Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals: Know the Difference Scrap metal recycling is a great trend followed by many people all over the globe. It is not only environmentally beneficial but also economically profitable. Typically, scrap metals are separated into two different categories- ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals. These are two distinct types of metals and it is extremely important that these metals be correctly identified in the recycling process. Ferrous Metals: These are the metals like iron- cast iron and wrought iron, steel- mild steel, carbon steel, stainless steel. Well, these ferrous scrap metals are basically known for their tensile strength. Besides, these metals are extremely durable and robust. These metals are found in construction works, simple household tools, machines, piping works, etc. These metals are also known to have huge amounts of carbon in them. Hence, the alloys manufactured from these metals are known to be prone to rust. Oxidization is highly common in such metals. However, stainless steel is resistant to oxidization and thus is one exception to this rule. Apart from this, these kinds of metals are highly magnetic in nature. You can test if the metals are ferrous if they get pulled towards the magnet. Again, stainless steel becomes an exception to this rule. This is because it has high quantities of nickel present in it. Non-Ferrous Metals: Metals like aluminium, brass, copper, nickel, lead and zinc are some of the most common non-ferrous metals. These metals are more malleable in nature. These metals do not have iron content. Thus, non-ferrous metals are non magnetic in nature. They do not get attracted to magnets and this is one distinct characteristic where they can be separated from the ferrous ones. These metals are known to be free from rust and corrosion. These metals are thus highly used in making water pipes, road signs, etc. Also, these metals are used in manufacturing smaller parts of electrical appliances.
The Price Factor: Ferrous metals are found in abundance. The demand for these metals is fairly low. Steel and iron alloys undergo recycling constantly. Thus, these metals fetch lower prices than the nonferrous ones. The latter is difficult to obtain and therefore the demand for these metals is higher. Aluminium for example is one of the most recycled metals all over the globe. The demand for such metals is always constant and they fetch high prices when it comes to recycling. Recycling of metals, whether ferrous or non-ferrous is the need of the hour and is of high importance to the ecology and environment today.