The difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals is that ferrous metals contain iron and non-ferrous metals do not. This basic difference imparts distinctive properties on the two types of metals, which add to their own personal physical properties and determine the applications they are most suited for.
Ferrous metals are defined as those metals that contain iron. Non-ferrous metals do not. One of the major distinctions in specialization is whether foundries work with ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, or both. The definition of a ferrous metal is any metal that contains iron; non-ferrous metals do not.