Metals and Alloys - Ferrous and Non-Ferrous
Does it contain iron? That one question splits metals into ferrous and non-ferrous. Meet the steels and cast iron, the aluminium and copper, and the alloys engineers mix to get exactly the properties they need.
Get the method right under pressure
Free interactive practice on the steps that lose marks under exam pressure.
Start revising freeWhat you'll cover
Does it contain iron?
An engineer choosing a metal starts with one big question: does it contain iron? Ferrous metals contain iron, so they are strong but can rust. Non-ferrous metals have no iron, so they resist rust. And by mixing metals into alloys, engineers get exactly the properties they need.
Ferrous against non-ferrous
Four ideas run through this module:
Ferrous or non-ferrous
The presence of iron changes everything.
Match each ferrous metal
- Cast iron
- Mild steel
- High carbon steel
- Stainless steel
- Hard but brittle, good for heavy machine bases
- Low carbon steel, cheap and easy to work
- Very hard, used for cutting tools
- Steel with chromium added, resists rust
Which family?
Aluminium is light and does not rust. Is it a ferrous or a non-ferrous metal?
- Non-ferrous, because it contains no iron
- Ferrous, because all metals contain iron
- It is not a metal at all
- Both ferrous and non-ferrous
Mixing metals
An alloy is a metal mixed with other elements to improve it. Brass is copper and zinc, good-looking and easy to machine. Bronze is copper and tin, hard-wearing. Steel is iron and carbon, far stronger than iron alone. Stainless steel adds chromium to resist rust.
Match each alloy
- Brass
- Bronze
- Steel
- Stainless steel
- Copper mixed with zinc
- Copper mixed with tin
- Iron mixed with carbon
- Steel with chromium added
Spot the non-ferrous
Select the TWO NON-FERROUS metals from the list.
- Copper
- Aluminium
- Cast iron
- Mild steel
Choosing a metal
Put the steps of choosing a metal for a product into a sensible order.
- Decide what the product must do
- List the properties it needs, like strength or rust resistance
- Compare metals that have those properties
- Choose the best metal for the job
- Justify the choice against the cost
Metals in words
A metal that contains iron is a _____ metal, and one with no iron is _____. Mixing a metal with other elements to improve it makes an _____. Brass is copper mixed with _____. Adding chromium to steel makes _____ steel, which resists rust.
Metals and alloys
Tap the TWO statements that are TRUE.
- Ferrous metals contain iron and can rust.
- Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.
- Aluminium is a ferrous metal.
- An alloy is a single pure metal.
- Stainless steel rusts more easily than mild steel.
Pick the metal
Help each engineer choose a metal. Choose each time.
- A part must sit outdoors and never rust, and stay light. Which metal?
- A cutting tool must be very hard to keep a sharp edge. Which metal?
- A kitchen sink must look shiny and resist rust. Which metal?
Why an alloy?
Explain the difference between a ferrous and a non-ferrous metal, and explain why an engineer might choose an alloy such as stainless steel instead of a pure metal.
- Explain what makes a metal ferrous or non-ferrous
- Give an example of each
- Explain what an alloy is
- Explain one reason to choose stainless steel over pure iron