Non-Ferrous Metals

Material name

Composition

Properties

Applications

Aluminum / Aluminum alloys

Pure metal / Easily alloyed with small amounts of copper, manganese, silicone, magnesium, and other elements

Low density, good electrical conductivity (approx. 60% of copper), nonmagnetic, noncombustible, ductile, malleable, corrosion resistance; easily formed, machined, or cast

Window frames, aircraft parts, automotive parts, kitchenware

Brass

Alloy of copper and zinc, 65% to 35% is the common ratio

Reasonable hardness; casts, forms, and machines well; good electrical conductivity and acoustic properties

Parts for electrical fittings, valves, forgings, ornaments, musical instruments

Copper

Pure metal

Excellent ductility, thermal and electrical conductivity

Electrical wiring, tubing, kettles, bowls, pipes, printed circuit boards

Lead

Pure metal

Heaviest common metal, ductile, and malleable, good corrosion resistance

Pipes, batteries, roofing, protection against X-Rays

Magnesium / Magnesium Alloys

Pure metal / Used as an alloy element for aluminum, lead, zinc, and other nonferrous alloys; alloyed with aluminum to improve the mechanical, fabrication, and welding characteristics

Lightest metallic material (density of about 2/3 of that of aluminum), strong and tough, most machinable metal, good corrosion resistance, easily cast

Automobile, portable electronics, appliances, power tools, sporting goods parts, and aerospace equipment

Nickel / Nickel Alloys

Pure metal / Alloys very well with large amounts of other elements, chiefly chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten

Very good corrosion resistance (can be alloyed to extend beyond stainless steels), good high temperature and mechanical performance, fairly good conductor of heat and electricity

The major use of nickel is in the preparation of alloys or plating - frequently used as an undercoat in decorative chromium plating and to improve corrosion resistance; applications include electronic lead wires, battery components, heat exchangers in corrosive environments

Titanium / Titanium Alloys

Pure metal / Easily alloys with aluminum, nickel, chromium, and other elements

Low density, low coefficient of thermal expansion, high melting point, excellent corrosion resistance, nontoxic and generally biologically compatible with human tissues and bones, high strength, stiffness, good toughness

Aerospace structures and other high-performance applications, chemical and petrochemical applications, marine environments, and biomaterial applications

Zinc / Zinc Alloys

Pure metal/ Metal is employed to form numerous alloys with other metals. Alloys of primarily zinc with small amounts of copper, aluminum, and magnesium are useful in die-casting. The most widely used alloy of zinc is brass

Excellent corrosion resistance, light weight, reasonable conductor of electricity

Used principally for galvanizing iron (more than 50% of metallic zinc goes into galvanizing steel), numerous automotive applications because of its light weight