The Difference Between Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals

What is the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals?

1. Durability 
2. Malleability
3. Conductivity
4. Cost-Effectiveness
5. Corrosion resistance  
6. Recyclability

In simple words, the main difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals is that ferrous metal contains iron and non-ferrous metal do not. But when it comes to ferrous vs non-ferrous metal, the two metals do have other key differences that determine the applications they are best suited for. Ferrous and non-ferrous metals are different in terms of tensile strength, cost-effectiveness, applications, common metals, corrosion resistance, recyclability, and malleability to name a few. 

In this article, we discuss some of the key differences between ferrous and non-ferrous metals to help ensure you choose the right metal type for your next project. Read on! 

Durability

The defining difference between ferrous vs non-ferrous metal is their iron content. Ferrous metals contain iron, which is why they are known for being durable. Some of the most common ferrous metals include alloy steel, stainless steel, carbon steel, cast iron, and wrought iron. Ferrous metals are ideal for applications that require immense durability and high tensile strength. For example, the longest bridges and tallest skyscrapers are made with carbon steel. Other common ferrous metal applications include shipping containers, automobiles, trucks, railroad tracks, and industrial piping. 

On the other hand, non-ferrous metals do not contain iron. Common non-ferrous metals include aluminum, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, gold, silver, titanium, brass, and bronze. While it is true that there are durable non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, only a few of them are capable of bearing weight or pressure compared to ferrous metals. This is why non-ferrous metals are ideal metal choices for applications that require lightweight materials such as bottle top production, canning, jewelry fabrication, and aircraft construction.  

Malleability 

Since non-ferrous metal is lighter, it is more malleable than ferrous metal, often forming easier to create intricate spinnings. Ferrous metals are denser making them harder to form. For example, steel is 2.5 denser than aluminum. In general, they cannot be formed to extreme dimensional limits without cracking. If your project requires materials that need to be cast and molded, it would be much more effective to use non-ferrous metals. 

Aluminum, for example, is lightweight and can be easily machined, forged, or welded into aircraft and vehicle parts such as frames, radiators, and pistons. Another example would be copper. Copper’s high malleability makes it ideal for statues, bearings, and sheet roofing. Non-ferrous metals such as gold and silver are the main components of the jewelry industry as well.  

Conductivity 

Ferrous metals are poor conductors of heat, making them a non-fitting material for applications like electric wiring and television parts. Compare this to non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and copper, which have excellent heat conductivity and can be used for heat sinks, radios, power lines, car radiators, air conditioning units, and computer motherboards.

Cost-Effectiveness 

Ferrous metals are relatively cheaper than non-ferrous metals. This is because non-ferrous metals are naturally less abundant materials. Nonetheless, plenty of factors can influence the price of both these metal types, such as demand and supply of the mineral market, ease of manufacturing, and more. Therefore, some non-ferrous metals can be more affordable than certain ferrous metals. 

For instance, aluminum is cheaper than stainless steel because it is lighter and easily malleable. Less labor cost is needed to produce aluminum products. If you have a budget in mind, it would be best to evaluate which ferrous and non-ferrous metals can provide you with better cost-effectiveness.

Corrosion-Resistance

Ferrous metals generally have a high iron and carbon content, which makes them more vulnerable to oxidation. They are prone to corrosion build-up and can compromise the durability of structures. Ferrous metals will typically require galvanization to protect them from rusting, especially if the metals will be exposed to moist or damp environments.   

Due to the absence of iron content, non-ferrous metals are more resistant to rust and corrosion without the need for further treatment. This is why non-ferrous metals are favored by many project owners. Their natural corrosion resistance makes them cost-efficient. 

Recyclability

​Another difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals involves recyclability. As ferrous metals are more susceptible to corrosion, their parts are not always 100% recyclable. Alternatively, non-ferrous metals can be recycled over and over again. This is because they do not degrade or compromise any chemical properties during application and recycling.  

Recycling metals eliminates the need to produce new metals from raw materials. As a result, this reduces material prices and consumer end-product costs. Corrosion resistance and high recyclability are reasons why non-ferrous metals like aluminum can be much cheaper. 

Key Takeaway

In choosing between ferrous vs non-ferrous metal, you need to understand the difference in composition and properties of each metal. This article rounds up the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals. 

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