Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals Difference: An In-depth Study
Metals and alloys can be divided into ferrous and non-ferrous metals, depending on the chemical composition. What differences do these two categories share? Let’s explore the ferrous and non-ferrous metals differences in this article.
Figure 1: Ferrous Metal vs Non-ferrous Metal
Ferrous Metals: A Brief Introduction
“Ferrous” is derived from the Latin word “Ferrum,” which” means iron. Hence, in simple terms, metals that include iron are called ferrous metals. Steel is the most common ferrous metal around us.
All ferrous metals and alloys share the same properties as irons. Higher strength, heat resistance, magnetism, and durability are some of them. The rigorous features of ferrous metals make them an ideal choice for structural and industrial applications.
Luckily, you can control the hardness, malleability, and other properties of ferrous alloys. Adding other materials, such as copper, carbon, chromium, magnesium, etc., can drastically change their features.
Ferrous metals have a handful of disadvantages as well. Rusting, stiffness, and unwanted fractures are a few of them. However, you can tackle these downsides by wisely choosing ferrous alloys with the right material composition.
Figure 2: Ferrous Metals
Non-Ferrous Metals: A Quick Insight
Metal and alloys containing non-significant amounts of iron are called non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, silver, lead, etc. The lack of iron does impact the overall features of non-ferrous metals.
For instance, these metals are non-magnetic and have a lower strength. However, non-ferrous metals excel at ductility and have better corrosion resistance properties.
A question often arises that if iron is added to non-ferrous metals, will they emerge as a ferrous metal list?
No, it won’t happen. That is because to be a ferrous metal, the amount of iron in a metal should be more than all other metals. Hence, if iron is added to non-ferrous metals, the iron percentage will still be negligible. You will not get ferrous properties whatsoever.
Figure 3: Non-ferrous Metals
Difference Between Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Materials
Now you know the basic difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals. So, let’s move to the property comparisons of ferrous metals vs. non-ferrous metals.
1. Rust Resistance
Metals have a tendency to get corroded when exposed to air and moisture. If we compare ferrous vs non-ferrous metals, ferrous metals have a very low rust resistance. In contrast, most non-ferrous metals are naturally very resistant to corrosion.
The higher iron content is the main culprit why ferrous metals are prone to rusting. Iron easily reacts with the oxygen present in the moisture, producing ferric oxide. To avoid this, other materials, e.g., copper, are added to the ferrous alloys to increase corrosion resistance properties.
2. Magnetic Properties
Ferrous metals naturally have magnetic properties. Hence, they are widely used in electrical appliance manufacturing. On the other hand, all non-ferrous metals are non-magnetic due to the negligible amounts of iron.
3. Weight Consideration
You can not compare ferrous vs non-ferrous metals on the basis of weight. This is because weight is directly associated with an individual metal and not a category.
But if we compare commonly found non-ferrous metals with ferrous metals, we can draw a conclusion as to which material has higher density and which has lower density.
However, in general, common ferrous metals like steel have a higher density and weight. On the contrary, common non-ferrous metals, such as copper, brass, and aluminum, are slightly lightweight.
Figure 4: Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals Difference
4. Market Rate
It is quite difficult to compare the prices of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Generally, the value of each material depends on its significance, application, and abundance in the world.
Anyway, typically, non-ferrous metals, e.g., aluminum, copper, or gold are many times more expensive than ferrous metals like iron and steel.
5. Strength of Metal
On the surface level, it might seem that ferrous metals have a higher strength than non-ferrous metals. But this is not always true. The strength of a material solely depends on its chemical composition.
For instance, titanium, a non-ferrous metal, has many times the strength of a ferrous metal like steel. Conversely, mild steel and stainless steel are stronger than copper and silver.
6. Conductivity
Non-ferrous metals, especially copper and aluminum, are better at thermal and electrical conductivity than ferrous metals. The non-ferrous metals include less impurities and have a uniform crystalline structure. Hence, electron mobility is better in these metals.
On the other hand, the presence of iron generates interruptions like magnetic interference, degrading the conductive property.
Figure 5: Differences between Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metal
7. Recycling of Metal
Apparently, recycling non-ferrous metals is easier than recycling ferrous metals.
The corrosion-resistance properties allow the non-ferrous metals to be easily recycled. In contrast, ferrous metals contain a large amount of iron and are highly susceptible to rusting. Therefore, recycling them is a time consuming and energy intensive process.
Ferrous metal recycling process includes melting and cleaning the metals. Then, the melt is solidified into solid blocks. Non-ferrous metals, on the contrary, do not require such lengthy purification stages.
8. Metal Fabrication
You know that non-ferrous metals have better ductility and malleability. Hence, they can be smoothly cut, bent, formed, or machined.
Ferrous metals, on the other hand, have a high hardness. Therefore, they are prone to cracking during the fabrication process.
However, in terms of joining operation, ferrous metals like carbon steel, mild steel, etc., perform better. In contrast, you need special skills and machines to weld non-ferrous metals, e.g., aluminum.
9. Metal Lifespan
Typically, ferrous metals have a shorter lifespan as they corrode easily. However, you can increase their longevity via coating and proper surface treatment. In contrast, non-ferrous metals can withstand high humidity and naturally enjoy a longer lifespan.
Figure 6: Difference between Ferrous Metal and Non-ferrous Metal
10. Applications of Metals
Ferrous metals and alloys are heavier and stronger. Therefore, they are widely used in construction and machinery.
Non-ferrous metals are lighter, conductive, and easily formable. Hence, they find applications in electronics, aerospace, and consumer industries.
Last Words
Both ferrous and non-ferrous metals are utilized by considering their properties for a particular application. At Tuling, we have the machinery and skills to fabricate ferrous and non-ferrous products. Contact us if you are looking for product design, consultation, and manufacturing solutions.
