Construction Materials Lectures by M.Sc.
Nazik Khalid Hasan
Metal
Metals are used for various engineering purposes.
Classification of metals: All the metals used in engineering works can be
classified into two categories.
Ferrous Metals: Ferrous metals are those metals In the chief constituent is iron,
besides iron, other constituents like carbon, sulfur, manganese & phosphorus,
etc., also exist in various proportions. The ferrous metals which find their
common able use are:
1-Cast iron.
2-Wrought iron.
3-Steel.
Non-Ferrous Metals: those that do not contain iron & are used widely in the building
industry. They are not magnetic and are usually more resistant to corrosion than ferrous
metals. The most commonly used nonferrous metals are Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Lead,
Tin, Gilding Metal, and Zinc.
Ferrous Metals:
Cast iron: Besides iron, cast iron contains carbon, silicon, phosphorus & manganese
in varying proportions:
Iron 92% to 95%
Carbon 2% to 4.5%
Silicon 1% to 3%
Iron castings can be classified into the following depending upon the application and
the preferred mechanical properties.:
1. Grey cast iron
2. White cast iron
3. Malleable cast iron
4. Ductile cast iron
5. Alloy cast iron
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Construction Materials Lectures by M.Sc. Nazik Khalid Hasan
Properties of Cast Iron:
Cast iron possesses the following important properties:
1. Has low resistance to tension and high strength in compression. The tensile
and compressive strength of the average quality of cast iron is 150 N/mm2
and 600 N/mm2 respectively.
2. Its melting point is about 1200 °C.
3. It cannot withstand sudden shocks.
4. Because of is brittle, it cannot be welded.
5. it’s neither malleable nor ductile.
6. It does not rust easily.
7. Resistance to Deformation.
8. Good corrosion resistance so that it can be used for water-carrying pipes
etc.
9. It becomes soft when placed in salt water and it shrinks on cooling.
Uses Cast iron:
1. It is used for the manufacture of steel, and wrought iron.
2. Many types of sanitary fittings like manholes, sewer pipes, water pipes, and
cisterns are manufactured using cast iron.
3. Casting molds for making metal staircases, lamp posts, gates, etc. are made
using cast iron.
4. It is also used for making rail chairs & carriage wheels.
b-Wrought iron: Wrought iron (made by repeatedly heating and reworking cast
iron) has a far higher tensile strength and is more ductile than cast iron.
composition;
➢ Iron about 38%
➢ Carbon content 0.1% to 0.25%
➢ Slag(Protect it from corrosion) 2% to 3%
➢ Sulfur, manganese, phosphorus, & silicon present in traces.
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Construction Materials Lectures by M.Sc. Nazik Khalid Hasan
Properties of wrought iron:
1. It has excellent weldability
2. It cannot be hardened by heating and quenching
3. It is ductile
4. It cannot take sudden loads
5. It is malleable
6. It is tough
7. It has a high tensile strength
8. It has a high compressive strength
9. It can be forged easily
Uses Wrought iron
1-It is used for making handrails, crone hooks, chains, railway couplings & any article
capable of withstanding sudden loads.
2-It is used in making pipes.
3-It is used in making fences and gates.
4-It is used for making electromagnets.
5-Because it is extremely easy to weld. It is largely used in ornamental ironwork.
C-Steel: Steel is the most important material for engineering construction. It contains
carbon from 0.15% (very soft steel) to 1.5% (very hard steel). It also contains small
amounts of other elements.
➢ Iron 96%
➢ Carbon contents 0.15%to 1.5%
➢ Phosphorus & Sulfur less than 0.1%
➢ Manganese up to 0.5%
➢ Silicon up to 0.3%
Depending upon the percentage of carbon contents steel can be classified
into different groups:
1-Very Low carbon steel–having a percentage of carbon below 0.15 %.
2-Low carbon steel or mild steel –carbon contents range from 0.15 % to 0.3 %
3-Medium carbon steel –carbon contents range from 0.3 % to 0.6%
4- High carbon steel-having carbon from 0.6 % to 1.5%
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Construction Materials Lectures by M.Sc. Nazik Khalid Hasan
Properties of Low carbon steel or mild steel:
1. It has a bright dark bluish color.
2. Its melting point is about 1400 °C.
3. It can withstand sudden shocks.
4. Its tensile strength is high.
5. It is malleable, ductile, and elastic.
6. It can form permanent magnets.
7. It can rust easily and rapidly.
8. It can take a good amount of compression.
9. It can easily forge and welded.
Uses: The chief uses of mild steel are:
1. It is used for making rolled structural steel sections like girders, angle sections & T-
section & channel sections ……. etc.
2-It is extensively used for making bars & rods which are used as a reinforcing
material in reinforced.
3-It is used for making refrigerators & air conditioners.
4- It is used for making plain & corrugated sheets.
5- Structural mild steel is most commonly used for general construction purposes of
buildings, towers, bridges & industrial buildings.
6- It is also used for making tubes.
Properties of High carbon steel:
1. It is very hard.
2. It cannot easily be forged and welded.
3. It can absorb shocks and vibrations in a better way.
4. It is more elastic than mild steel.
5. It is brittle and less ductile than mild steel.
6. It rusts readily.
7. It can form permanent magnets.
8. It cannot take much compression.
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Construction Materials Lectures by M.Sc. Nazik Khalid Hasan
Uses of High Carbon Steel
1-It is used for parts of structures & machinery where hard, elastic, shock- proof &
durable material is required.
2-It is used in prestressed concrete.
3-It is used for making knives, needles, bolts & surgical instruments.
The purpose of heat treatment for steel is :
1. To alter the magnetic properties of steel.
2. To change the structure of steel.
3. To increase resistance to heat & corrosion.
4. To increase surface hardness.
5. To make steel easily workable.
6. To vary strength & hardness.
