Non Ferrous Alloys
Non ferrous alloys are metal alloys that consist of two or more metals that are not ferrous metals, which means they are metals formed without an iron base. Iron is defined as a heavy, ductile, and magnetic metallic element that is an incredibly common alloying base used in a variety of metal alloys, one of the most common being steel.
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Applications of Non Ferrous Alloys
Non ferrous alloys are used in many applications and industries, including:
- Automotive
- For use in the production of power transmission parts, such as wheels, brushes, and radiators.
- Aerospace
- Used for components, including brazements, missile parts, and gearboxes.
- Industrial Manufacturing
- To construct various parts, such as gears and valves, by means of various heat treating processes.
- Marine
- For use in construction of various shipping vessels.
Material Properties of Non Ferrous Alloys
Although there is a wide range of non ferrous alloys, there are a handful of common attributes, including a complete lack of magnetism, versatility, high density, excellent tensile strength, and high corrosion resistance.
Notable Types of Non Ferrous Alloys
Some common types of non ferrous alloys include copper, nickel, cobalt, titanium, aluminum, zinc, zirconium, magnesium, and tungsten. The most common types of non ferrous alloys used in industrial applications are copper alloys, nickel alloys, and aluminum alloys. The two most common types of copper alloys are brass and bronze. Brass is composed of mainly copper and zinc, whereas bronze is composed of mainly copper and tin. Copper alloys are commonly used in the electronics industry due to their excellent electrical conductivity.
There are many common types of nickel alloys, but the most common are Inconel and Monel. Inconel is a super alloy that exhibits exceptional heat resistance and is mainly composed of nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and niobium, with trace amounts of cobalt, manganese, copper, aluminum, titanium, silicone, carbon, sulfur, phosphorus, and boron. Monel is the general name for a series of nickel alloys composed mainly of nickel, but also copper, iron, and minute amounts of other elements. Monel is one of the more difficult non ferrous alloys to machine. When it comes to aluminum alloys, the most commonly used are aluminum 6061 and aluminum 7075. Aluminum 6061 is mainly composed of aluminum, magnesium, and silicon, while aluminum 7075 is mainly composed of aluminum and zinc.