Glossary

A ferrous metal is any metal or alloy where iron is the primary constituent—most commonly carbon steel, alloy steel, and many stainless steels. These materials are often magnetic (though some stainless grades aren’t, depending on structure and heat treatment) and they’re the backbone of most structural and general-purpose fasteners.

A non-ferrous metal is any metal or alloy in which iron is not the primary constituent. Because they aren’t iron-based, non-ferrous metals generally offer advantages such as better corrosion resistance, non-magnetic behavior (many, though not all), and/or lower density compared to steels, which is why they’re widely used in industrial and chemical environments.

Common non-ferrous metals and alloys used in fastener applications include aluminum and aluminum alloys, copper alloys (brass, bronze), titanium, nickel alloys (e.g., Monel®, Inconel® families), zinc, and magnesium. In fastener selection, “non-ferrous” is often a shorthand way to indicate materials chosen for corrosion performance, weight reduction, electrical/thermal conductivity needs, or compatibility with specific chemicals, rather than the higher strength range typically associated with alloy steels.