Ferrous and non-ferrous metals

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Types of metals and their uses

Metals are found naturally and are mined from the earth. Metals used in products are from the natural using large heat furnaces.

metals contain iron and are . They are prone to , except for stainless steel and wrought iron.

Ferrous metal	Physical properties	Working properties
Mild steel - used for bike frames, car body panels and fixings (nuts, bolts, screws and nails)	An alloy that is grey and smooth, rusts if not protected	Ductile and tough, easy to form, braze and weld, versatile
Cast iron - used for wood and metal working vices, manhole covers, pans, gates and machine bases, eg pillar drill	Dull grey, rusts easily	Brittle if thin, can be cast in a mould
Stainless steel - used for kitchenware (cutlery, pots, pans and sinks)	Corrosion resistant, tough, resists wear	Difficult to cut

Ferrous metal	Mild steel - used for bike frames, car body panels and fixings (nuts, bolts, screws and nails)
Physical properties	An alloy that is grey and smooth, rusts if not protected
Working properties	Ductile and tough, easy to form, braze and weld, versatile

Ferrous metal	Cast iron - used for wood and metal working vices, manhole covers, pans, gates and machine bases, eg pillar drill
Physical properties	Dull grey, rusts easily
Working properties	Brittle if thin, can be cast in a mould

Ferrous metal	Stainless steel - used for kitchenware (cutlery, pots, pans and sinks)
Physical properties	Corrosion resistant, tough, resists wear
Working properties	Difficult to cut

metals do not contain iron and are not magnetic. They do not rust.

Non-ferrous metal	Physical properties	Working properties
Aluminium - used for drink cans, kitchen utensils and some parts in transport	Light grey with a matt finish	Lightweight but strong and ductile
Copper - used for plumbing parts and electrical cable	Rose coloured, polishes well but can oxidise to a green colour (verdigris)	Good electrical conductor, can be polished, welds easily
Brass - used for musical instruments, eg trumpet, and a good choice for plumbing fittings	Yellow finish created by mixing copper and zinc together	Corrosion resistant, a good heat and electrical conductor, casts well

Non-ferrous metal	Aluminium - used for drink cans, kitchen utensils and some parts in transport
Physical properties	Light grey with a matt finish
Working properties	Lightweight but strong and ductile

Non-ferrous metal	Copper - used for plumbing parts and electrical cable
Physical properties	Rose coloured, polishes well but can oxidise to a green colour (verdigris)
Working properties	Good electrical conductor, can be polished, welds easily

Non-ferrous metal	Brass - used for musical instruments, eg trumpet, and a good choice for plumbing fittings
Physical properties	Yellow finish created by mixing copper and zinc together
Working properties	Corrosion resistant, a good heat and electrical conductor, casts well