Most people are familiar with precious metals, especially those who love jewelry or collect coins. However, many people have never heard the term, “noble” metals, which happen to be quite similar, but stand out as their own category of metal. Some people often confuse these two categories since most noble metals are also precious ones.

Continue reading to learn more about precious metals and noble metals, including their similarities and differences.

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Precious Metals Versus Noble Metals

Precious Metals

“Precious” metals are rare, naturally-occurring elemental metals that have a high economic value. Throughout history, they were used as currency. Even today, there are still sold and traded as investments, as well as, among private buyers and sellers.

Common examples include gold, platinum, silver, zirconium, palladium, mercury, bismuth, beryllium, germanium, rhodium, cobalt, tungsten, iridium, and osmium. They are often used in jewelry and other ornamental décor since they are extremely corrosion-resistant and acid attack resistant. They are also used for investment purposes, currency, electronics, radiation shielding, thermal insulation, and more.

Noble Metals

Noble metals are a grouping of metals that resist oxidation and corrosion in moist or humid air. Common examples in order of increasing atomic number include ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium, iridium, platinum, and gold. However, there are multiple “lists” for noble metals, as some contain mercury while other may include rhenium. Some lists include gold, silver, and copper, but leave out all others.

Interestingly enough, not all metals that are resistant to corrosion and acid attacks are considered “noble.” For instance, titanium, niobium, and tantalum are all highly resistant to corrosion, yet they are not categorized as noble metals. Although chemists permit a relaxed definition of noble metals, physicists offer a more restrictive definition. According to the science of physics, noble metals are those that have filled electronic d-bands. If you adhere to this definition, only gold, silver and copper are considered noble.

How to Sell Precious Metal

If you have old jewelry, catalytic converters, coin collections, or other versions of valuable metal, you can sell these items to a scrap metal buyer and get paid cash on the spot. Gold, silver, and platinum are currently doing well in the scrap metal market, so take advantage of the current economy and sell your precious metal commodities while their value is still exponential.

Are you wondering which local metal recycling center is the best choice for your high-end, luxury metals? Just contact Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 for the highest standards of professionalism, and the highest payouts for metal recycling in Indianapolis, Indiana.

High Carbon Steel Composition

As you may have wisely guessed it by now, the two primary constituents in high carbon steel are steel and carbon. Carbon steel is steel that contains carbon elements. Depending on how much carbon it has, steel can be labeled low carbon steel, medium carbon steel, and high carbon steel. Low carbon steel contains less than a quarter percent of carbon, while medium carbon steel usually has between 0.25 percent and 0.55 percent carbon. High carbon steel contains even more carbon than that!

▶ Low Carbon Steel = Less Than 0.25% Carbon

▶ Medium Carbon Steel = 0.25% to 0.55% Carbon

▶ High Carbon Steel = 0.55% Carbon or More

▶ Tool Carbon Steel = More Than 0.8% Carbon

Properties of High Carbon Steel

High carbon steel has several useful properties. Not only is it very hard and strong, but it is also resistant to high levels of heat and resistant to wear and tear. Furthermore, it offers moderate ductility, meaning it can be formed and fashioned, even bent or warped, but still not break. After learning these properties of high carbon steel, you can better understand why we use it the way we do!

Applications

The truth is, because the high carbon level in high carbon steel actually makes it quite brittle, it significantly restricts its possible uses. However, this does not mean we do not use plenty of high carbon steel in our society. High carbon steel is used in a wide range of industries and in various fashions. Some of the most common high carbon steel commodities include cast iron items, like gates, plumbing fixtures, art, and furniture. Additional uses include wood stoves, cookware, cutting tools, and masonry nails.

How to Support Steel Sustainability

All forms of steel, and metal for that matter, are 100% recyclable. To help support steel sustainability and preserve our natural resources, be sure to recycle all of your scrap metal, at work and at home. Many reputable metal recycling companies in Indianapolis will pay you for your scrap metal goods!

Do you have left over metal materials or scrap metal to recycle for cash in Indiana? Contact Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to recycle scrap metal in Indianapolis and make the most profit in town. We accept all metal and metal commodities, especially vehicles!

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The Similarities and Differences of Noble and Precious Metals