Second Street Iron & Metal
  • Home
  • About
    • Scrap News
    • Service Areas
  • Services
    • For Individual Clients
    • For Businesses
    • Scrapping Cars: FAQ
  • Pricing
    • Ferrous Metals
    • Non-Ferrous Metals
  • Contact

July 22nd, 2019

7/22/2019

6 Comments

 
Scrap Metal Classifications & Types of Metal To Scrap

Scrap metal doesn’t refer to a single form of metal. Instead, there are two primary categories in which scrap metals can be grouped- ferrous and non-ferrous. If you participate in scrap metal recycling and do it to make some extra money or to re-purpose the material, it’s crucial that you know the type of metals that you are handling. Doing so could make your projects a success, or cause you to maximize your cash gain. Let’s take a closer look at the scrap metal classification and metal types that you should know about and understand.
 
Ferrous Metals
Ferrous metals can be regarded as the most basic form of recycled metals. You can spot the difference between ferrous metals and other forms of metals by their attraction to magnets. These metals are known for their durability and strength. Containing high carbon content, ferrous metals are susceptible to corrosion and rust when exposed to the elements, with the exception being wrought iron, which resists oxidation, and stainless steel, which is protected by its high chromium content. Ferrous metals include, stainless steel, cast iron, alloy steel, carbon steel and wrought iron.
 
Ferrous Metal-Containing Items
There are many everyday items that people use that contain ferrous metal. These  include: refrigerators, ovens, knives cast iron skillets and vehicles. However, ferrous metals can also be found in industrial containers, industrial piping, railroad tracks, bridges, tools and hardware items.
 
Non-Ferrous Metals
Non-ferrous metals aren’t magnetic or pack the same strength as ferrous metals. However, they have their unique advantages. These metals are lightweight and malleable are more resistant to corrosion and rust. Non-ferrous metals are commonly used in manufacturing industries where metal need be bent in particular shapes to make a product or packaging. Non-ferrous metals include aluminum, lead, copper, zinc, tin, brass, gold, nickel, magnesium and titanium.
 
Non-ferrous Metal-Containing Items
Non-ferrous metals have long been used to make gutters, water pipes, road signs and roofing, as well as packaging for beverages and can goods, car parts and kitchen utensil. Since non-ferrous metals are non-magnetic, they are ideal for electrical wiring and use in electronic applications and in the construction of aircraft.
 
Common Scrap Metals Types
Aluminum is known for being malleable and lightweight, aluminum is used to perhaps the most common scrap recycle metal that is used in aircraft manufacturing applications and commonly to make beverage and food cans.

Copper is used primarily in the electrical industry for wiring and conductor applications, copper is highly ductile and malleable. It’s also used for cartridge cases, bearings and sheet roofing.

Lead is characteristically heavy and malleable, with a low melting point. However, it is corrosion resistant and is commonly used in applications that include electrical power cables, batteries, and some soldering, cable sheathing, lead crystal glass and weights for lifting.

Zinc has medium-low strength and a low melting point, zinc is commonly used in galvanizing, which involves the application of a protective zinc coating to iron or steel to make it rust-resistant.

Tin is widely used to coat steel to make it corrosion resistant, and can also be combined with copper to create tin brass and bronze.

Carbide is hard and delivers unmatched abrasive and thermal resistance. This scrap metal is used in mining, jewelry and machining applications.

Iron is relatively soft and ductile in nature, iron is a moderately good conductor of heat and electricity. Iron is another common scrap metal and is common in numerous household items, from cast iron pots to backyard swings.

Brass is a combination of copper and zinc as well as other metals. It is a heavy metal which you can find in many items in and around the home, such as keys, door handles and knobs, light and bathroom fixtures, bed frames and brass-plated crockery.

Titanium is a versatile metal that is used in many applications, from jewelry to airplanes. Its value lends to it being corrosion resistant and durable.

There is value in scrap metals and if you make a trip to a scrap yard, you want to be able to correctly identify your metals. Local scrap metal services provide the opportunity to make some extra money if you can find the right scrap metal to do business. 

6 Comments
Skyler Williams link
11/12/2019 04:53:48 pm

Thank you for explaining that non-ferrous metal is lightweight and malleable. My brother just started a construction company and he was deciding what type of material he wants to use for his first project. I'll pass this information about non-ferrous metal onto my brother so he can make an informed decision.

Reply
Zachary Tomlinson link
12/15/2020 11:45:05 am

I had no idea that there's a wide variety of metals that you can use for recycling and get extra change for it. I have a friend who's looking for a quick buck after losing his job earlier this year. Hopefully, this article can help him look for copper that he can recycle for money.

Reply
Rebecca Gardner link
3/2/2021 12:19:39 pm

I'm glad you mentioned that some everyday items contain ferrous metal, such as fridges, ovens, and cars. My sister mentioned she wants so to clean out her home's basement and garage this spring, including junk like old kitchen appliances that longer work. Thanks for sharing this info so I can encourage her to find a scrap metal buyer to work with during her cleanout project!

Reply
Alice Carroll link
3/19/2021 01:40:35 am

It's nice to know that non-ferrous scrap metal can be recycled and still be used due to their lightweight properties. I recently started dismantling some old electronics I have at home and realized that they have quite a good mount of scrap metal in them due to the amount of screws and wires they have. I better start looking for recycling centers so that they don't keep taking up space in my storehouse.

Reply
Chris Pederson link
6/4/2021 01:06:40 pm

Thanks for the advice to use magnets to tell the difference between ferrous metals and other ones. I want to recycle the right metals. I'll be sure to check them all before doing so.

Reply
Thomas Clarence link
11/30/2022 03:28:19 pm

I thought it was informative when you talked about how ferrous metals can be found in industrial containers and piping. If I were to guess, industrial pipes need to be changed out from time to time in order to keep things efficient. I would think that it would be a good idea to properly recycle these pipes so that their materials can be used for other things.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Metal Markets
    Scraping Tips

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015


All Rights Reserved to Second Street Iron & Metal Co., Inc. 2017; Web Design M.F.