List of non-ferrous metals: characteristics, application

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The development of civilization could not have happened so rapidly if man had not found a way to mine and process various metals. And if at first this was facilitated by successful finds of natural nuggets lying directly on the surface of the soil, then soon the list of non-ferrous metals that people managed to “tame” began to expand significantly. The first experiments and a more detailed study of the properties of new elements showed that all substances have different properties, and their use for the same purposes is impossible. In addition, limited reserves, mining difficulties were the factors that made non-ferrous metals more valuable and expensive than ferrous.

What are base metals?

Some people believe that base metals are exclusively precious gold, silver and platinum, but such a pointvision is wrong. First of all, it is generally impossible to include all these metals in the above list of non-ferrous metals, because they are in different groups both in terms of properties, methods and methods of extraction, prevalence, and use (except for the purely jewelry industry). Non-ferrous metals can be considered all that do not contain Fe, that is, iron.

In nature, there are a huge number of such substances, each of which has unique properties and fully justifies their extraction. Among the most famous: copper, aluminum, titanium, magnesium, nickel, tin, lead, chromium, zirconium and more than a dozen materials that are used in narrow industries. Not only is it impossible to find analogues for them, but the artificial creation in the conditions of highly scientific laboratories is an overwork and a dream of scientists from all over the world and in all ages. Suffice it to recall the alchemical works and experiments described both in scientific works of ancient times, and in historical works, literature and many legends that do not have reliable evidence.

Fire, water and copper pipes

So what's the advantage of metals other than the more common and cheaper iron? Why are they often mined in very difficult conditions, and a huge number of entrepreneurs of various calibers do not hesitate to collect scrap of non-ferrous metals bit by bit? The fact is that these materials have unique physical and chemical properties. Mostly they are characterized by increased softness and plasticity, excellentenergy conductivity, and although there are quite a large number of metals that people know how to mine, each of them is used for completely different purposes.

As a matter of fact, not every material can be used in pure, undiluted form, the list of non-ferrous metals subject to so-called alloying is very large. They mix with each other, forming new compounds that can be used in the space industry, medicine and many other areas of human life. Sometimes it is enough not to make a certain part or element of the device from an expensive and unique non-ferrous metal, but only to spray it. The physical and chemical properties of such a thin coating will be enough to achieve the required goals.

All that glitters is not gold

Gold is the most famous non-ferrous metal. This is not surprising, its popularity is so high that for a long time they paid for goods, it was the basis for a variety of jewelry and, by and large, became a kind of measure of people's well-being. Several decades ago, settlements between countries took place in gold equivalent, and even now the gold and foreign exchange reserves of the budget of any state is an indicator of the level of the economy as a whole and the we alth of the population in particular.

Moreover, gold is a rare metal, but easy to process. Its main advantage is its excellent malleability, thanks to which jewelers create beautiful jewelry and products from yellowmaterial. However, there is little pure gold in nature, and it is very difficult to mine it; therefore, various additives are often added to it, which somewhat change the color and softness of gold in the end result. The list of non-ferrous metals is varied, and each additive is used for different purposes, the main materials are:

copper;

silver;

nickel;

platinum;

palladium;

zinc

Each of these metals changes the original color of the resulting material, which can be with a greenish, pink, white tint. The strength of the mixed metal is also important, because gold itself is so soft that it can be easily scratched, cut with a knife with due effort, bitten with a tooth. All these methods are a simple and affordable way for everyone to test the product for authenticity.

In addition to the jewelry industry, gold is used in the chemical industry, electronics, space and aircraft construction, and oil production.

Precious Metals

Among the most expensive metals, the above one is by no means the most expensive, it is only in the fourth position in the rating. The list of non-ferrous metals by their value reads as follows (exchange prices for 1 gram):

• californium – from 500 thousand dollars;
• osmium-187– from 200 thousand dollars;
• rhodium - $225;
• platinum - $77;
• gold - $30;
• osmium - $19;
• iridium -$16;
• ruthenium - $15;
• palladium - $14;
• silver - $0.6.

Rarely any of these chemical elements is used in its pure form, and not everyone is used to create masterpieces of jewelry art. Often, high-precision production of individual components of complex parts exposed to high or low temperatures, aggressive chemicals, etc. is assumed. Non-ferrous scrap from this group is a high-precision, complex, but profitable activity that occurs at the state level or through monopolistic organizations. In the military industry, specialized equipment, missiles are dismantled, where pieces of parts are collected bit by bit for further processing.

Application

Many may wonder why these materials are so expensive. And having acquired a gram of precious metal, what can be done with it in practice? The answer is simple: without certain skills and equipment - nothing.

Thus, palladium is used for minting souvenirs and collectibles, which are a means of investment. But for more practical purposes, it is used to create medical equipment. Ruthenium is useful as one of the elements for water purification, and iridium strengthens alloys for products that will be exposed to incredibly high temperatures.

Many non-ferrous metals are used as a means of earning and saving capital, participating in market trading both on quite official exchanges andbeing one of the means for shadow transactions and mutual settlements.

Copper alloys

Copper is one of the most popular materials in the production of electrical wiring, water pipes, and electronics. It is very refractory, conducts heat and electricity well, but is not strong enough and is difficult to cast. To eliminate this drawback, various impurities are added to pure metal, which make copper itself more durable. The resulting tin is not subject to corrosion and wear, thanks to these properties, its scope is incredibly wide.

Another common additive is zinc, a certain percentage of this metal makes it possible to obtain brass. In such a composition, the content of the alloying substance is very important, the higher the percentage of the additive content, the harder the metal, but also more susceptible to corrosion damage.

But the copper-nickel alloy is often used in the manufacture of jewelry, the additive gives a more pleasant color and strength to products.

Aluminum alloys

Aluminum is one of the leading non-ferrous metals. Such popularity is due to the low cost of production, ease of processing, the relative lightness of the metal, the possibility of using recycled materials.

As with other metals, various additives are added to pure aluminum during alloying, in addition, the alloys themselves can have different manufacturing technologies, subdivided into those that are hardened for heat treatment, not hardened, and there is also a separate, third category allowing castingnecessary parts and products.

Rolled non-ferrous metals assumes that the material after processing takes the form of rods, wires of different sections and purposes, sheets, pipes, ingots and bushings.