The core difference between non-ferrous metal casting and ferrous metal casting lies in the base material: the former uses non-ferrous metals (such as aluminum, copper, and magnesium) as raw materials, while the latter uses iron, chromium, manganese, and their alloys.
This leads to significant differences in performance, applications, and processes.
Definitions and Base Materials
Ferrous Metal Casting: The base material is iron, chromium, manganese, and their alloys (such as steel and cast iron), with an iron content typically exceeding 90%.
Non-ferrous Metal Casting: The base material is all metals except iron, chromium, and manganese (such as aluminum, copper, and magnesium) and their alloys, broadly including non-ferrous alloys.
Performances and Characteristics
Physical Properties: Non-ferrous metals have low density (e.g., aluminum 2.7 g/cm³, magnesium 1.8 g/cm³), excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, and strong corrosion resistance.
Ferrous metals have high density (iron 7.9 g/cm³), high mechanical strength, but are prone to oxidation and rust.
Process Characteristics: Non-ferrous metal casting requires melt purification (e.g., filtration for aluminum alloys, gas protection for magnesium alloys) to improve performance, making it suitable for precision casting (surface roughness Ra 1.6μm).
Ferrous metal casting focuses on anti-oxidation treatment; molds are reusable, making it suitable for mass production of large castings.
Application Areas: Non-ferrous metals: Used in lightweight and corrosion-resistant applications, such as automotive brackets (aluminum alloys), aerospace components (magnesium alloys), and electronic devices (copper alloys).
Ferrous metals: Used for high-strength structural components, such as building frames, mechanical parts, and load-bearing components for transportation vehicles.
Of course, different metal casting materials correspond to different application scenarios and usage requirements. Generally, detailed reports will be provided. If you have large-scale casting needs, you can choose to cooperate with Mulan Metal. Mulan Metal has 12 years of experience in metal casting and processing, and has helped clients in more than 30 countries complete various casting contract productions, receiving consistent praise. We look forward to your cooperation inquiries.
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