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.
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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.
Words to know 📖
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 🪜
An interactive activity.
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.
Spot the true statements 🖍️
An interactive activity.
Pick the metal 🧭
An interactive activity.
Why an alloy? ✍️
An interactive activity.