CAST IRON

 discovered by archaeologists in what is now modern LUHE COUNTY,

Jiangsu in China.

 Although steel was more desirable, cast iron was cheaper and thus
was more commonly used for implements in ancient China,
while wrought iron or steel was used for weapons.

 Introduced as a framing material in the 1830s, cast iron presented

builders with an alternative to masonry bearing walls. It was relatively
light weight and strong in compression, and, crucially, it allowed for
the construction of taller and slimmer buildings.
WHAT IS CAST IRON?
 a commercial alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon that is cast in a mold
and is hard, brittle, nonmalleable, and incapable of being hammer-
welded but more easily fusible than steel

 a very hard type of metal that is made into different shapes by being
melted and poured into special containers (called casts or molds)

 a hard and brittle alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon shaped by being
poured into a mold while melted
7 KINDS OF CAST IRON
1. Grey cast iron
 As the name suggests, it is grey in color. It has coarse crystalline
structure. Its melting point is very low thus it has weak strength and it
is only used for casting purposes.
2. Malleable Cast Iron
 Malleability is the property which helps the materials to undergo any shape without
breaking or cracking. Hence, malleable cast iron is used for making many types of
materials. It has good corrosive resistance.

 Its manufacturing process involves two steps. In the first step, it is casted and cooled as
ordinary cast iron and then again it is heated to 1050oC and soaked in water for long
period (several hours or days).

 Hence, carbon content is slightly reduced and graphite content is precipitated as temper
carbon. This reduce the brittleness of cast iron. So, it can be worked easily using
machines. It is used for making pipe fittings, fastenings, automobiles etc.
3. Mottled Cast Iron

 Mottled iron is the medium stage cast iron which properties are in
between grey cast iron and white cast iron. It has Small amount of
graphite in its composition. So, mottled type fractures are developed
in its micro structure.
4. Toughened Cast Iron
 Toughened cast iron is the combination of cast iron and wrought
iron. To obtain this wrought iron scrap and cast iron melted together.
The composition of wrought iron is about 0.15 to 0.25 weight of the
cast iron.
5. White Cast Iron
 It is in silver color. Its melting point is high so, strength wise it is
better but not used for delicate casting purposes. Because of its
heavy strength, it cannot be used easily.
6. Ductile Cast Iron
 Ductile cast iron is also called as spheroidal graphite iron. Its
manufacturing process is very easy compared to other types.

 Its manufacturing process consists manganese treatment which helps to

increase the carbon content and opposes the formation of graphite in flaky
form. It has very good engineering properties than malleable cast iron.

Ductile cast iron has very good corrosion resistance, high strength and
durability. So, usage of ductile iron dominates the other types. It is used for
making sewer pipes, water conveying pipes etc.
7. Chilled Cast Iron
 Chilled cast iron consists two layers of which one layer has white cast
iron properties and other one has grey cast iron properties. This type
of iron is used for casting process in which grey cast iron layer is
provided in inner surface and white cast iron layer is provided as
outer surface. Hence the casting molds serve longer. Machine parts
are also made using chilled cast iron.
 Uses of Cast Iron in Building Construction
 Many types of sanitary fittings like manholes, sewer pipes, water
pipes, cisterns are manufactured using cast iron.
 Metal columns and column bases can be made using cast iron.
 Casting molds for making metal staircases, lamp posts, gates etc. are
made using cast iron.
 Rail chairs and carriage wheels are manufactured.
 Several types of agricultural implements can be made.
 Machinery parts can be manufactured but shock cannot be resisted
by cast iron.