TYPES OF METALS: THE COMPLETE COMPARISON GUIDE

Metals are sorted by one question: does it contain iron? Ferrous metals do. They are strong, durable, and generally magnetic, but most will rust if left unprotected. Steel, cast iron, and wrought iron are ferrous, and so is stainless steel, which uses chromium to keep rust in check.

Nonferrous metals contain no iron. That makes them resistant to rust and not magnetic, and in many cases lighter than their ferrous cousins. Copper, aluminum, brass, and bronze are nonferrous.

Alloys cross both camps. An alloy is a metal blended with other elements to change its properties, and both ferrous and nonferrous metals can be alloyed. Steel is a ferrous alloy. Brass is a nonferrous one.

It depends on what you count. By element, roughly 90 to 95 of the periodic table's elements are metals, depending on how the borderline cases are classed. By material, the number runs far higher, because those elements combine into thousands of alloys.

For buying purposes, three groups cover most of what you will specify: ferrous metals, nonferrous metals, and alloys. Start there, then narrow by the job.

IS STEEL A METAL?

Yes. Steel is a metal alloy made mostly of iron with a small amount of carbon. Because it is a blend rather than a single element, it does not have its own spot on the periodic table. Iron does.

WHAT EACH METAL IS MADE OF

Here is what goes into each common metal, and where you will usually find it.

STEEL

Steel is iron with a small amount of carbon, plus trace elements such as manganese and silicon. More carbon makes it harder and stronger, with less give. It is the workhorse of construction, tooling, and manufacturing. Mead stocks cold rolled steel and spring steel.

STAINLESS STEEL

Stainless steel is steel with at least 10.5 percent chromium. The chromium forms a thin surface layer that resists corrosion, which is why it shows up in food equipment, appliances, and medical tools. It is not rustproof, though. Our post on whether stainless steel will rust covers where it fails.

Mead's stainless steel stock is 301 and 302/304, in sheet and coil.

CAST IRON

Cast iron is iron with roughly 2 to 4 percent carbon, plus small amounts of silicon and manganese. It is strong and holds heat well, but it is brittle and breaks before it bends. You will find it in cookware and heavy machinery.

COPPER

Copper is a pure nonferrous metal and one of the best conductors of electricity and heat. It resists corrosion, which is why it lasts in plumbing and wiring. Mead stocks copper and beryllium copper, a stronger copper alloy.

BRASS

Brass is copper alloyed with zinc. The zinc makes it harder than copper and easy to machine. It is common in fittings, musical instruments, and heat exchangers. See our brass stock.

BRONZE AND PHOSPHOR BRONZE

Bronze is copper alloyed with tin. Phosphor bronze adds a little phosphorus for strength and wear resistance. Bronze goes into springs, bearings, pumps, and marine hardware. Mead stocks phosphor bronze.

There is no single answer, because strength comes in more than one kind. Tensile strength resists pulling, compressive strength resists crushing, yield strength is the point where a metal bends for good, and impact strength is how well it survives a hit. Tungsten and titanium alloys are known for strength, while steel is the practical choice for most jobs. We ranked them in our full guide to the strongest metals.

Iron, nickel, and cobalt are the magnetic elements, so most iron-based metals, like carbon steel and cast iron, attract a magnet. Copper, brass, bronze, and aluminum do not. Stainless steel depends on the grade: the common 300 series, such as 304, is generally non-magnetic, while 400 series grades are magnetic.

For the full lists, see our magnetic metals list and our explainer on why stainless steel is not magnetic.

 

Start with what the part has to survive, not with the metal. Then match the need to the material.

Not sure which side of the line your part falls on? Send us the application and we will tell you what we would use. If it is not something we stock, we will say so.

• Metals are ferrous (they contain iron) or nonferrous (they do not), and alloys blend metals to improve their traits.

• Steel is a metal alloy, not an element, and iron is the element behind it.

• Stainless steel is ferrous but resists rust, and whether it is magnetic depends on the grade.

• Brass is copper and zinc, while bronze is copper and tin.

• The right metal depends on what the part has to withstand, not on which metal is considered best.

WHAT ARE THE THREE TYPES OF METALS?

The three groups most people mean are ferrous metals, nonferrous metals, and alloys. Ferrous metals contain iron, nonferrous metals do not, and alloys are blends of a metal with other elements.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FERROUS AND NONFERROUS METALS

Ferrous metals contain iron, so they are generally strong, magnetic, and prone to rust. Nonferrous metals contain no iron, so they do not rust and are not magnetic. Stainless steel is a ferrous metal that resists rust, which is why grade matters.

WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF METAL?

Steel is the most widely used metal in construction and manufacturing. It is relatively low in cost and comes in a wide range of grades. Its main weakness is rust, which stainless grades and coatings address.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRASS AND BRONZE?

Brass is copper and zinc. Bronze is copper and tin, and phosphor bronze adds a little phosphorus. Brass is common in fittings and instruments, while bronze is used in springs, bearings, and marine hardware.

WHAT METALS DOES MEAD STOCK?

Mead is a metal service center that stocks stainless steel, beryllium copper, phosphor bronze, brass, copper, cold rolled steel, and spring steel in sheet, coil, and foil. We slit and level to your dimensions. Minimums are low, and on stainless steel our minimum order quantity is 10 to 12 pounds.

We are a metal service center built for lower volumes. The buying guide covers what to ask any supplier before you place an order.