Non-ferrous metal

Non-Ferrous Metals
• Do not contain iron.
• Include Aluminium, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Tin,
Gold, Silver etc.
• Advantages over ferrous metals:
1. Better Malleability
2. Rust and corrosion resistant
3. Non-magnetic
 Aluminium
Manufacture:
• Extracted from Bauxite(Al2O3), its principal ore
• Pure Aluminium is obtained by Electric
Furnace Process followed by Electrolysis.
• Al is soft, malleable and ductile therefore its
sections are manufactured by Extrusion.
Alloys
• Pure aluminium too soft & ductile to be used
in any application
• Combined with copper, zinc, magnesium,
manganese, silicon to improve mechanical
properties
• eg:- Duralumin, Aluminium bronze , Y alloy
 Properties of Aluminium
• Silvery white to dull grey colour
• Soft, durable and ductile
• Non-magnetic
• Good heat and light reflectivity
• Good thermal and electrical conductor
• Corrosion resistant
• Lightest metal with specific gravity of 2.7
• Modulus of elasticity is one-third of steel, therefore
deflection will be three times compared that of steel.
• Compared to steel, its strength to weight ratio is highly
favourable.
• Melting point is 6580C.
Duralumin:
Also known as Dural or Duraluminium
• Composition : Al – 93.5%, Cu – 4.4%, Mg – 1.5%, Mn
– 0.6%
• Cu improves the strength but also makes it
susceptible to corrosion
• Light- weight and improved strength
• Uses: Aircraft structures, aerospace applications,
military equipment and automobile parts.
Y alloy:
• Good conductor of heat
• Composition: Cu – 4%, Ni – 20%, Mg – 1.5%, Fe –
0.6%, Si -0.6%, remaining percentage being Al.
• Uses : Pistons, cylinder head of IC engine, connecting
rod, propeller blades.
Aluminium Bronze
• Used as substitute for brass
• Falls in the range of copper alloys containing
14% Al
• Readily weldable for fabrication of
components such as pipes, pipe fittings etc
• Addition of Ni increases the strength
without reducing ductility, toughness and
corrosion resistance
• Use: Aircraft, landing gear component, main
pistons and bearings
Anodising
• Aluminium alloys rendered corrosion-resistant by formation
of a protective oxide film (less than 0.1mm) or thicker coating
• Various dyes for colouring can be introduced to this film
during or immediately after anodising
• Also can be powder coated (IS:1868)
Products / Applications
• Doors & Windows using members extruded from aluminium
alloys
• Frame for partition walls
• Curtain wall systems include preformed insulated wall
panels that are integrated with aluminium windows. Available
with anodised finishes
• Laminates can be bent to cover columns & pillars
• Skylights, Smoke & Fire vents
 Copper and its alloys
• Reddish brown ductile metal
• Excellent electrical and thermal conductivity
• Does not react with water
• Oxygen present in air reacts slowly at room
temperature to form a layer of brown black
copper oxide on its surface
• Extracted from ores like Copper pyrites
 Alloys of Copper:
Brass:
• Alloy of Copper and Zinc
• Low melting point of 900-9400C
• Uses: door locks, doorknob, electrical application
, plumbing
Bronze:
• Alloy of Cu and Sn
• Resists corrosion, conducts heat and electricity
better
• Uses: screws , wires etc
 Zinc and its Alloys:
• Extracted from Sphalerite by roasting, leaching and
condensing in an electric furnace.
• Environmental friendly
• Durable and recyclable
• Uses :
In roofs and walls, hardware, instruments and water
valves, chain link fencing, guard rails, suspension
bridges, light posts, automotive body parts
• Advantage:
No paint or coating required for solid zinc alloy
• Disadvantage:
Zn Coating requires additional energy and uses toxic
ingredients
 Other metals
Lead:
Lead sheets in roofing , cladding, damp proof
course, waste water pipes for washbasins and gutters,
roof parapets, radiation shields from x ray exposures,
molten lead as coolant, colouring element, lead glass
Chromium:
 Constituent of stainless steel, chrome plating, as
dyes and paints, moulds for firing of bricks
Nickel :
 Used in Ni steels, Ni cast iron , Ni brasses and
bronzes, German silver ( Cu, Ni, Zn) and alloys with
many other metals
Titanium
• Light, strong, ductile, silvery metal
• High strength-weight ratio, melting point & corrosion resistance
• Alloys are made with vanadium, molybdenum, aluminium, iron
• Formed in sheet, strip, tube products
• Used in aircraft & aerospace industries
• In construction for cladding, flashing, guttering
•High melting point (1820°C)