characteristics
• Fabrication process
• Strain behavior in non-ferrous metals and alloys
• Weight to strength calculation

Practice Problems

Q1. The commercial production of aluminium takes place from

1. Pyrite
2. Bauxite
3. Hematite
4. None of these

Correct option: (b)

Explanation: The commercial production of aluminium takes place from Bauxite.

Q 2. What is the main constituent that differentiate non-ferrous from ferrous metals?

1. Zinc
2. Aluminum
3. Lead
4. Iron

Correct option: (d)

Explanation: The main constituent that differentiates non-ferrous from ferrous metals is zinc.

Q 3. Which of the non-ferrous metal is more costly out of the following option?

1. Titanium
2. Magnesium
3. Aluminum
4. Copper

Correct option: (a)

Explanation: Among the given options, the costlier non-ferrous metal is Titanium.

Q 4. Which one of the following is referred to as alloy of tin?

1. Steel
2. Bronze
3. Brass
4. Pewter

Correct option: (d)

Explanation: The element pewter is referred to as the alloy of tin.

Q 5. In the formation of bearing liner which of the following material is used?

1. Bronze
2. Babbitt metal
3. Gun metal
4. All of them

Correct option: (b)

Explanation: Babbitt metal is used in the formation of bearing liner.