Silicon Iron
Silicon iron is an alloy of iron and silicon. It is a relatively inexpensive and abundant material found mainly in the form of aftermarket castings used in the automotive, agricultural and other industries. The majority of components found in these applications are produced from a particular grade of sand cast silicon iron alloy because of its excellent castability and machinability, good wear resistance and corrosion resistance, and relatively low cost.
The properties of silicon iron vary depending on the grade of silicon alloy and the amount of silicon added to the iron. Generally, it has good bonding strength and is resistant to corrosion, oxidation, pressure and heat. It is also fairly soft so machining is fairly easy, and it has good thermal shock resistance and bending strength. Silicon iron is often combined with other materials to create a composite. It is the major component in many stainless steel alloys and is used to make tools, bearings, engine parts and other components.
Silicon iron is often referred to as malleable iron. This is a tool term and suggests that the material is strong and flexible, which it is. It is also ductile and fairly easily machined. It can be heated and shaped and then cooled back down. It is often found as a cast or machined component.
Silicon iron is a variety of gray iron, and it is produced by adding between 4-6% silicon to gray iron which causes the material to have higher heat treatment temperatures and much better strength. Likewise, by adding 1-3% silicon to iron, a ductile type iron is produced. This is called nodular or spheroid iron, and it is used in applications that demand good strength and toughness.
Silicon iron is used primarily in the form of castings because it has excellent performance, machinability and heat resistance. It is also used to cast components for automotive and agricultural parts, valves, pumps and other components. Silicon iron can also be found in fertilizer spreaders, augers, wheels and more. It is used in a wide variety of other applications such as firearms, aircraft, aluminum and iron alloys, water systems and many more.
Silicon iron is also used in non-metallic stamped and honed components. This high-grade material has virtually the same properties as the cast component but has higher machinability. This makes non-metallic stamped and honed components more accurate and the perfect choice for projects where accuracy is key.
Silicon iron is an alloy created by combining iron and silicon, and it has great usability in both metal and non-metal components. It has excellent heart treatment temperatures, castability and machinability, and it is also resistant to pressure and heat. The majority of components found in automotive, agricultural and other industries are made from cast silicon iron because of its relatively low cost and the fact that it can be heat treated and shaped quite easily. Silicon iron is seen in a wide range of applications due to its unique properties and reasonable cost.
