The rustproof properties of non-ferrous metals make them an attractive choice for humid environments. Humidity is moisture vapor. While moisture vapor can cause ferrous metals to rust, it doesn’t have the same effects on non-ferrous metals. Non-ferrous metals can withstand humidity because they don’t contain any meaningful amount of iron and, therefore, can’t rust.

Another benefit of non-ferrous metals is conductivity. They are typically more conductive than ferrous metals. Copper, for example, is a non-ferrous metal that’s used in electrical wiring. Of all the metals on the planet — including ferrous and non-ferrous metals — copper exhibits the highest electrical conductivity. Electrical conductivity is a measurement of how easily electricity can flow through a material. Non-ferrous metals like copper are highly conductive, making them ideal for electrical wiring and other electrical applications.

In addition to higher conductivity, non-ferrous metals typically weigh less than their ferrous counterparts. All ferrous metals contain iron. The presence of iron is what distinguishes ferrous metals from non-ferrous metals. Because iron is a relatively heavy metal, ferrous metals are relatively heavy. Non-ferrous metals don’t contain any meaningful amount of iron, so they usually weigh less than ferrous metals. Aluminum, for instance, is lightweight. When compared to iron, steel and other ferrous metals, aluminum weighs less.