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Cast Iron
Cast Iron
Cast iron
Ductility
No
Gray
Flake
No
Malleable
Spherical Yes
aggregates
White iron +
annealing heat
treatment
Nodular
Nodular
Additions made so
that nodules of
graphite form
instead of flakes
Yes
Gamma+Fe3c
Fe3C
Pearlite
Microstructure of gray
cast iron
Separate graphite
flakes form
X100
X500
General characteristics/advantages
of gray cast iron
Cheaper than steel, as temperature to be
attained for making it is several hundred
degrees lower than for casting steel. Also
control of impurities is not critical here, as in
steel making.
It has excellent fluidity, even large complex
shapes can be cast advantageously.
Excellent machinability, as chip formation is
promoted by the graphite flakes. In addition the
flakes serve as a lubricant for the cutting tool.
Advantages/disadvantages
of gray cast iron
The wear resistance of gray iron is very good, as
graphite flakes act as lubricant.
The damping capacity (ability to damp vibrations)
of gray iron is superior to that of steel
Can be alloyed to improve properties, e.g. Nihard
iron with 4%Ni and 1.5%Cr has excellent wear
resistance.
Graphite flakes are sharp at their tips and act like
internal cracks or stress raisers. For this reason
gray iron is brittle and shows only about 0.5%
elongation in tension.
Great at dampening!
Temper graphite in
malleable iron (Fe2.9%C-1.5%Si0.53%Mn-0.06%P0.22%S-0.08%Ni0.1%Cu-0.09%Cr0.003%Bi)
The casting was
annealed
at 950 C, held 10 h,
furnace cooled to
720 C, held 16 h,
and air cooled.
Ductile/nodular/spheroidal
graphite(SG) cast iron
Small quantities of Mg (modifier)
added to the melt to produce this iron
The basic composition of the melt is 3-4%C and
2.5%Si
The fairly high Si equivalent produces
graphitisation during solidification.
The modifier has the effect of making the growth
rate of graphite same in all directions, so that a
spherical shape results
X500
X100
Gray
Ferritic
vs
Nodular
cast iron
Pearlitic
Gray graphite as
flakes
Brittle
Nodular graphite as
nodules
Ductile