Ferrous Metals

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Ferrous Metals

• Product Design

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Ferrous Metals

• Iron is the basis of ALL ferrous alloys. Pure
  iron is of little practical use as a material.
  Ferrous metals all contain iron and in addition
  will contain other elements in varying
  quantities. The principle element which is mixed
  with IRON is CARBON. The percentage of carbon
  which is added to the iron will produce alloys of
  varying properties
• It is important to know the properties of the
  various grades of steel so that you can select
  the right one to suit a particular application
  and method of manufacture.
• Steel (alloy of iron and carbon) with a low
  carbon content will tend to be quite soft e.g.
  Black bar. Steel with a high carbon content will
  tend to be very hard and brittle e.g. tool steel

Cutting Tools
Car Bodies
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Table of Ferrous Metal
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Non-Ferrous

• Product Design

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Non-ferrous Metals

• The group of metals does not contain iron and
  therefore will withstand moist conditions.
  Common examples are
• -copper, aluminium, tin and lead
• -precious metals such as gold and silver
• -metals used in small amounts (mercury,
  platinum, chromium)
• -new metals (vanadium, niobium, zircoium).
• Aluminium
• Aluminium is the Earths most plentiful metal.
  Aluminiums lightness and strength make it the
  most widely used non-ferrous.
• Other Non-ferrous Alloys
• Other common non-ferrous alloys include
• -brass (copper and zinc)
• -bronze (cooper and tin)
• -soft solders (lead and tin)

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Non-ferrous

• Aluminium is one of the most economical and
  sustainable metals in use today. It is produced
  using renewable hydro-electricity and aluminium
  can be recycled repeatedly, saving both energy
  and the cost of primary production.
• Copper is the most important electrical conductor
  and is also the major base metal in brass and
  bronze alloys. Copper posses three important
  properties, namely high electrical and thermal
  conductivity high ductility and as illustrated
  in the case of the Statue of Liberty, high
  corrosion resistance.

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Table of Non-ferrous Metals
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Questions

• What do all ferrous metals contain?
• If a metal has a low carbon content it tends to
  be .
• If a metal has a high carbon content it
  tends to be ..
• State the properties of cast iron
• mild
  steel
• high
  carbon steel
• What conditions do non-ferrous metals withstand?
• Why is aluminium the most commonly used
  non-ferrous metal?
• Why is copper the most important electrical
  conductor?
• Copper, Tin, Lead and Zinc are all metals.
  State their properties and their uses.