How do ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys differ, and what is each used for?
Ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, named examples such as mild steel, aluminium, copper, brass and stainless steel, their properties and why alloys are made.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Design and Technology content on metals, covering ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys with named examples such as mild steel, aluminium, copper, brass and stainless steel, their properties, uses, and why alloys are made.
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What this topic is asking
WJEC's materials content includes metals and alloys. You need to split metals into ferrous and non-ferrous, name common examples and their properties, and explain what an alloy is and why alloys are made. This is core knowledge for Unit 1, and central to the Engineering Design route.
Ferrous and non-ferrous metals
Common metals and their uses
What an alloy is and why we make them
Choosing a metal
The choice balances strength, weight, conductivity, corrosion resistance, workability and cost. A structural beam uses strong, cheap mild steel (protected from rust); an aircraft part uses light aluminium; electrical cable uses conductive copper; outdoor cutlery uses corrosion-resistant stainless steel.
Try this
Q1. State the difference between a ferrous and a non-ferrous metal. [2 marks]
- Cue. Ferrous contains iron and tends to rust; non-ferrous contains no iron and resists rust.
Q2. Name an alloy and the property it gains over its base metal. [2 marks]
- Cue. Stainless steel (corrosion resistance) or brass (hardness and appearance).
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC-style3 marksExplain what an alloy is and why alloys are made, using stainless steel as an example.Show worked answer →
A three mark Explain question. An alloy is a metal made by mixing two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal (1 mark). Alloys are made to improve properties that the base metal lacks, such as strength, hardness or corrosion resistance (1 mark). For example, stainless steel is iron mixed with chromium, which makes it resist rust and corrosion, so it is used for cutlery and sinks (1 mark). Markers reward the definition, the reason (improved property) and the worked example. A common error is to define an alloy without saying why one is made.
WJEC-style4 marksCompare mild steel and aluminium for the frame of a folding bicycle.Show worked answer →
A four mark Compare question. Mild steel: advantage, it is strong, tough and cheap and easy to weld (1 mark); disadvantage, it is heavy and rusts unless protected (1 mark). Aluminium: advantage, it has a low density so the frame is light, and it resists corrosion naturally (1 mark); disadvantage, it is more expensive and harder to weld well (1 mark). The top answer notes that for a folding bike that is carried, aluminium's light weight and corrosion resistance usually win despite the higher cost. Markers reward a balanced two-sided comparison.
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