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.