cast iron

Cast Iron

Cast iron is a type of iron that has been melted and poured into a mold to form an object. It is composed mostly of elemental iron along with carbon, silicon, and traces of other elements, and has a grayish-black appearance. The casting of iron is an ancient process, used almost exclusively until the emergence of modern steel making technology. Iron is substituted for steel in applications where its benefits outweigh its drawbacks.

Cast iron is known for its great strength, abrasion resistance and durability. Though brittle, it is known for its strength and tight grain structure that resists fatigue when welded and machined. The process of producing cast iron involves adding carbon and silicon to molten pig iron, and then pouring it into a mold to solidify. The production of cast iron is a relatively old craft, involving the use of furnaces fueled with charcoal and powered by bellows.

There are three distinct types of cast iron—grey cast iron, white cast iron, and malleable cast iron. Grey cast iron is the most commonly used type and is composed primarily of iron, carbon and silicon with small concentrations of other elements. High levels of carbon and silicon cause the iron to form a flake graphite structure, giving the material its grey color. White cast iron is a carbon-rich material, with lower amounts of silicon, iron and other elements. This makes it brittle and harder than other types, and it is often used in situations that require high wear resistance, such as in rock-crushing operations. Finally, malleable cast iron is made by heating and cooling grey cast iron at a low temperature, usually in a furnace. This creates a visually appealing material with a porous structure and relatively low strength.

Cast iron is a versatile material and is used in a wide variety of applications. It is often used in machine construction, and is popular for the production of cast-molded parts because of its ability to be machined and welded with relative ease. It is also used as vehicle frames, housing construction, and in other large structures. Cast iron is one of the oldest and most reliable materials used in construction, and will continue to be used in many industrial applications for years to come.