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�� What you need to know? �"Understand ferrous metals including: mild steel, high carbon steel, cast and wrought iron their and applications, Understand non ferrous metals including aluminium, copper, zinc, gold, silver and titanium and their applications, Understand the stock forms of both ferrous and non ferrous metals".

FERROUS AND NON FERROUS METALS

 Some metals are pure metals (gold) and others (alloys) are mixtures of different metals. Metals can be classified into two basic groups – ferrous and non-ferrous

 

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Ferrous:

  • These are the metals that contain iron.
  • Because of this, almost all of them are magnetic.
  • Because it contains iron it will rust, exception stainless steel.
  • Examples include mild steel, high carbon steel and stainless steel.

2

Non-Ferrous

  • If a metal doesn’t contain iron, it’s non-ferrous.
  • If it does not contain iron it will not rust.
  • Examples include aluminium, brass and copper.

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�� Where do metals come from?

FERROUS AND NON FERROUS METALS

Most metals are extracted from within in the Earth’s crust combined with other elements in rocks known as ores.

Metals need to be extracted from ores before they can be turned into useful products, such as cars or cutlery.

For example, iron is found combined with oxygen in ores called haematite and magnetite.

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�� How are metals made?

FERROUS AND NON FERROUS METALS

1) HAEMATITE (iron ore), limestone and coke (carbon) are fed in here

2) Hot air is blasted in here

3) The carbon reacts with oxygen from the air to form carbon dioxide.

4) The carbon dioxide reacts with more carbon to form carbon monoxide

6) Molten slag (waste) is tapped off here

5) Carbon monoxide reduces iron oxide to iron. The molten iron is tapped off here

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�� What happens when I add carbon to iron?

FERROUS AND NON FERROUS METALS

Iron is generally soft and ductile when carbon (a very hard, brittle element) is

mixed with iron the characteristics (properties) of iron are greatly improved.

The result is a harder and tougher material.

Increasing the carbon content has the following effects:

• The material becomes harder;

• Toughness reduces;

• Both the medium and high carbon steel can be heat-treated to make them even � stronger and harder.

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�� Ferrous Metals

TYPES OF FERROUS METALS

Metal

Properties

Uses

Mild Steel

Quite strong and cheap but rusts easily and can’t be hardened or tempered.

Car bodies, screws, nuts, bolts, nails, washing machines.

High-Carbon Steel

Harder than mild steel and can be hardened and tempered. But it’s not as easy to work and it rusts.

Drills, files, chisels, saws.

Wrought Iron

Wrought iron is tough, malleable, ductile and easily welded. Has a very low carbon content.

Wrought iron gates, machine beds, The Eiffel Tower.

Stainless Steel

Hard and won’t rust but is more expensive.

Medical equipment, sinks, kettles, cutlery, e.g. Knifes.

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��Non-Ferrous Metals

TYPES OF NON FERROUS METALS

Metal

Properties

Uses

Aluminium

Lightweight and corrosion-resistant but expensive and not as strong as steel.

Aeroplanes, cans, ladders.

Brass

Quite strong, corrosion –resistant, malleable, ductile and looks good.

Door handles, electrical parts.

Copper

Relatively soft, malleable and ductile and a very good electrical conductor.

Wiring, pipes.

Titanium

Low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant with a silver colour.

Used in jet engines, medical and dental implants.

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��STOCK FORMS�You can buy metals in loads of different shapes and sizes.�

TYPES OF METALS

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Stock Forms

  • Metals are commonly available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, because it can be very difficult to convert one shape to another.
  • This means that manufactures can buy roughly the right shape to start working with.

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METALS WHERE DO THEY COME FROM PLENERY

What you need to know? ��"recognise the working characteristics of the common forms of metals; understand the differences between ferrous & non-ferrous metals and how they are used; know that metals can be combined to form alloys"

What are the three types of metals?

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Ferrous —contains iron, most are magnetic and will rust.

2

Non Ferrous —does not contain iron, are not magnetic and don’t rust.

3

Alloys— are a mix of metals to improve their properties i.e. Brass.

What are some of the uses of metals?

1

Ferrous —car bodies, screws, nuts & bolts, drills, sinks etc.

2

Non Ferrous —aeroplane bodies, cans, electrical wire etc.

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Alloys— door handles, taps, electrical parts etc.