Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 6.1:
Metals, their ores and their use in building
Metal
Ore
Use in building
Iron (Fe)
Hematite, magnetite
The most important constituent in alloy steels;
balconies; industrial floors; pigment (red);
ingredient in timber impregnation
Aluminium (Al)
Bauxite, nepheline, kaolin
Light structures; roof sheeting; wall cladding;
window frames; door; foil in reflective sheeting
and vapour-proof barriers; window and door
furniture; guttering; additive in lightweight
concrete
Manganese (Mn)
Braunite, manganite,
pyrolusite
Part of alloy steel; pigment (manganese blue);
siccatives
Copper (Cu)
Chalcocite, chalcopyrite
The most important constituent in bronze; roof-
covering; door and window furniture; guttering;
ingredient in timber impregnation
Lead (Pb)
Galena
Roof covering; flashing; pigment (lead white);
siccatives; additives in concrete
Zinc (Zn)
Sphalerite
Zincing/galvanizing of steel; roof covering;
pigment (zinc white); ingredient in timber
impregnation; additive in concrete
Cadmium (Cd)
Polluted sphalerite
Pigment (cadmium red and cadmium yellow);
stabilizer in PVC; alloys
Chrome (Cr)
Chromite
One of the alloys in stainless steel; pigment
(chrome yellow and chrome green); ingredient in
timber impregnation
Nickel (Ni)
Pentlandite
One of the alloys in stainless steel; galvanizing of
steel; pigment (yellow, green and grey)
Titanium (Ti)
Ilmenite, rutile
Pigment (titanium white)
Cobalt (Co)
Cobaltite
Pigment (cobalt white); siccatives
Antimony (Sb)
Stibnite
Pigment (yellow)
Gold (Au)
Gold ore
Colouring of glass; vapourized onto windows as
a special protective coating
Tin (Sn)
Casseterite
Stabilizer in PVC; colouring agent in glazing for
ceramics; ingredient in timber impregnation;
catalyst in the production of silicone and alkyd
Arsenic (As)
Arsenopyrite
Ingredient in timber impregnation
Zirkonium (Zr)
Zircon
Siccatives
