Manufacturing Technology: Theory and Problems, Second Edition

CHAPTER 4

Non-ferrous Materials and Their Heat Treatment

• Non-ferrous metals lack structural strength and have poor mechanical properties. But their high thermal and electrical conductivity, higher corrosion resistance and low density are making them superior over ferrous metals.
  Non-ferrous Materials and Their Heat Treatment
• Important non-ferrous metals include aluminium, copper, zinc, magnesium, nickel, lead and tin.
• Important properties of aluminium are listed below:
  1. It is a lighter metal and its density is about one-third of steel. This property makes aluminium suitable for aircraft and automobile industries.
  2. It is extracted from bauxite (Al₂O₃. 2H₂O).
  3. It has high thermal and electrical conductivity. Its electrical conductivity is approximately ...