Steel castings can be made from a wide range of alloys, including nickel, copper, cobalt, iron, and manganese. The choice of alloy used depends on the intended application of the steel castings and the properties that are desired from the finished product.
Forging is the process of taking molten metal, usually steel, and shaping it into a desired shape by applying force with a weighted hammer, a press, or other tool. Though forging can produce a range of cast parts and components, it has specific advantages and disadvantages when compared to casting processes.
Investment casting is a process by which a metal casting is produced by submerging a pattern in a slurry of refractory materials such as silica or talc, then allowing it to cool. The casting material is injected into the mold and allowed to solidify. The casting material is then allowed to cool, released from the mold, and worked to the desired shape.
The term spheroidal graphite cast iron (SG iron) refers to a specific type of high-quality, low-alloy steel castings that have a high spheroid content or uniform graphite distribution, typically developed from special alloys of iron, manganese, and carbon. SG castings are used in a wide range of applications, including automotive, oil and gas, and aerospace and defense.
Malleable cast iron is cast iron that has been treated and cooled slowly to help strengthen its ability to resist bending and to reduce the risk of cracking. Malleable cast iron is also known for being much quieter than traditional steel alloys, making it ideal for applications such as door latches and hinges.
Austempering is process by which castings are heat treated with an austenite/bainite micro-structure to give the parts higher strength and ductility. This type of heat treatment is often used to create a martensite or tempering-style micro-structure in materials such as gray and ductile iron and low alloy steels.
Ductile iron, also known as nodular or spheroidal graphite iron, is a form of cast iron that has a spheroidal graphite structure. Ductile iron provides the properties of both malleable and cast irons and is used for a variety of applications, including valves, drive shafts, and crankshafts.
Gray iron is a type of cast iron that is very hard and brittle and is not easily malleable. It is often used in applications such as brake drums, vehicle flywheels, and machine tools.
Steel castings are a very versatile material, and can be used to create components and parts for almost any application. Whether it is used for a wide variety of precision parts and components, or specific heat-treating processes, the right choice of alloy will ensure that the parts created have the desired properties. As the market continues to evolve, and new alloys, processes, and applications emerge, the roles of steel castings will change accordingly. The choice and use of steel castings will remain an integral part of the manufacturing process for many industries.
