Ferrous and non-ferrous metals are used in countless industries for thousands of purposes. Many people wonder what is the difference between them and why their differences mean in terms of their use and purpose. If you are interested in learning more about metal and the types that exist, you are in the right place. Read on and learn the definitions and types of ferrous and non-ferrous metals found around the world.
Ferrous metal
Simply put, ferrous metal is any metal that contains iron or steel. Things like construction scaffolding, cars, buildings, power tools, and more are made from ferrous metals. Carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, wrought iron, mild steel, and any other form of steel and iron are examples of metals that contain iron. Metals like stainless steel are not made entirely of iron and steel. It also contains nickel and chromium. By contrast, wrought iron is made of nearly 100 percent iron.
Iron-containing metal is very strong and durable and even retains magnetic properties. That is why it is used to make or build things that can resist corrosion and remain strong and stable. It is used to make everything from skyscrapers to drill bits and more. Large-scale pipelines, automobiles, trucks, yachts, airplanes, construction and agricultural equipment, engines, industrial containers, railways, and more are common large-scale products built with iron-bearing metals. Smaller items include everything from kitchen knives to power tools, appliances, and more.
non-ferrous metal
Simply put, non-ferrous metal is a metal that does not contain iron or steel compounds. Metals like copper, nickel, aluminum, brass, lead, tin, zinc, and more are examples of non-ferrous metals. Also, precious metals do not contain iron; such as gold, chrome, tungsten, silver, zirconium, mercury, cobalt, bismuth, cadmium, beryllium and more. Iron-free metals are used for their malleability and versatility. They also have greater resistance to rust and corrosion because they do not contain iron compounds. Jewelry, electrical wiring, canned food, window frames, traffic signs, electrical fixtures, pipes, batteries, ceilings, and millions of other items are made from non-iron metallic materials.
One of the easiest ways to determine if something contains iron is to hold a magnet close to it. If the magnet sticks, it is made with iron-containing metals such as iron and steel. If the magnet doesn’t stick, then it is made mostly or entirely of non-ferrous metals like copper or aluminum. If the magnet pulls slightly but doesn’t stick or stay put, the item is likely made of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
