Chemical Composition of Iron Used for Ball Forging
Iron, one of the most abundantly available on Earth, has been used by humans since ancient times. In its elemental form, the metal is soft and malleable, so once it was discovered it was quickly adopted by early civilizations as both a tool and a weapon. Today, iron is found in countless everyday objects, including automobiles, ships, and bridges, and is also a critical part of production for many industrial and manufacturing processes.
One particular application for iron is in the forging of ball bearings. During the forging process, hot iron is molded into the proper shape and size, and then cooled. The resulting piece may be used for a number of different things, such as ball bearings or even as currency. In order to ensure that these pieces have the desired properties, it is important to start out with a chemically pure form of iron.
The chemical composition of iron used for forging must be carefully chosen. Despite the fact that there are naturally occurring sources of iron, it is not always suitable for forging because it contains impurities. The introduction of these elements, such as sulfur or phosphorus, can cause the iron to be too brittle or too soft for use in some applications.
Chemically pure iron is made up of more than ninety-five percent iron, but other elements, such as carbon, silicon, manganese, and chromium, are added as well. Each one of these elements affects the mechanical properties of the iron, so it is important to consider the role each element will play when selecting the proper alloy for forging. In some cases, trace elements, such as copper, boron, nickel, or titanium, may also be used to improve certain characteristics.
Once the desired chemical composition has been determined, it is important to test the metal’s properties before using it in production. The tensile strength and hardness of the metal must be tested in order to determine if it meets the necessary specifications. If the iron is too soft or too brittle, it is not suitable for forging.
With the right chemical composition, iron can be forged into ball bearings or any number of other components with very precise tolerances and high strength. In order to ensure the best performance, it is critical to select the proper formulation of iron. By carefully considering the elements present in the alloy, manufacturers can create components with consistently exceptional properties.
