Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous Metals
by Daniel Bernzweig
The basic answer to this question is that contain , while non- do not contain . The answer can be delved into more deeply, however. and non- are each made up of distinct properties. The properties that make up and non- ultimately determine the uses each is best suited for.
People have used non- since the beginning of mankind. was discovered in 5,000 BC. The discovery of brought an end to the Stone Age. It also led to the dawn of the . As time progressed, the inventions of bronze, which is an of and tin, were made. This led to the beginning of the Bronze Age.
Non-' high malleability makes them ideal for jewelry and different manufacturing purposes. These metals are non-magnetic, which makes them perfect for wiring and electronic purposes.
People began using around 1,200 BC. It was at this time that production began to become more common. The use of on a more regular basis brought about the .
are important due to their and durability. Ferrous is derived from the Latin word ferrum, meaning -containing. Thanks to their and durability, are staples of the construction industry. are found in , railroad tracks, and shipping containers. You will also find used in commercial and domestic tools. In addition, is used to construct the world's tallest skyscrapers.
Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous Metals Chart
![Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous Metals Chart]({{media%20url="wysiwyg/cms-cat-fieldtests-reviews/ferrous_vs_non_ferrous_metals.jpg"}} "Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous Metals Chart")
The infographic chart above illustrates that ferrous metals contain iron, are durable, and contain a high amount of carbon. Non-ferrous metals don't contain iron, are lightweight and malleable, and are used for products that need strength.
What Are ?
is contained in . The component of the metals provides durability. The construction industry uses for a variety of jobs as previously outlined. Therefore, it is a staple building material.
Most ferrous alloys have a high amount of carbon contained within them. Unfortunately, the high amount of carbon in the alloys makes them vulnerable to if they are exposed to moisture. Two ferrous metals are resistant to . resists thanks to possessing low levels of carbon. , which is found in many industrial kitchens, is protected from thanks to it containing chromium.
is well-known for its toughness and machinability. It is commonly used in the construction and manufacturing industries.
has lower chromium levels and is known as a carbon- . and feature low levels of chromium. However, is defined by its carbon makeup. may unlike but is typically cheaper to purchase. Due to its higher carbon content, , a , is a harder . If you are a fan of Western Cowboy Movies, is found in .
has the addition of chromium along with some additional alloying elements like nickel. does not thanks to chromium. It is the chromium that allows to resist and .
Other Steels
steels combine elements such as chromium, nickel, and titanium. The combination of these elements provides greater and durability. However, the added and durability do not come with an increase in weight. You will likely find steels in construction, , and electrical components.
is hard, and it resists wear and tear. is ideal for use in various items, including cookware, water pipes, and . Manhole covers are typically located by industrial detectors that are designed for this purpose, like the Fisher FML-3 Magnetic locator.
What Are Non-?
Non- do not contain . They are lighter and more malleable compared to . This makes them best suited to use if is needed, but weight needs to be observed. The aircraft industry is one area that uses non-.
, , lead, , and tin are examples of non-. In addition, gold, silver, and other are non-ferrous. Malleability is the main advantage of non- when compared to .
They possess higher and . This makes non- perfect for rain gutters, liquid pipes, roofing, and outdoor signage. They are also non-magnetic, allowing them to be used in wiring and electronics.
is lightweight, soft, and low . It is easily forged, machined, cast, or welded. It is an ideal choice for aircraft manufacturing and food cans. is used in pistons, railways, automobiles, and kitchen utensils.
is malleable, highly ductile, and has high conductivity for electricity and heat. It is mostly used in the electrical industry to and other conductors. may also be used in sheet roofing, statutes, cartridge cases, and bearings. The is used to create , which is an of and .
Lead
Lead is a heavy, soft, and malleable . It possesses a low melting point along with low . Lead withstands from most acids and moisture. It is commonly used in electrical power cables, batteries, and building construction.
Tin
Tin is malleable and soft. It has a low . Tin is typically used to coat which prevents .
is a low to medium- . It has a very low melting point. is often used in galvanizing, which is the process of applying a protective coating to or . This prevents from occurring.
