Why are non-ferrous metals suitable for industrial uses?

Non-ferrous metals have been in existence for centuries and were the first metals used by humans for metallurgy. Gold, silver and copper were amongst the most attractive metals for early humans because they were not as susceptible to corrosion as ferrous metals.

Copper was the first metal to be forged and shaped into useful objects, during the ‘Copper Age’. Wood and stone were replaced with gold, silver and copper for various applications, since these metals were easily mouldable.

Recycling non-ferrous metals

Non-ferrous metals are widely used for industrial purposes due to their phenomenal properties. Scrap from these non-ferrous metals is recycled and forms an important part of the metallurgy industry. Scrap metal is recycled into new metal using re-smelting and re-casting processes for non-ferrous metals.

Uses of non-ferrous metals

Non-ferrous metals have a wide range of industrial, commercial and residential applications. The selection of a non-ferrous metal depends on whether its mechanical properties suit the application and whether these properties will be altered during the moulding process.

Most of the properties of ferrous metals can be found in non-ferrous materials: for example, titanium alloys or aluminium can replace steel in some applications, and cobalt, nickel or other alloys can emulate the magnetic properties of iron. But since non-ferrous metals are more expensive, they are used for their unique attributes rather than as a replacement for steel.

Reasons why non-ferrous metals are suitable for industrial uses

Non-ferrous metals possess unique attributes that make them suitable for industrial purposes as well as for use in construction. They are corrosion-resistant, conductive of heat and electricity, and have a low density. Compared to other materials, non-ferrous metals are lighter in weight and easy to fabricate using welding, casting and machining processes.

The malleability of non-ferrous metals makes them a preferred choice for engineering processes, as they can be easily shaped into any form. Copper, nickel, chromium and zinc, in their pure and alloyed forms, are the most commonly used metals in the engineering industries.

Industrial processes require metals to have high tensile strength at elevated temperatures, along with good electrical conductivity and high ductility. Since non-ferrous metals cater to all these requirements, they are widely used in the engineering industries.

Aluminium and its alloys are commonly used in the construction sector and are slowly replacing steel owing to their light weight and corrosion resistance. Non-ferrous metals are also economical and can be easily recycled for different applications.