Properties of Metals and Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous Metals
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Properties of Metals
PROPERTIES OF METALS: good electrical, thermal and acoustic conductors; ductile and malleable; tough; they melt at high temperatures, expand when the temperature rises and contract when it cools; some are magnetic; rust when they come into contact with air and oxygen (not all); can be recycled and reused, some are toxic for the environment.
Ferrous Metals
FERROUS METALS: main component is iron.
PURE IRON: greyish white colour, good magnetic properties. Disadvantages: only melts at high temperature, difficult to machine, fragile and brittle. Uses: rarely used, used in electronics and electrical components. CAST IRON: very hard and resistant. Uses: machine parts, casing for engines, stands for machines, pistons, street lamps, drain covers. STEEL: very hard and resistant. Very resistant to traction. Easy to weld. Alloys with chrome and nickel to make stainless steel. Uses: structures in construction, car chassis, boats trains, machinery, tools, screws, domestic appliances, kitchen utensils, taps.
Non-Ferrous Metals
NON-FERROUS METALS: according to their density they can be... ULTRA LIGHT: magnesium, LIGHT: aluminium, titanium, HEAVY: copper, brass, bronze, zinc, tin, lead.
Shaping Techniques
SHAPING TECHNIQUES: ROLLING: reduce its thickness and increase its length. EXTRUSION: heated metal is pushed through a hole by piston using compression, FORGING: it's shaped by continuous compression. PUNCHING, WIRE DRAWING.
Marking, Cutting and Finishing
MARKING, CUTTING AND FINISHING: MARKING: punch, scriber. CUTTING: cutter, guillotine, punch and press die, hacksaw, circular saw, grinder. DRILLING: awl, drill. SHAPING: chisel, lathe. CLEANING: scraper, sander, grinder. FINISHING TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES: grinding-grinder, lapping-lapping machine, polishing-polishing wheel, buffing-mechanical buffing wheel, coating-plastic or other metals. JOINING: permanent: soft soldering-hard soldering-oxycetylene-rivets-pressfit joint-adhesive. temporary: nuts and bolts-screws-threaded stay bolts-keyed joint-splined shafts-sliding joints.
HOW TO MAKE STEEL: iron mineral is washed to eliminate impurities-it's crushed and sieved to separate the gangue from the ore-the ore is mixed with coke and limestone and put into a furnace-slag is obtained-quenching-tempering.