Non-ferrous metals are alloys or metals that do not contain any appreciable amounts of iron. All pure metals are non-ferrous elements, except for iron (Fe), which is also called ferrite from the Latin 'ferrum,' meaning “iron.”
Commonly used steel sheet metal ranges from 30 gauge to about 7 gauge. Gauge differs between ferrous (iron-based) metals and nonferrous metals such as aluminum or copper.
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.