claasifiacation of engneering materials

1.1 Ferrous metals

• These are metals and alloys containing a high proportion of the element iron.

• They are the strongest materials available and are used for
applications where high strength is required at relatively low cost and where weight is not of primary importance.

As an example of ferrous metals such as : bridge building, the structure of large buildings, railway lines, locomotives and
rolling stock and the bodies and highly stressed engine parts of
road vehicles.
• The ferrous metals themselves can also be classified into
• "families , and these are shown in figure ( 2 )
1.2 Non – ferrous metals

• These materials refer to the remaining metals known to
mankind. The pure metals are rarely used as structural materials as they lack mechanical strength.


• They are used where their special properties such as corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity are required. Copper and aluminum are used as electrical conductors and, together with sheet zinc and sheet lead, are use as roofing materials.

• They are mainly used with other metals to improve their
strength.
Some widely used non-ferrous metals and alloys are classified as shown in figure ( 3 ).