Non-ferrous metal - wikipedia Non-ferrous metal Jump to : navigation , search In metallurgy , a non-ferrous metal is a metal , including alloys , that does not contain iron ( ferrite ) in appreciable amounts . Generally more expensive than ferrous metals , non-ferrous metals are used because of desirable properties such as low weight ( e.g. aluminium ) , higher conductivity ( e.g. copper ) , non-magnetic property or resistance to corrosion ( e.g. zinc ) . Some non-ferrous materials are also used in the iron and steel industries . For example , bauxite is used as flux for blast furnaces , while others such as wolframite , pyrolusite and chromite are used in making ferrous alloys . Important non-ferrous metals include aluminium , copper , lead , nickel , tin , titanium and zinc , and alloys such as brass . Precious metals such as gold , silver and platinum and exotic or rare metals such as cobalt , mercury , tungsten , beryllium , bismuth , cerium , cadmium , niobium , indium , gallium , germanium , lithium , selenium , tantalum , tellurium , vanadium , and zirconium are also non-ferrous . They are usually obtained through minerals such as sulfides , carbonates , and silicates . Non-ferrous metals are usually refined through electrolysis . Contents ( hide ) 1 Recycling and pollution control 2 Ancient history 3 Mechanical and structural use 4 References Recycling and pollution control ( edit ) Due to their extensive use , non-ferrous scrap metals are usually recycled . The secondary materials in scrap are vital to the metallurgy industry , as the production of new metals often needs them . Some recycling facilities re-smelt and recast non-ferrous materials ; the dross is collected and stored onsite while the metal fumes are filtered and collected . Non-ferrous scrap metals are sourced from industrial scrap materials , particle emissions and obsolete technology ( for example , copper cables ) scrap . Ancient history ( edit ) See also : Non-ferrous extractive metallurgy Non-ferrous metals were the first metals used by humans for metallurgy . Gold , silver and copper existed in their native crystalline yet metallic form . These crystals , though rare , are enough to attract the attention of humans . Less susceptible to oxygen than most other metals , they can be found even in weathered outcroppings . Copper was the first metal to be forged ; it was soft enough to be fashioned into various objects by cold forging and could be melted in a crucible . Gold , silver and copper replaced some of the functions of other resources , such as wood and stone , owing to their ability to be shaped into various forms for different uses . Due to their rarity , these gold , silver and copper artifacts were treated as luxury items and handled with great care . The use of copper also heralded the transition from the Stone Age to the Copper Age . The Bronze Age , which succeeded the Copper Age , was again heralded by the invention of bronze , an alloy of copper with the non-ferrous metal tin . Mechanical and structural use ( edit ) It is used in residential , commercial , industrial industry . Material selection for a mechanical or structural application requires some important considerations , including how easily the material can be shaped into a finished part and how its properties can be either intentionally or inadvertently altered in the process . Depending on the end use , metals can be simply cast into the finished part , or cast into an intermediate form , such as an ingot , then worked , or wrought , by rolling , forging , extruding , or other deformation process . Although the same operations are used with ferrous as well as nonferrous metals and alloys , the reaction of nonferrous metals to these forming processes is often more severe . Consequently , properties may differ considerably between the cast and wrought forms of the same metal or alloy . References ( edit ) Jump up ^ Fahlman , Bradley D. ( 2011 - 03 - 18 ) . Materials chemistry ( 2 . ed . ) . Dordrecht ( u.a. ) : Springer . ISBN 978 - 94 - 007 - 0692 - 7 . Jump up ^ `` Non-Ferrous Metals '' . Engineers Handbook . Retrieved 25 October 2011 . Jump up ^ Gupta , R.C. ( 2010 ) . Theory and laboratory experiments in ferrous metallurgy . New Delhi : PHI Learning Private Ltd. p. 6 . ISBN 978 - 81 - 203 - 3924 - 8 . Jump up ^ `` Commonly Recycled Metals and Their Sources '' ( PDF ) . Occupational Safety and Health Administration . Retrieved 27 October 2011 . Jump up ^ Young , Courtney A. , ed. ( 2008 ) . Hydrometallurgy 2008 : proceedings of the sixth international symposium ( 1st ed . ) . Littleton , Colo. : Society for Mining , Metallurgy , and Exploration . p. 416 . ISBN 978 - 0 - 87335 - 266 - 6 . Jump up ^ `` Chapter 82 -- Metal Processing and Metal Working Industry '' . Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety , 4th Edition . Retrieved 26 October 2011 . Jump up ^ `` Non-Ferrous Metals '' . Bureau of International Recycling . Retrieved 26 October 2011 . Jump up ^ `` Department of the Environment Industry Profile : Waste recycling , treatment and disposal sites '' ( PDF ) . Environment Agency . Retrieved 27 October 2011 . Jump up ^ Robert Noyes ( 1993 ) . Pollution Prevention Technology Handbook . Noyes Publications . ISBN 978 - 0815513117 . ^ Jump up to : McNeil ed. , Ian ( 1990 ) . Encyclopedia of the History of Technology . London : Routledge . pp. 47 -- 66 . ISBN 978 - 0 - 203 - 19211 - 5 . CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Forbes , R.J. ( 1971 ) . Studies in Ancient Technology , Volume 3 ; Volume 1965 . BRILL . p. 16 . ISBN 978 - 90 - 04 - 02652 - 0 . Jump up ^ `` Non-ferrous Metal Applications '' . All Metals & Forge Group . Retrieved 1 October 2013 . NDL : 00563284 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Non-ferrous_metal&oldid=810175941 '' Categories : Metals Alloys Metallurgy Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list Use dmy dates from November 2011 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español 한국어 Монгол Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Türkçe 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 13 November 2017 , at 19 : 30 . Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply . By using this site , you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation , Inc. , a non-profit organization . About Wikipedia 
is aluminium a ferrous or non ferrous metal
In metallurgy , a non-ferrous metal is a metal , including alloys , that does not contain iron ( ferrite ) in appreciable amounts . Generally more expensive than ferrous metals , non-ferrous metals are used because of desirable properties such as low weight ( e.g. aluminium ) , higher conductivity ( e.g. copper ) , non-magnetic property or resistance to corrosion ( e.g. zinc ) . Some non-ferrous materials are also used in the iron and steel industries . For example , bauxite is used as flux for blast furnaces , while others such as wolframite , pyrolusite and chromite are used in making ferrous alloys . Important non-ferrous metals include aluminium , copper , lead , nickel , tin , titanium and zinc , and alloys such as brass . Precious metals such as gold , silver and platinum and exotic or rare metals such as cobalt , mercury , tungsten , beryllium , bismuth , cerium , cadmium , niobium , indium , gallium , germanium , lithium , selenium , tantalum , tellurium , vanadium , and zirconium are also non-ferrous . They are usually obtained through minerals such as sulfides , carbonates , and silicates . Non-ferrous metals are usually refined through electrolysis . Due to their extensive use , non-ferrous scrap metals are usually recycled . The secondary materials in scrap are vital to the metallurgy industry , as the production of new metals often needs them . Some recycling facilities re-smelt and recast non-ferrous materials ; the dross is collected and stored onsite while the metal fumes are filtered and collected . Non-ferrous scrap metals are sourced from industrial scrap materials , particle emissions and obsolete technology ( for example , copper cables ) scrap . Non-ferrous metals were the first metals used by humans for metallurgy . Gold , silver and copper existed in their native crystalline yet metallic form . These crystals , though rare , are enough to attract the attention of humans . Less susceptible to oxygen than most other metals , they can be found even in weathered outcroppings . Copper was the first metal to be forged ; it was soft enough to be fashioned into various objects by cold forging and could be melted in a crucible . Gold , silver and copper replaced some of the functions of other resources , such as wood and stone , owing to their ability to be shaped into various forms for different uses . Due to their rarity , these gold , silver and copper artifacts were treated as luxury items and handled with great care . The use of copper also heralded the transition from the Stone Age to the Copper Age . The Bronze Age , which succeeded the Copper Age , was again heralded by the invention of bronze , an alloy of copper with the non-ferrous metal tin . It is used in residential , commercial , industrial industry . Material selection for a mechanical or structural application requires some important considerations , including how easily the material can be shaped into a finished part and how its properties can be either intentionally or inadvertently altered in the process . Depending on the end use , metals can be simply cast into the finished part , or cast into an intermediate form , such as an ingot , then worked , or wrought , by rolling , forging , extruding , or other deformation process . Although the same operations are used with ferrous as well as nonferrous metals and alloys , the reaction of nonferrous metals to these forming processes is often more severe . Consequently , properties may differ considerably between the cast and wrought forms of the same metal or alloy .
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