Author: Haroon Khalil

Non-ferrous alloys may be defined as a coherent non-ferrous metallic mass produced by combining two or more non-ferrous metals. Some important non-ferrous alloys are discussed below.

Nickel is found combined with iron sulphides in deposits. The properties of nickel are as follows:

It occurs in nature in several minerals such as magnesite (MgCO3), dolomite (CaCO3, MgCO3), kieserite (MgSO4 · H2O) and carnalite (MgCl2 · KCl · 6H2O). The metal is prepared by the chloride or oxide process. The oxide process is not in use anymore. In the chloride process, a melted mixture of chlorides of sodium, potassium and magnesium…

Common ores of zinc are zincite (ZnO), calamine (ZnCO3) and zinc blende (ZnS). It is a bluish grey non-ferrous metal. It becomes brittle at a high temperature of 200°C and can also be powdered at this temperature. It is used in the form of a sheet as a corrosion-resistant surface. Further, it is also used…

The chief source of tin is tinstone (or cassiterite) SnO2. Tin is a bright shining white metal. It is soft and malleable and can be made into the form of thin foil. As it has high resistance to corrosion, it is used for coating purposes on metals and alloys. It is particularly used in low…

The lead ore is galena or galenite consists of lead sulphide. It is widely distributed. In the manufacturing process, the roasted ore, silica, coke, metallic iron and lime are smelted together in a blast furnace. Lead oxide and sulphate react with iron to form ferrous oxide and sulphate, resulting in the formation of lead. Ferrous…

Copper is one of the metals directly available in the metallic state. It is found in minerals like copper glance malachite and azurite  It is extracted by different methods from ores. Depending on the process by which copper is extracted, they are designated as: Copper has the following properties:

Aluminium is abundantly available in the ore called bauxite. Bauxite is hydrated aluminium oxide. The manufacturing process involves the bauxite first being purified and then dissolving in molten cryolite. From this solution, aluminium is separated by electrolysis at about 900°C. Aluminium has the following properties:

Metals which do not contain any percentage of iron is generally called non-ferrous metals. The important metals that fall under the non-ferrous metal category are discussed below.

To obtain special properties, some elements such as nickel, chromium, manganese, etc., are added to the carbon steel. Steels thus formed are called alloy steels. The addition of alloying elements is effected to attain one or more of the following properties: Alloying materials have the following properties: Some of the alloy steels are discussed below:…