Ferrous metals are metals that contain iron as their main constituent. The principal raw material used to produce ferrous metals is pig iron. Some key ferrous metals include mild steel, cast iron, and wrought iron. Mild steel contains 0.1-0.3% carbon and is used for engineering purposes, nuts and bolts, and building structures. Cast iron contains 2-6% carbon, is hard but brittle, and used for machine parts and brakes. Wrought iron contains no carbon, is tough and malleable, and used for bars, bolts, and railway equipment.

1. BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION
AND MATERIALS
METALS (FERROUS)

2. WHAT IS A METAL?
A metal is a solid material (an element, compound or alloy) that is
typically hard, opaque, shiny and features good electrical and
thermal conductivity.
Properties: malleable, ductile, fusible
91 out of the 118 total elements on the periodic table are classified
as METALS.

3. Classification:
Mainly two groups :
1. FERROUS METALS
2. NON FERROUS METALS
METALS
FERROUS NON FERROUS
PURE
FERROUS
METALS
FERROUS
ALLOYS
IRON STEEL
PURE NON
FERROUS
METALS
NON
FERROUS
ALLOYS
COPEER , ALUM.,
ZINC,TIN, LEAD,
SILVER, GOLD,
MERCURY
BRASS, BRONZE,
SOLDER

4. • Ferrous materials/metals may be defined as those metals whose main
constituent is iron such as pig iron, wrought iron, cast iron, steel and
their alloys. The principal raw materials for ferrous metals is pig iron.
Ferrous materials are usually stronger and harder and are used in
daily life products. They possess a special property that their
characteristics can be altered by heat treatment processes or by
addition of small quantity of alloying elements. Ferrous metals
possess different physical properties according to their carbon
content.
Ferrous – indication of presence of iron, which is derived from Latin word “ ferrum ”
FERROUS METAL

5. Examples of Ferrous metals are:
1. Cast Iron
2. Wrought Iron
3. Mild Steel
4. Carbon Steel
5. Stainless Steel
The ferrous metals are iron base metals which include all varieties of iron and steel. Most common engineering
materials are ferrous materials which are alloys of iron. Ferrous means iron. Iron is the name given to pure ferrite Fe, as
well as to fused mixtures of this ferrite with large amount of carbon (may be 1.8%), these mixtures are known as pig iron
and cast iron. Primarily pig iron is produced from the iron ore in the blast furnace from which cast iron, wrought iron
and steel can be produced.
Besides Iron and Carbon four other
alloying elements present in ferrous
metal are Sulphur, Silicon, Manganese
and phosphorous

6. MILD STEEL
Mild Steel has carbon content of 0.1% to
0.3% and iron content of 99.7% to 99.9%
Melting point is 1600C
Uses:
• For engineering
purposes
• Nuts and bolts
• Screws
• Building Girders
• Gates
• Car body panels
• Washing machine
Properties:
• Malleable and
reasonably tough
• Ductile
• Magnetic
• High tensile strength
• Easily joined
• Prone to rust
• Strong
• inexpensive
Mild steel in buildings:

7. CAST IRON
Cast iron has carbon content of 2% to 6%
and iron content of 94% to 98%
Melting point is 1200C
Uses:
• Brake Disc
• Car Cylinders
• Machine Parts
• Manhole Covers
• Metalwork vices
• Machinery bases-
Pillar Drill
Properties:
• Hard but brittle
• Good in compression
• Magnetic
• Heavy
• Self lubricating
• Won’t rust
• Strong
• Expensive

8. WROUGHT IRON
Wrought iron has carbon content of 0%
and iron content of 100 %
Melting point is 1500C
Uses:
• Bars and plates
• Boiler tubing
• Forgings
• Crane hook
• Railway coupling
• Nuts, bolts and
chains
• Barbed wires
• Coal handling
equipments
• Cooling towers
Properties:
• Tough
• Malleable
• Ductile
• High tensile strength
• Neither be hardened
or tempered like steel

9. METALS