Types of Metal Categories and Common Examples of Each

If you are reading this blog, you are involved in the scrap metal or metal sales industry in some way or another. Or perhaps you are simply a person who is interested in learning more about metal recycling, and therefore, require a basic knowledge on the various types of metal. Either way, a good place to start is to learn about ferrous, non-ferrous, base, noble, and precious metal. Continue below to get started!

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Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals

Ferrous metals are those that contain iron. Non-ferrous metals are those that do not contain iron. In order to tell the difference between a ferrous and non-ferrous metal, all you need is a strong magnet. If the magnet attracts to the object, it is ferrous, and contains iron. Iron retains natural magnet properties, making it easy to decipher among iron and non-iron items. The most common types of ferrous metals are carbon steel, stainless steel, cast iron, wrought iron, and mild steel. The most common types of non-ferrous metals are copper, nickel, brass, aluminum, tin, lead, zinc, and precious metals like gold and silver.

Precious Metals

Precious metals are those that are naturally-occurring and very rare, giving them high economic value. Precious metals can be either ferrous or non-ferrous, depending on its various alloys. Common precious metals include platinum, gold, and silver, while rarer examples include tungsten, zirconium, cobalt, rhodium, palladium, ruthenium, osmium, beryllium, cadmium, bismuth, selenium, mercury, and germanium. Most often, precious metals are used to make jewelry and art, but also for medical instruments, computers, and electronics.

Noble Metals

Noble metals include both precious and non-ferrous metals. Noble metals are metals that are resistant to corrosion and oxidation in moist conditions, namely humidity. Copper is the only non-precious metal that is also a noble metal by the actual physics definition. But this is arguable since copper is vulnerable to both corrosion and oxidation. Other examples of noble metals include copper, gold, silver, iridium, platinum, rhodium, rhenium, palladium, ruthenium, osmium, mercury.

Base Metals

Scientifically, there is not just one authoritative definition for a base metal. In fact, there are three, each one exercised independently from one another depending on the s[specific application of the metal. The most accepted definition of a base metal is one that is neither noble nor precious. Noble metals and precious metals are quite similar, and also have multiple definitions and applications. To better understand the meaning of a base metal, you will need to review the basic meanings of noble and precious metals first.

Where to Recycle Scrap Metal in Indianapolis

Call Zore’s Recycling at 317-244-0700 to get paid cash on the spot for scrap metal recycling in Indianapolis, Indiana. We pay top-dollar for power tools, sheet metal, appliances, cars, trucks, motorcycles, golf carts, farm equipment, construction equipment, and more. And we guarantee to pay you cash on the spot! Call 317-244-0700 to make fast cash, today!