Pressure and Melting Points
Under a given pressure, the melting point of a pure substance is its temperature. Lead has a low melting point, while has a high melting point. Electrolysis, magnet systems, and other technologies can be used to complete the purification process. Recycling reduces the amount of material dumped in landfills and reduces energy use. For instance, recycled uses 95 percent less energy than newly sourced . uses 90 percent less energy, and uses 56 percent less. Among the elements included in are chromium, nickel, and titanium. contain no , while ferrous materials contain a high percentage of carbon. Therefore, precious has the highest return regarding recycling processes. Having a plan is important when designing an efficient operation for and operations.
Non- are sold at a higher price than yard metals, so separating ferrous and metals is essential. , for example, is a non-. Therefore, it can be sold for a higher price than any other metals you have mixed in. Please remember that metals have different classifications under which they can be sorted for the best possible price. is a non- graded on a scale from "Bare Bright ," the highest grade, to "#2 Insulated Wire," which is the lowest grade. If you mix high-grade with , the entire load will be priced lower. Below we include a detailed chart and additional data.
Properties of Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous Metals
Resistance to and
typically contain a high carbon content. This makes vulnerable to if exposed to moisture. One difference is . It resists as it does not contain as much . There are a wide variety of industrial detectors used for the location of these items.
Since non- do not possess , they have a high resistance to and . Therefore, non- are great for gutters and roofing.
Magnetic Properties
A majority of contain magnetic properties. This makes them useful for manufacturing motor and electrical items. Schonstedt brand Industrial detectors can be used to find .
Non- are not magnetic, making them best suited to use in electronics and wiring.
Weight
Non- are lightweight, making them ideal for specific industries such as aircraft building. are far heavier. Leica Geosystems produces detectors that can be used in these applications.
Cost
Non- are in high demand than . Due to the high demand for non-, they are oftentimes more expensive. In addition, there is oftentimes not a very reliable supply of non- available. Goldak produces a range of models for locating .
Uses of Ferrous vs. Non-
can be used in pipes, machinery, construction, and engineering. Remember, contain and are heavier than non-. Pipe and cable locators are designed for finding deeply buried pipes and utility cables.
In contrast, non- are lighter, which makes them ideal for specific industries such as aircraft building. They have a higher rust resistance. You may find non- in fencing.
Recycling of both metals allows them to be used to make other items. can be scrapped. Those pieces of can be melted down and made into other things. and non- can be recycled at a recycling center. A skyscraper, for example, is made from non-.
Recycling Scrap Metals
Recycling of both metals allows them to be used to make other items. Ferrous metals can be scrapped. Those pieces of scrap metal can be melted down and made into other things. Aluminum and non-ferrous metals can be recycled at a recycling center. A skyscraper, for example, is made from non-ferrous metal.
is recovering and processing from end-of-life products, industrial containers, , automobiles, railroads, and structures to be introduced as raw material for new goods. can be recycled repeatedly for with no degradation of its properties, which helps lower the carbon footprint in the manufacturing industry. In addition to the environmental benefits, is a prosperous industry. The recycling market was estimated to be valued at over 900 billion in 2022.
When discussing , it's essential to understand the difference between alloys and non-. The consists of primarily of . have no , and they innately have a higher resistance to and . Non-ferrous is more expensive than ferrous metals. may start as or nearly  are primarily used for their and durability. They include , , , steels, , , sheet , nickel, titanium, and chromium. Non- include , , , tin, bronze, lead, etc. Non- are lighter than their and have no magnetic properties, while have a , making them useful in manufacturing motors and electrical appliances.
Metals other than those with have been used for a very long time and date way before the , Bronze Age, and . Several steps and are involved in the process. The first step is the recovery or collection of the , which takes place on a micro and macro level. collectors sell small amounts to yards on a micro-level. On a macro-level, this is done through curbside recycling. Cars are popular at yards and contain about 60 percent and while also containing like Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium. Metals are then sorted, shipped, shredded, melted, and purified.
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