Aluminium
A large Aluminium billet from which wrought products will be produced.
Aluminium Smelter (Norway)
Cast Structure of Al Ingot
Boat Hulls
Aluminium boat hulls offer corrosion resistance and light weight.
XJ6 Aluminium Body
XJ6 Aluminium Chassis
Aluminium Bumper Beams
Aluminium Engine Blocks (Lupo)
Audi A2 engine block
Aluminium Bottles
Aluminium Forging
Forged Aluminium Wheels
Al heat transfer components
Aluminium Roofing
Other non-ferrous metals
• Copper • Tin• Lead• Zinc• Titanium• Lithium• Nickel• Chromium
Copper
• Moderate strength in the pure state
• Malleable and ductile
• Very good electrical and thermal conductor
• Good corrosion resistance
• Alloys with Zinc to give brass
• Alloys with Tin and others to make bronze
Copper Roofing
Copper as a Biocide
Copper as a Heat Exchanger
Tin
Soft and corrosion resistant.
Used to alloy with lead to make solder
Used to alloy with copper to produce bronzes, e.g. Bell metal
Bell Metal
Lead
• High Density
• Corrosion Resistant
• Malleable, but not ductile
• Very soft and weak
Lead Applications
Lead as a Roofing Material
Zinc
• No structural engineering uses in pure state
• Used as sacrificial anodes to protect steel.
• Used as an alloy with copper to produce
brass
• Used to corrosion coat steel by:– Galvanising or– Plating
Brass Components
Magnesium
• Light weight – S.G. of 1.7
• Burns easily when being machined
• Used with Aluminium to make lightweight alloys.
Magnesium
Magnesium Wheel
Lithium
• Very light, S.G. of 0.5!
• Used to make alloys with Aluminium for aerospace applications.
• Used in batteries for mobile phones etc.
Titanium
• Low density (S.G. of 4.5, as compared to steel at approx 8)
• Similar strengths to steels
• Highly corrosion resistant
• Melts at 1670°C
• Use restricted to <400 °C
Titanium
Used in
• Aerospace parts
• Racing cars, motorcycles and bicycles
• Pipework and heat exchangers in chemical plants and oil installations.
Titanium heat-exchangers
Nickel
• Corrosion resistant – forms strong oxide layer.
• Brittle in the pure state• Used in stainless steels• Alloyed with copper to produce
cupronickels for coinage and Monel for corrosion-resistant valve parts.
• Used in Nimonic and superalloys for aerospace engine parts.
Nickel-based superalloys
Single-crystal blades
Chromium
• Corrosion resistant – forms strong oxide layer.
• Brittle in the pure state
• Used in stainless steels
• Used with Ni & Mo to produce strong steel alloys for bicycle and motorcycle frame tubes.