Puzzle of Metals Composition, Properties and Uses

Pig Iron, scrap

steel, various
1000-1200 additions
dependants on
use

Properties

Uses

White cast iron-very hard and

brittle, Grey cast iron-easily
casts and good corrosion
resistance. Iron is one of the
three magnetic elements (the
others are cobalt and nickel).
Wrought iron is malleable and is
mainly used in ornamental work
for gates.

Heavy crushing machinery,

Bench vices. Cast iron is used
for manhole covers on roads
and pavements
and as engine blocks for petrol
and diesel engines. Gates

Demerits

Cast iron is very brittle (it cracks

easily) but it has a greater
resistance
to corrosion (see rusting) than
either pure iron or steel.
Pure iron is called wrought iron.
Iron is also the catalyst in the
Haber Process.
These steels are ductile and have
properties similar to iron itself. They
cannot be modified by heat
treatment. They are cheap, but
engineering applications are
restricted to non-critical
components and general panelling
and fabrication work.
Easily rusts and will not withstand
the condensation problems of
bathrooms unless it is either it is
chromium plated, plastic coated or
protected in some other way.

Ferrous

Ferrous

Low Carbon Steel

1400

Dependant upon carbon

Iron, Carbon less
content and other elements,
than 0.15%
soft, ductile, malleable

Wire, rivets, cold pressings

Mild Steel

1400

Iron (99%.5%),
Ductile and tough , Cannot be
Carbon less than
hardened and tempered
0.3-0.7%

General construction steel, car

bodies, nuts and bolts

1400

Harder than Mild Steel less

ductile. Heat treatment and
Iron, Carbon less
work hardening are now
Springs, Axles and shafts
than 0.3-0.7%
effective methods for modifying
mechanical properties.

This category represents medium

strength steels which are still cheap
and command mass market. They
are general purpose but can be
specified for use in stressed
applications such as gears, pylons
and pipelines.

Ferrous

1400

Hardness can be improved by

heat treatment. Although high
Iron, Carbon less
Hammers, cutting tools and
strengths and harnesses are
than 0.7-1.4%
files
attainable, impact strengths are
poor.

These steels are not normally used

in stressed applications subjected
to shock. They are used where
hardness is valued, such as for
blades, springs, collars, etc.

Ferrous

1400

Medium carbon
steel 12%,
Chromium, 8%
Nickel

Stainless steels have higher

resistance to oxidation (rust) and
corrosion in many natural and man
made environments

Ferrous

1400

Medium Carbon
Retains hardness at high
Steel, Tungsten,
Lathe tools, drills and milling
temperatures, Brittle but can be
Chromium and
cutters
hardened and tempered
Vanadium

Medium Carbon
Steel

High Carbon Steel

Stainless Steel

High Speed Steel

Aircraft, boats, window frames

and castings

Very difficult to join by soldering or

welding without specialised
equipment. This may restrict
designs to sheet forms or a
reliance on screw threads or rivets

NonFerrous

Aircraft parts

Its first use was rigid airship

frames. Duralumin quickly spread
throughout the aircraft industry in
the early 1930s, where it was well
suited to the new monocoque
construction techniques.

NonFerrous

660

Aluminium 95%,
Work hardens, ductile and
copper 4%,
machines well
Magnesium 1%

LM4 casting alloy

660

Aluminium 92%, Increased fluidity and improved casting for cases, small pieces
copper 3%,
hardness, Good corrosion
including pens, and
silicon 5%
resistance
accessories

occasionally poor or porous finish.

NonFerrous

Copper

1083

Pure metal

Malleable and ductile, Excellent

conductor of heat, when very
Wire, central heating pipes, cry
pure a good conductor
radiators and PCBs
electricity.

Copper is malleable and ductile, a

good conductor of heat and, when
very pure, a good conductor of
electricity.

