Cast

Iron

Created

BY

Contents :
History

of Cast iron

Introduction
Types

of Cast iron

of Cast iron

Properties

of Cast iron

Advantages

of Cast iron

Limitations

of Cast iron

Application

of Cast iron

HISTORY OF CAST IRON :

Cast

iron has its earliest origins in China between 700 and 800 BC and in
Europe it was first known in the 14th century.

Until

this period ancient furnaces could not reach sufficiently high

temperatures.

The

use of this newly discovered form of iron varied from simple tools to a
complex chain suspension bridge erected approximately 56 A.D.

Cast
In

iron was not produced in mass quantity until fourteenth century A.D.

1325 A.D. water driven bellows were introduced which allowed for a
greater draft to be fed to the pit, thus increasing temperatures.

The next significant development in cast iron was the first

use of coke in 1730 by an English founder named Darby.

Coke could be used more efficiently than coal, thus

lowering the cost and time necessary to yield a final
product.

In 1885 Turner added ferrosilicon to white iron to produce

stronger gray iron castings.

In the later 20th century the major use of cast irons

consisted of pipes, thermal containment units, and certain
machine or building entities which were necessary to
absorb continuous vibrations.

Introduction of Cast iron :

Cast

iron is the name given to those

ferrous metals containing more
than1.7 % carbon.
It is similar in composition to crude
pig iron as produced by the blast
furnace.
Its
structure is crystalline and
relatively brittle and weak in
tension.

COMPOSTION OF CAST IRON :

Carbon
Silicon

- 2.5 to 3.7%

- 1.0 to 3.0%

Manganese

- 0.5 to 1.0%

Phosphorus

- 0.1 to 0.9%

Sulphur

- 0.07 to 0.10%

CLASSIFICATIONS OF CAST IRON

:
There are Four Types Of Cast
Iron . They are:1.WHITE

CAST IRON
2.GRAY CAST IRON
3.DUCTILE (NODULAR) CAST
IRON
4.MALLEABLE CAST IRON

1.WHITE CAST IRON :These

are iron-carbon alloys having more than 2.11%

carbon.
All the carbon is present in the combined cementite form,
which makes the fracture of these alloys to have dull and
white colour, and that is the reason of their name as white
irons.
Composition:
C=2.5%,Mn=0.4%,
Cr=17%,Si=1.3%,
Ni + Cu %,P=0.15%,
S=0.15%,Mo=0.5%
Decorated furnitures

2.GREY CAST IRON :-

Iron-carbon

alloys containing flakes of graphite embedded in

steel matrix, which show a gray -blackish coloured fracture due
to graphitethe free foam of carbon, are called gray cast irons.

The

strength of gray iron depends on the strength of steel matrix

and the size and character of graphite flakes in it.

COMPOSITION:

Total carbon : 2.43.8%

Silicon

: 1.23.5%

Manganese : 0.51.0%
Sulphur

:0.060.12%

Phosphorus :0.10.9%

Cast iron cookware Internal combustion engine

3.MALLEABLE CAST IRON : Malleable

ironis cast asWhite iron, the structure being a

metastable carbide in a pearlitic matrix.

Graphite
Produced
Graphite
Similar

in nodular form
by heat treatment of white cast iron
nodules are irregular clusters

properties to ductile iron.

Composition

of Malleable Iron :-

4.DUCTILE(NODULE) CAST
In ductile irons, the graphite is in the form ofsphericalnodulesrather
IRON:than flakes (as ingrey iron), thus inhibiting the creation of cracks and
providing the enhanced ductility.
Also

known as spheroidal graphite (SG), and nodular graphite iron

COMPOSITION:
A

TYPICAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THIS MATERIAL

IRON

CARBON

SILICON
MANGANESE
MAGNESIUM

3.3 TO 3.4%
2.2 TO 2.8%
0.1 TO 0.5%
0.03 TO 0.05%

PHOSPHORUS

0.005 TO 0.04%

SULPHUR

0.005 TO 0.02%

Pipes

Tracters

PROPERTIES OF CAST IRON :

It is strong in compression but weak in tension.

The tensile and compressive strength of cast iron of average

quality is 150N/mmand 600N/mm resp.

It does not rust easily.

If placed in salt water, it becomes soft.

low melting point

Good fluidity

It is hard but it is brittle also.

It is not ductile hence it cannot be adopted to absorb shocks

and impacts.

Its melting temperature is about 1250C.

It shrinks on cooling.

DISADVANTAGE

Cast
Iron Weight :
S:
Cast iron is very heavy, and consequently is mush harder to
install than regular PVC/ABS sewer pipe

Brittleness:
It is quite brittle and if accidentally knocked will easily break.

Resistance towards heat:

Its strength and stiffness deteriorate when subjected to high
heat, such as in a fire.
weak in tension and bending, so cant be used as beams
Cant overcome from Environmental causes Or cant absorb
sudden shocks

ADVANTAGES OF CAST IRON :

Good castability (low Tm, good fluidility)

Good machinability (graphite cast irons)

Antivibration properties
Low stress concentration
Sensibility

APPLICATIONS OF CAST IRON:

Cast

iron is used in a wide variety of structural and decorative

applications, because it is relatively , inexpensive, durable
& easily cast into a variety of shapes.

Construction

of machines and structures (High Tensile

Strength)
As

Columns , balusters & Arches (High Compressive

Strength)

Machine
Cylinder

and car parts like

heads

blocks
gearbox

cases

cookware

pipes etc.

Swing Machine Arches in bridge

Columns

 Stoves

and fire backs , Vehicles

engine(High thermal conductivity
andspecific heat capacity)

for

Decorative purposes: (Good fluidity

, elasticity)

Design made on column

Gate design

Stoves