Non-ferrous Metals

Non-ferrous alloys consist of a non-ferrous metal as the matrix (typically more than 50 %) and one or more additional elements. Non-ferrous metals are divided into heavy metals (such as copper, lead, zinc), light metals (such as aluminium, magnesium), noble metals (such as gold, silver, platinum) and rare metals (such as tungsten, molybdenum, germanium, lithium, lanthanum and uranium).

Tantalum

Tantalum is rendered highly resistant to corrosion by the formation of an oxide film. It resists acid attack except when exposed to HF. It reacts with molten alkalis and various non-metals at elevated temperatures.

Niobium

Niobium is present in the Earth’s crust at a concentration of 20 ppm. In its pure form it is reactive and forms a stable oxide in air, thereby increasing its corrosion resistance. It reacts with various non-metals at high temperatures.

Molybdenum

Molybdenum exhibits high strength at elevated temperatures. It has a low vapour pressure, minimal thermal expansion and excellent thermal conductivity. It is used in aircraft components, electronic applications, glass production and filaments, among other uses. Given its thermal conductivity and low electrical resistance, molybdenum is employed in the furnace industry for radiation shields, furnace elements and sintered components.

Titanium

Titanium and its alloys are applied in the aerospace industry, military, medical sector, jewellery, telecommunications and other fields. Various grades of titanium exist. Grades 1 to 4 designate pure titanium, while higher grades represent its alloys. Pure titanium is used for its corrosion resistance, and the alloys are selected for their high strength-to-weight ratio.

Tungsten

Stanford Advanced Materials supplies pure tungsten products such as tungsten metal powder, tungsten metal and tungsten wire, in addition to products made from high-density tungsten alloys such as ferrotungsten. We manufacture custom products with various shapes and specifications according to customer requirements.

Zirconium

Zirconium (Zr) is present at approximately 130 ppm in the Earth’s crust. It does not occur naturally in its pure form. Owing to its resistance to chemical corrosion, zirconium is used for alloys that are exposed to aggressive environments. The principal commercial source of zirconium is the silicate mineral zircon (ZrSiO4). Zirconium Product

Rhenium

Rhenium is one of the rarest elements in the Earth’s crust and is the last stable element to have been discovered. The free element has the third highest melting point and the highest boiling point among all elements. Its primary application is in jet engines, and it is also used in catalysis in the chemical industry.

Indium

Indium is used primarily in the production of transparent electrodes made from indium tin oxide (ITO) in liquid crystal displays and touchscreens. This application largely drives the global mining production. It is used in thin films to form lubricating layers (during the Second World War it was used to coat bearings in high-performance aircraft). It is also employed in the manufacture of alloys with a low melting point and forms part of some lead-free solders.

Iridium

Iridium is a platinum group metal with the atomic number 77. It is a hard and brittle metal with a silvery appearance. Iridium remains resistant to corrosion even at temperatures of up to 2000 °C. It is used for spark plug tips and has been employed in the manufacture of crucibles for producing synthetic crystals.

Video on Non-Ferrous Alloys