Ferrous Metals
Ferrous Metals Ferrous Metal type: Grey cast iron
Main Characteristics: o o o
o o o
Mild steel
o o o
o
o
Medium carbon steel
o
o
o
Cheap to produce Ease of casting High compressive strength Rigid/stable Machines well Absorbs vibrations
o
Higher strength Lower cost of production Ease of hot working malleable Can be cold drawn ductile Easily machined
o
Machines to a quality surface finish Can be hardened by heating Higher strength and toughness than mild steel
o
o o
o
o
Low tensile strengt h Brittle Cannot be forged
Needs a coolant to machine to prevent chip welding Cannot be hardene d by heating
Higher cost than mild steel More limited range of supply forms
Example of Use: Large castings, machine stands and beds.
Structural sections and meshes, Forgings, sheet, plate, rods and bars. Pressing and sheet metal fabrication, drawn tubes and wire. Nuts and bolts and car body parts. Heavy duty forgings, connecting rods, gears, drop hammer dies, wood saws, hammer heads, screwdrivers.
High carbon steel
o
o o
Much harder than medium carbon steel Hot forges well Wear resistant
o
o
o
Less ductile and tough Does not cold form well Very limited supply forms
Fine edged tools, files, ball bearings, drills, taps, dies. Axe heads, knives and metal working tools.
Non-Ferrous Metals NonFerrous Metal: Aluminium
Pure element or Alloy Pure
Main Characteristics:
o o o o
Lightweight [1/3 density of steel] Soft Malleable Very ductile
Example of Use: o
o o
Duralumin
Alloy: Aluminium Copper 26%
o
o o
Brass
Alloy: Copper 65% Zinc 35%
o o o o
Approx. 5 times stronger than pure aluminium Lightweight Malleable
o
Yellow colour Harder than copper Malleable Ductile
o
o o
Highly conductive of heat and electricity Corrosion resistant Can be welded by TIG method
Aircraft, boats, engine blocks, pistons etc., greenhouse frames, cooking pans, aluminium foil, electrical conductors.
Ductile Work hardens Machines well
Aircraft and vehicle parts, a vast range of cast and machined parts in a wide range of manufacturing sectors.
Highly conductive of heat and electricity
Electrical cables and conductors, water and heating pipes,
o
Very corrosion resistant but tarnishes
o o o
Copper
Pure
o o o o o
Reddish brown in colour Tough Corrosion resistant Malleable Ductile
o
o
Bronze
Alloy: Copper 90-95% Tin 5-10%
o o o o
Reddish-yellow colour Harder/tougher than brass Corrosion resistant Easily machined
o o
o
Easily soldered Cast well Machines very easily
saucepan bases, soldering iron bits, printed circuit board.
Works easily cold but hardens needs frequent annealing Excellent heat and electricity conductor
Electrical cables and conductors, water and heating pipes, saucepan bases, soldering iron bits, printed circuit boards, roofing sheet.
Casts well Malleable both hot and cold Can be forged, spun, rolled and drawn
All kinds of cast products including sculptures and large statues. Gears and bearings, pressurised fluid systems fittings, pumps and springs.
Steel Alloys Alloy steel type: Stainless steel
Main Characteristics:
o o o o
Resists corrosion Tough Strong Wear resistant
Example of Use: o o
High cost difficult to work due to hardness
Cutlery and kitchen ware sink units, surgical equipment,
High speed steel
o
o
o
High tensile steel
o o
Extremely hard even at high temperature s Easily machined when annealed Abrasion and wear resistant
o
Much more costly than high carbon steels
Exceptional strength Extremely tough and abrasion resistant
o
High cost
tanks, pipes and machinery in food production . Aircraft and marine fittings. Metal cutting and power tool cutters. All parts subject to wear and abrasion.
Gears, shafts and engine component s.
Main Characteristics: o o o
o o o
Mild steel
o o o
o
o
Medium carbon steel
o
o
o
Cheap to produce Ease of casting High compressive strength Rigid/stable Machines well Absorbs vibrations
o
Higher strength Lower cost of production Ease of hot working malleable Can be cold drawn ductile Easily machined
o
Machines to a quality surface finish Can be hardened by heating Higher strength and toughness than mild steel
o
o o
o
o
Low tensile strengt h Brittle Cannot be forged
Needs a coolant to machine to prevent chip welding Cannot be hardene d by heating
Higher cost than mild steel More limited range of supply forms
Example of Use: Large castings, machine stands and beds.
Structural sections and meshes, Forgings, sheet, plate, rods and bars. Pressing and sheet metal fabrication, drawn tubes and wire. Nuts and bolts and car body parts. Heavy duty forgings, connecting rods, gears, drop hammer dies, wood saws, hammer heads, screwdrivers.
High carbon steel
o
o o
Much harder than medium carbon steel Hot forges well Wear resistant
o
o
o
Less ductile and tough Does not cold form well Very limited supply forms
Fine edged tools, files, ball bearings, drills, taps, dies. Axe heads, knives and metal working tools.
Non-Ferrous Metals NonFerrous Metal: Aluminium
Pure element or Alloy Pure
Main Characteristics:
o o o o
Lightweight [1/3 density of steel] Soft Malleable Very ductile
Example of Use: o
o o
Duralumin
Alloy: Aluminium Copper 26%
o
o o
Brass
Alloy: Copper 65% Zinc 35%
o o o o
Approx. 5 times stronger than pure aluminium Lightweight Malleable
o
Yellow colour Harder than copper Malleable Ductile
o
o o
Highly conductive of heat and electricity Corrosion resistant Can be welded by TIG method
Aircraft, boats, engine blocks, pistons etc., greenhouse frames, cooking pans, aluminium foil, electrical conductors.
Ductile Work hardens Machines well
Aircraft and vehicle parts, a vast range of cast and machined parts in a wide range of manufacturing sectors.
Highly conductive of heat and electricity
Electrical cables and conductors, water and heating pipes,
o
Very corrosion resistant but tarnishes
o o o
Copper
Pure
o o o o o
Reddish brown in colour Tough Corrosion resistant Malleable Ductile
o
o
Bronze
Alloy: Copper 90-95% Tin 5-10%
o o o o
Reddish-yellow colour Harder/tougher than brass Corrosion resistant Easily machined
o o
o
Easily soldered Cast well Machines very easily
saucepan bases, soldering iron bits, printed circuit board.
Works easily cold but hardens needs frequent annealing Excellent heat and electricity conductor
Electrical cables and conductors, water and heating pipes, saucepan bases, soldering iron bits, printed circuit boards, roofing sheet.
Casts well Malleable both hot and cold Can be forged, spun, rolled and drawn
All kinds of cast products including sculptures and large statues. Gears and bearings, pressurised fluid systems fittings, pumps and springs.
Steel Alloys Alloy steel type: Stainless steel
Main Characteristics:
o o o o
Resists corrosion Tough Strong Wear resistant
Example of Use: o o
High cost difficult to work due to hardness
Cutlery and kitchen ware sink units, surgical equipment,
High speed steel
o
o
o
High tensile steel
o o
Extremely hard even at high temperature s Easily machined when annealed Abrasion and wear resistant
o
Much more costly than high carbon steels
Exceptional strength Extremely tough and abrasion resistant
o
High cost
tanks, pipes and machinery in food production . Aircraft and marine fittings. Metal cutting and power tool cutters. All parts subject to wear and abrasion.
Gears, shafts and engine component s.
