Cast Iron Technology

Roy Elliott

• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann
• Year: 1988
• Print ISBN: 9780408015127
• eBook ISBN: 9781483192307
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Engineering General
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Cast Iron Technology presents a critical review of the nature of cast irons. It discusses the types of cast iron and the general purpose of cast irons. It also presents the history of the iron founding industry. Some of the topics covered in the book are the description of liquid metal state; preparation of liquid metal; process of melting; description of cupola melting and electric melting methods; control of composition of liquid metal during preparation; description of primary cast iron solidification structures; and thermal analysis of metals to determine its quality. Solidification science and the fundamentals of heat treatment are also discussed. An in-depth analysis of the hot quenching techniques is provided. The graphitization potential of liquid iron is well presented. A chapter is devoted to microstructural features of cast iron. The book can provide useful information to iron smiths, welders, students, and researchers.

Chapter 1

An introduction to cast irons

Publisher Summary

This chapter discusses the nature of cast irons. Cast iron or iron is a Fe–C–Si alloy that always contains minor, less than 0.1% and often alloying elements and is used in the as-cast condition or after heat treatment. Inoculation is one of the most important and widely practiced processes in cast iron production. It is used to avoid chill formation in thin sections, helps to counteract the effect of variations in raw materials and melting practice and is the final process in the ladle treatment of spheroidal irons. The properties of cast irons depend on the form of C precipitation and the matrix structure. Carbides contribute hardness and abrasion resistance. Graphite contributes machinability; wear resistance, damping, and thermal conductivity depending on its shape. The mechanical properties of cast iron are derived mainly from the matrix. These irons form the largest group of casting alloys and can be classified according to the graphite morphology into flake, malleable, spheroidal, and compacted/vermicular types. Specifications exist for all types except the relatively new, compacted/ vermicular irons.

The nature of cast irons

Joseph Glanville wrote of cast iron, ‘Iron seemeth a simple metal but in its nature are many mysteries.’ Many, but not all, of these mysteries have been solved over the past three hundred years using the combined skill of the foundryman and the knowledge of the scientist to provide today’s design engineer with a family of casting alloys that offer a virtually unique combination of low cost and engineering versatility. The various combinations of low cost with castability, strength, machinability, hardness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity and damping are unequalled among casting alloys.

Cast iron or ‘iron’ is a Fe–C–Si alloy that always contains minor (< 0.1%) and often alloying (> 0.1%) elements and is used in the as-cast condition or after heat treatment. Table 1.1 compares the characteristics of the various types of iron with those of cast steel and Figure 1.1 shows the relationship between members of the family of unalloyed irons.Figure 1.2 compares the C and Si composition ranges of cast irons and steel and shows that all irons contain C in excess of its s...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Preface
• Chapter 1: An introduction to cast irons
• Chapter 2: Liquid metal preparation
• Chapter 3: Solidification of cast irons
• Chapter 4: Solid state transformations
• Chapter 5: Some founding considerations
• Chapter 6: Microstructural features of cast irons
• Index