Identifying Metals
Ferrous Metals
Ferrous metals contain iron (Fe)
WROUGHT IRON
Ap: gates and fencing. |
CAST IRON
Ap: machine parts, engines, disc brakes. |
MILD STEEL
Ap: white goods, nuts and bolts, car body panels. |
HIGH CARBON STEEL
Ap: hand tools, scribers, chisels. |
Ferrous Alloys
STAINLESS STEEL
P: fairly strong and durable. Ap: used to make kitchen ware and street furniture. |
HIGH SPEED STEEL
P: durable at high temperatures – not brittle. Ap: used to make press tools. |
DIE (TOOL) STEEL
P: durable at high temperatures – not brittle. Ap: used to make cutting tools. |
Ferrous Metal Stock Forms
SHEET
Ap: used with press forming to make car body parts, cans etc. |
BAR
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TUBE
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ANGLE
Ap: used to make corner edges secure and build structures. |
Non Ferrous Metals
ALUMINIUM
P: ductile, flexible, good strength to weight. Ap: kitchen ware, food wrapping and cans. |
COPPER
P: ductile and dureable. Ap: electronics, pipes or pan bottoms. |
ZINC
P: fairly strong and durable. Ap: coatings for screws and bolts, can be die cast for small high detail pieces. |
GOLD
P: expensive, lusterous, durable. Ap: used to make expensive jewellery and electronics. |
SILVER
P: fairly expensive and durable. Ap: used to make jewellery, cutlery and in photographic film. |
TITANIUM
P: very strong and durable. Ap: used to make expensive jewellery, surgical applications (hip replacements). |
Non Ferrous Alloys
BRONZE
P: fairly strong and durable. Ap: used to make sculptures, coins. |
PEWTER
P: durables, soft metal, lower melting point. Ap: used to make jewellery. |
BRASS
P: durable. Ap: used to make instruments, boat fittings and coins. |
DURALUMIN
P: durable and good strength to weight ratio. Ap: casings, aircraft structures. |