List of Non-Ferrous Metals | Industries | Metallurgy

Here is a list of non-ferrous metals that are mostly used in industries.

Non-Ferrous Metal # 1. Nickel:

Uses of Nickel:

(i) For manufacturing chromium-nickel stainless steels and nickel-chromium molybdenum steels.

(ii) For electroplating on base metals. It is used as an under plating before chromium plating to give protection against corrosion.

(iii) For minting coins.

Properties of Nickel:

Nickel is a hard, lustrous, white metal. It fuses at 1484°C. It can take up high polish and is stable in dry air. However, when exposed to dampness, it tarnishes. It is not attacked by alkalies. Cast nickel contains carbon which makes it non-malleable. Its electrical conductivity is less than iron. It is magnetic and is more resistant to corrosion and to loss of strength due to heating in comparison to iron.

The ease with which nickel can be cast, machined, spun, drawn into wire, forged, welded, brazed soft and silver- soldered, makes it as good as mild steel. Nickel is used in large quantities due to its high resistance to even highly corrosive solutions.

The following are its physical and mechanical properties:

Physical Properties:

Its protection is a complicated affair due to difficulty in separating copper from it.

Non-Ferrous Metal # 2. Zinc:

Zinc is a weak metal (tensile strength of 1550 kg/cm²). It resists corrosion due to formation of a dense layer of corrosion product which insulates it against continued corrosion.

Uses of Zinc:

Zinc is used as a protective coating for steel. Zinc is applied on steel by hot dipping (the method is called galvanising) or by electroplating (this method is called electro-galvanising). It is used in the form of rolled sheets for roofing and battery containers, and as a lining for transportation cases, because it can be made water and air­tight and is proof against insects, etc.

Underground lines can be protected against corrosion by connecting them with insulated wires to zinc anodes that are buried near-by.

Bureau of Indian Standards have published following specification on zinc material.

IS : 209 – 1966 – General for Zinc.

IS : 713 – 1966 – Alloy ingots for die castings.

IS : 742 – 1966 – Alloy die castings.

IS : 2258 – 1976 – Rolled sheet and strip.

Non-Ferrous Metal # 3. Tin:

Properties of Tin:

Tin has specific gravity of 7.285 and has got melting point of 232°C. It is a soft metal having very low tensile strength (130 kg/cm²). When cold it is quite brittle and it cracks when it is bent. It is malleable at about 100°C. At this temperature it can be rolled into sheets or drawn into pipes. It resists corrosion due to water and most of the organic acids.

Uses of Tin:

(i) As it is not corroded by water and organic acid, it is used for lining copper and iron tanks and also cooking vessels. It is plated on iron sheets.

(ii) It is used to form very useful alloys such as solder, bell metal, bearing alloys etc.

Non-Ferrous Metal # 4. Molybdenum:

Uses of Molybdenum in Industry:

i. Lubrication:

Molybdenum disulphide dispersed in greases and oils is used for industrial and automotive lubrication. Molybdenum disulphide in volatile carriers forms dry coating which acts as lubricating agent.

ii. Corrosion Inhibitor:

Sodium molybdate acts as corrosion inhibitor especially on aluminium surfaces.

iii. Catalysts:

Cobalt molybdate and various other molybdenum salts aid hydrogen treatment of petroleum stocks for desulphurisation. Phospho molybdates promote oxidation.

iv. Coloration:

Molybdenum compounds form pigments and dyestuffs.

v. Agriculture:

Molybdenum in the form of sodium molybdate or molybdic oxide, is used as fertiliser.

vi. Protective Coating:

Zinc or calcium molybdate is used as an inhibitory pigment for protective coating for metals exposed to corrosive atmospheres.

Non-Ferrous Metal # 5. Magnesium:

It is a very light metal which melts at 651°C. It has tensile strength of 1000 kg/cm² and is rather brittle. It can be hot-worked easily but requires to be cold-worked carefully. It has poor resistance to corrosion when air is humid and contains traces of salt. Corrosion resistance can be improved by priming and painting. It is used as the base of light alloys.