More notes from Chp3 of MachineShop Basics

This posting is about nonferrous metals used in the Metalworking Industry
NONFERROUS METALS
These are metals other than iron, important nonferrous metals are
o copper
o zinc
o tin
o antimony
o aluminum
Copper
Copper is a very useful metal in its pure form and its various alloys such as brass and bronze. Copper has a reddish brown color, it is very ductile and malleable; also it is very tenacious and is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. At 1980 degrees Fahrenheit pure copper melts and it is1940 degrees Fahrenheit for commercial copper.
Zinc
At ordinary temperatures zinc is brittle; it becomes ductile and malleable at temperatures between 212 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit, then brittle again at 410 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of the uses of zinc are
o lining cisterns
o coating water pipes
o eaves
o gutters

Tin
Tin has a low melting point, that of 450 degrees Fahrenheit, it is very ductile and can easily be drawn into wire at 212 degrees F or rolled into very thin sheets.
Antimony

Antimony resembles tin and hard and brittle metal, and it is used in forming alloys as it combines easily with other metals.
Lead
Lead is the heaviest of all the common metals, and melts at 621 degree F, it is malleable, ductile, and it can be cut with a knife. Also lead is not a good conductor of electricity, and has low tensile strength.
Bismuth
Is a unique metal in that its specific gravity decreases under pressure, and it expands on cooling. Bismuth has a melting point of 520 F, and is frequently added with antimony in type metals because it fills the molds completely on solidification.
Aluminum
Is made by the aid of electricity from cryolite and bauxite, and is ductile and malleable. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity, and is the lightest of all metals.
Refractory Metals
With melting points above 3632 F, tantalum, tungsten, and molybdenum are called refractory metals. These metals are made by powder metallurgy rather than smelting.
Tungsten and Molybdenum
Tungsten and molybdenum are extensively used of the ten refractory metals, with tungsten having the highest melting point of all metals. The use of these two metals is due to their high melting points, and the ability to retain strength and stiffness at high temperatures. Tungsten and molybdenum is used extensively in the electrical and electronic industries.
Tantalum
Is almost completely resistant to corrosion and chemical attack also it has the ability to immobilize residual gases in electronic tubes at high temperatures. Other properties are its high melting point, low vapor pressure, thermal expansion and the ease of fabrication. Tantalum has the ability to form highly stable anodic films.
Columbian
Is a sister metal to found in the same ore as tantalum, and its properties are somewhat similar to tantalum; Tantalum and Columbian are malleable and ductile as mild steel.
Nonferrous Alloys
Two or more metals combined that contain iron, here are some of the more important alloys.
Brass
Brass comes in many varieties, and is composed of copper and zinc in various proportions. Also small percentages of tin, lead and other metals are included tin, lead.
Bronze
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.
Aluminum
There is no limit to the number of alloys and aluminum the can be produced. Elements used in the casting of aluminum are copper, silicon, magnesium, nickel, iron, zinc and manganese.
Babbitt metal
Discovered by Isaac Babbitt in 1839, it is an alloy of tin, antimony and copper.
Other Nonferrous Alloys
Monel metal: this alloy is made up of copper, nickel and a small percentage of iron. It has a melting point of 2480 f also it can be forged between 165 degrees, and 1100 degrees F. Monel metal is used in ships propellers.
Muntz metal: this alloy is made up 60 percent copper and 40 percent tin, and used for applications in which hard sheet brass is needed.
Tobin bronze: this alloy contains 58 to 60 percent copper, 40 percent tin with small percentages of iron tin and lead.
Delta metal: this alloy is very similar in composition to Tobin bronze.
White metal: used in bearings, this alloy is made of zinc, and tin of zinc, tin and lead.
Tantung: Is the name for alloys made of cobalt, chromium and tungsten with either tantalum or Columbian carbide, and other components added. These alloys have great hardness, strength, toughness, and resistance to wear, heat, impact, corrosion, and erosion even at extremely high temperatures.