If you are entering into the world of scrap metal recycling,it will help to learn which metals you will likely come by and how their particularproperties can affect your overall profit. Although there are various kinds ofmetals and metal alloys, most can fit into one of five basic categories. Thetop five fundamental categories arguably include ferrous, nonferrous, precious,base, and noble metals.
Continue reading to learn some facts about each category, aswell as, how to get started with earning money for your scrap metal.
The word “ferrous” translates to “of iron”, so ferrousmetals are those that contain iron. Iron retains magnetic properties, whichmeans that magnets will attract to commodities that are primarily comprised ofiron. However in some cases, the concentration of iron is too weak to attract amagnet, so additional equipment would be necessary in determining its truecomposition. The most common types of ferrous metals include wrought iron, castiron, mild steel, carbon steel, and stainless steel.
In contrast to ferrous metal, non-ferrous metals do notcontain any iron content. If a magnet does not attract to an item, you cansafely assume that it is nonferrous. Common types of nonferrous metals include copper,aluminum, lead, nickel, zinc, and brass.
Precious metals can be either ferrous or nonferrous, as theyare any metal that retains high economic value and is a rare, naturally-occurringelement. Common precious metals include gold and silver, but others high invalue include platinum, zirconium, tungsten, cobalt, ruthenium, palladium, iridium,osmium, and rhodium.
Noble metals are still a debated category, as they are notalways well-defined. However, for those who side with the categorization, noblemetals are best defined as those that filled electron d-band. Under thisdefinition, examples of noble metals would include gold, silver, and copper. Otherssuggest noble metals are those that resists oxidation and corrosion in moistair, which would exclude copper, but add in certain precious metals, like rhodium,palladium, ruthenium, osmium, and iridium.
Base metals are metals that cannot, and are not, noble nor precious. In fact, a base metal is the opposite of a noble metal. On the other hand, silver could be an exception to this rule since it is sometimes used as a base metal for gold and platinum coatings. See our blog, “What are Base Metals?” to learn more about this category of metal.
Looking for a Scrap Metal Buyer in Indiana?
Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to recycle scrap metal in Indianapolis, Indiana. We buy and recycle any and all scrap metal and metal-containing commodities, regardless of condition. Whether it is covered in rust or not, we will accept anything with metal, including appliances, vehicles, auto parts, farm equipment, construction equipment and materials, boats, watercrafts, scooters, motorcycles, RVs, and more! Request a free estimate, today.
