Metals and Alloys
Distinguishing ferrous and non-ferrous metals, explaining alloying, and relating properties, corrosion and processing to written design choices.
How to prepare for the GCSE Design and Technology written exam
Move from requirement to evidence, technical principle, comparison and justified decision. Use current board materials separately for the NEA and for full timed-paper rehearsal.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Ferrous metals contain iron as their principal metal; non-ferrous metals do not, although corrosion behaviour and magnetism must be judged by the specific alloy.
Exam cue: Use the named alloy's properties rather than relying only on ferrous or non-ferrous classification.
Concept 2
An alloy combines a metal with other elements to achieve a useful balance of properties that differs from the constituent pure metal.
Exam cue: Explain corrosion risk using material, environment and protection.
Concept 3
Metal selection considers strength, toughness, hardness, ductility, malleability, conductivity, density, corrosion, stock form, finish, energy and recycling.
Exam cue: Relate forming or joining suitability to ductility, malleability, melting behaviour or section shape.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Assuming every ferrous metal rusts at the same rate.
Guardrail: Do not substitute one board's specialist route or current product claim for the multi-board core, and do not turn written process knowledge into NEA or practical submission material.
Claiming an alloy is simply stronger without identifying the relevant property and use.
Guardrail: Do not substitute one board's specialist route or current product claim for the multi-board core, and do not turn written process knowledge into NEA or practical submission material.
Confusing ductility under tension with malleability under compression.
Guardrail: Do not substitute one board's specialist route or current product claim for the multi-board core, and do not turn written process knowledge into NEA or practical submission material.
Memory anchors
Ferrous metal
A metal or alloy in which iron is the principal metal.
Non-ferrous metal
A metal or alloy not based principally on iron.
Alloy
A metallic material containing a metal and one or more other elements.
Corrosion
Gradual material deterioration through chemical or electrochemical reaction.
Malleability
Ability to undergo plastic deformation under compression, such as forming into sheet.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
In materials science, which definition describes an alloy?
Why is mild steel widely used for structural products?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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