Non-Ferrous Metals

Aluminium is a third of the weight of steel yet it is roughly half as strong. This is a good example of ‘strength to weight ratio’; you may lose half the strength, but you lose two thirds of the weight of a similar size piece of material. As it does not corrode, Aluminium is often used to replace steel in outdoor applications and, due to being lightweight, is also used for portability in sports and camping applications. It is also an excellent conductor of heat so it is used in cooking and for heat sinks, and electrical casings (iPod, iPad, Macbook etc.) to help dissipate the heat. It melts at 660C degrees.

Copper is equally difficult and expensive to produce and is becoming very expensive to buy. Like Aluminium, it requires an electrolytic process and a similar process is used for Tin and Zinc. Copper is an excellent conductor of both heat and electricity which is why it is still used for electrical circuits, plumbing and for electrical and data cables.

For those that don’t have fibre optic broadband, you still rely on Copper for bringing the internet into your home, and copper piping to keep you warm.

It melts at 1083C degrees.

Tin is rarely used in its pure state, but applications include food wrapping / foil (now replaced with aluminium) and coating for steel plate in the production of food cans. It is also mixed with Lead to make Solder.

It melts at 232C degrees.