NonFerrous

Brass

927

Copper 65%,
Zinc 35%

Corrosion resistant, casts well,,

Casting, ornamented and
Good conductor of
marine fittings
heat/electricity

Expensive. Easily discolours and

tarnishes if not constantly polished
or protected with a 'lacquer'.

NonFerrous

develops a patina, it does not

oxidize beyond the surface. It is
less brittle than iron.

NonFerrous

Lead

327

Boat/ship propellers, pots,

armour, axes. cannons.

Pure metal

Soft and malleable, Corrosion Protection against radiation

resistant, Easy to work, Immune from X-rays, Roof Coverings
to attack from chemicals
and flashing

Lead is a toxic material, gases and

contact from the metal can cause
lead poisoning

NonFerrous

Ornaments, early plates,

knifes, forks. Lead content
would make eating from a toxic
experience

Physically, pewter is a bright, shiny

metal that is very similar in
appearance to silver. Like silver,
pewter will also oxidize to a dull
grey over time if left untreated.

NonFerrous

Used widely in electronics'

industry in the production of
circuit boards

Often used for joining electrical

components. High lead content
makes it toxic to breathe.

NonFerrous

225-240

Lead 30%, Tin

70%

Solder

190 (low)

Lead 70%, Tin

30%

Soft and malleable, Corrosion

resistant.

The tin adheres strongly and

uniformly to the steel, protecting it
from attack. Cans made of tinplate
are used for food products, since
the tin was not attacked by most
foods in the absence of air.

NonFerrous

Tin

232

Pure metal

Soft, Corrosion resistant,

currently applied to steels and
iron for protection. Its two main Tin plant, tin coatings, and tin
uses, both past and present,
cans and soft solders,
have been the coating of other
metals, and in alloys.

Zinc

420

Pure metal

Ductile and easily worked, A

layer of oxide prevents it from
further corrosion

Often used as steel coating, or

mixed with other metals to
creative materials

Often used as a coating for mild

steel pipe/plate.

NonFerrous

Iron 95%,
Tungsten 5%

Tough, hard, even at high

temperatures

Edges of high-speed cutting

tools

robust physical properties, has the

highest melting point of all the nonalloyed metals and the second
highest of all the elements after
carbon.

Ferrous

Can catch fire, not good in high

Most chemical plant use steel
temp applications. Good
vessels which are clad with
chemical resistance when
titanium. Golf clubs
palladium (0.15 wt%), added

Alloy

Tungsten Steel

Titanium Alloy

1670

Titanium 92.5%
Aluminium 5%,
Tin 2.5%

Alloy

Alloy

Pure Metal

Pewter

Very malleable, being soft

enough to carve with hand
tools, and it also takes good
impressions from punches or
presses. Pewter cannot be used
to make tools itself.

Pure Metal

Alloy

Bronze

90-95% Copper,
5-10% Tin,
Harder tougher than brass,
900-1000 sometimes
Hard wearing, Corrosion
includes
resistant
phosphor

Alloy

Alloy

Duralumin

Pure Metal

Alloy

Pure metal

It is superior to the older high carbon steel

Ferrous
tools because it can withstand higher tempera

Alloy

660

Malleable and ductile, very

conductive of heat and
electricity

Kitchen taps, cutlery

Ferrous

Pure Metal

Aluminium

Corrosion resistant

Ferrous

Alloy

Alloy

Alloy

Alloy

Steel

Steel

Steel

Cast Iron

Composition

Steel

Iron

Melting
Point

Manganese

1246

It is a hard metal and is very

Iron 87%,
brittle, fusible with difficulty, but
Manganese 13%
easily oxidized.

Coins, fuel additive

The Kroll process is a method of

extracting titanium metal, using
magnesium as the reducing agent.
Kroll process). This makes titanium
an expensive metal.
Manganese metal does not form a
permanent magnet. Used to make
stainless steel. Mixed with petrol to
boost octane level.

NonFerrous

Ferrous