Ferrous and non-ferrous metals each have their own distinctive properties. And that helps determine how they get used and the applications they’re most suited for.
Ferrous metals are
alloys. That means they’re made from a combination of several different metals.
What links them is they contain iron, which means a magnet will stick to a ferrous metal, but not, for example, to an aluminum can, which has no iron.
The use of ferrous metals started around 1,200 BC. That’s when iron production became common and the world started what became known as the Iron Age.
Because of their strength and durability, ferrous metals are a staple in the construction industry. Skyscrapers and lengthy bridges, shipping containers and industrial piping all use carbon steel. Because it is also known as structure steel.
The magnetic quality in ferrous metals makes them particularly useful for electrical applications. One challenge with ferrous metals is they have a high
carbon content. That means they can rust more easily when exposed to moisture.