Ferrous & Non-Ferrous

One method of classifying metals is by their content, and one common division is into ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals. The word ferrous is derived from the Latin term “Ferrum” which means “containing iron“, thus ferrous metals contain iron and non ferrous metals do not. Ferrous metals may be pure iron, like wrought iron, or they may be alloys of iron and other elements. Steel, being an alloy of iron and carbon, is therefore a ferrous metal. The iron in the ferrous metals cause the metal to rust, unless painted or oiled often, or if it is galvanized (plated with zinc). Ferrous metals are often magnetic, but this property is not in and of itself sufficient to classify a metal as ferrous or non-ferrous. Austenitic stainless steel, a ferrous metal, is non-magnetic, while cobalt is magnetic but non-ferrous.

Common ferrous metals include the various irons and steels. Common non-ferrous metals include aluminum, tin, copper, zinc, and brass, an alloy of copper and zinc. Some precious metals such as silver, gold, and platinum are also non-ferrous.

Summary: Non-ferrous metals by definition do not contain iron while ferrous metals do. Ferrous metals are usually magnetic, although some non-ferrous metals may be magnetic as well.

Ferrous is an adjective derived from the Latin word ferrum (iron). The term is commonly used to indicate the presence of, or having to do with, iron, most commonly in metallurgy or related industries.

Ferrous in non-chemical contexts is a general adjective for iron. For example, referring to “ferrous metallurgy” includes the production of metallic iron, including wrought iron (commercially pure iron, with less than 0.2% carbon), cast ironsteel (with a carbon content between them), or other alloying elements. (with 3.5-5% carbon),

It is common for ferrous materials to be highly magnetic, although not all of them are. Different types of iron and steel are more or less magnetic. High-chromium stainless steel is nearly non-magnetic, while pure iron tends to form magnets easily. Some impurities allow iron to retain its magnetism longer than pure iron magnets.

As a nickname

“Ferrous” also is the name of the mascot of the Aberdeen IronBirds as well as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs baseball team. It was the second choice for the Iron Pigs over the original name, “Pork Chop”, which was discovered by the team to be a derogatory name given to Latin Americans.