Metals

Question 1

What are some features of ferrous metals ?

Answer 1

• Iron based
• ‘Fe’ meaning iron
• magnetic
• cheap and abundant
• prone to corrosion and rusting
• usually contain a % of carbon

Question 2

What are some features of non ferrous metals ?

Answer 2

• other pure metals
• non magnetic
• often rarer
• very useful properties such as aesthetics

Question 3

What are the five ferrous metals and alloys you should know ?

Answer 3

• Low carbon/ mild steel
• high carbon/ tool steel
• cast iron ( highest percentage of carbon)

Alloys
- high speed steel
- stainless steel

Question 4

What are the five non ferrous metals you should know ?

Answer 4

• aluminum
• copper
• tin
• zinc

Alloy
- brass

Question 5

Give some information on low carbon/ mild steel ?

Answer 5

• <1% carbon
• pros: strong and cheap, easy to weld
• cons: rusts easily meaning it requires some form of anti corrosions Eg plating

Often sheet material so things like
Uses: screws/ nuts, car bodies, oil drums and appliances

Question 6

Give some information on high carbon/ tool steel ?

Answer 6

• tends to come in a tube format or blade
• contains 0.5- 1.5% carbon
• pros: extremely hard even at high temperatures
• cons: brittle, not easy to work with, rusts
• Used: tools and blades

Question 7

Give some information on cast iron ?

Answer 7

• Often comes in a lump
• 2-4% carbon
• pros: casts easily
• cons: hard but brittle- strong compressive strength but may break when dropped, hit or stretched

Used: stairs and gates, fireplaces and manhole covers

Question 8

Give some information on high speed steel ?

Answer 8

• Ferrous alloy
• contains 0.6% carbon and chromium
• Pros: very hard at high temperatures caused by friction during cutting
• Used: saw blades and drill bits

Question 9

Give some information on stainless steel ?

Answer 9

• Contains 1% carbon and chromium
• Pros: stains less, corrosion resistant, more tough, strong and ductile
  -Used: kitchen equipment, Cutlery, sinks and watches