What are the different kinds of non ferrous metals?

Answer 1

One needs to distinguish between the phrases "nonconducting metal" and "nonmetal conductor." Also, the topic is conduction of electricity and not conduction of heat or sound or light or other options. This answer also does not discuss ionic conduction of electricity which has many examples of solutions where moving charged atoms are the current carrying entities.

For the last few hundred years, the terms metal and conductor have referred to the same set of materials, but there are some modern exotic materials that can be either conducting or not. One can investigate references to the metal-insulator transition to learn more.

That said, the careful use of the term "metal" does refer to the state of a material that shows good electrical conductivity or, we say, is a conductor. Therefore, there are no nonconducting metals.

There are, on the other hand, materials that do not have elements we normally call metals but do conduct electricity pretty well. Polyacetylene is an organic material that is a semiconductor or conductor depending on what kind of doping (impurities) it has. There are a number of polymers and organic materials with modest to large conductivity.

The occasional confusion seems to arise by giving the name metal to certain chemical elements. We say copper is a metal or sodium or whatever and that is inaccurate. We should say that the normal state of the pure element copper (or sodium or whatever) is a metal and by that mean it is a conductor.

There are example of materials that change conductivity dramatically when pressure or temperature changes. For example, graphite has a very different conductivity from diamond though they are both examples of pure carbon.

While all metals are conductive. Some are less conductive, or more resistive, than others. There are many web sites where one can find material comparison charts showing how metals differ.

Answer 2

Aluminium:

Aluminium is a widely used non ferrous metal. It is Grayish-White in colour, soft and malleable. This non ferrous metal is conductive to heat and electricity. It is corrosion resistant. Aluminium can be welded but this is difficult. Special processes need to be adopted in order to weld it properly. Due to its light weight, it is used in the manufacturing of aircrafts and boats. Its other uses are window frames, saucepans, packaging and insulation, pistons and cranks.

Aluminium alloys (Duraluminium):

Aluminium alloys (Duraluminium) is composed of Aluminium, Copper and Manganese. Its also Ductile, Malleable, Work Hardens. It is used in the manufacturing of aircrafts and vehicle parts.

Copper:

Copper is another very important pure non ferrous metal. Its red in colour, tough and ductile. It is very good electrical conductor and offers great resistance to corrosion. Copper can work hard or cold but it needs frequent annealing. Copper is mostly used in the manufacturing of electric wires, cables and conductors. Its other uses are water and central heating pipes and cylinders, Printed circuit boards and manufacturing of special roofs.

Brass:

Another important non ferrous metal is Brass which is not a pure metal but combination of Copper and Zinc. It contains 65% copper and 35% Zinc. This non ferrous metal is very corrosive, yellow in colour, tarnishes very easily. It is harder than copper and its good electrical conductor.

Lead:

Lead is a pure and an important non ferrous metal. It is the heaviest common metal. The other characteristics are its softness, malleability and brightness. It is shiny metal when new but quickly oxidizes to a dull grey. It has resistant to corrosion. Its uses are different than other non ferrous metals. It is used in protection against X-Ray machine, Paints, roof coverings, flashings etc.

Zinc:

Lead is also a pure and an important non ferrous metal. A layer of oxide protects it from corrosion. It is bluish-white in colour and easily worked. It is used to makes brass by mixing and processing with Copper. It is used as coating layer for steel galvanized corrugated iron roofing, tanks, buckets, rust-proof paints etc.

Tin:

Tin is a pure non ferrous metal. It is white in colour, soft and corrosion resistant. It is used in Tinplate and making bronze.

Answer 3

All the chemical elements (and metals also) are reactive; but important differences in reactivity exist.

The so-called non reactive metals (noble metals) are gold, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, osmium, iridium.

Answer 4

Non corrosive metals include Gold, Platinum, Tungsten and some other metals.

Answer 5

Ferrous metals are those containing iron, therefore a non ferrous metal is any kind of metal that does not contain iron, simple.

Answer 6

Non-rusting metals: Gold Platinum Palladium Iridium Rhodium Lead Stainless Steel Nickel Mercury

Answer 7

Yes there are non-corrosive metals, a few examples are: Platinum, nitinol (a nickel titanium alloy), and gold is also virtually non-corrosive.