Properties and Uses of Cast Iron

1. General Properties of Cast Iron:

        i.            This is hard and brittle.

      ii.            This can be hardened but cannot be tempered.

    iii.            This cannot be forged, welded, or riveted.

   iv.            This cannot be magnetized.

     v.            This does not rust easily.

   vi.            It becomes soft in saltwater.

 vii.            It shrinks easily.

viii.            This is weak in tension and strong in compression.

    ix.            This is not suitable for shock and impact loads.

      x.            It has a specific gravity of 7.5, and it has a melting point of 1250°C.

    xi.            It has good machinability property.

Uses of Cast Iron:

         i.            Used for water and gas pipes.

       ii.            It is used in manufacturing of cisterns, sewer and drain pipes, manhole covers and fittings.

     iii.            Used for rail chairs, carriage wheels, etc.

     iv.            Used in compression members, bed plates, etc.

       v.            Used for making parts, bodies, and beds of machines.

2. Properties of Grey Cast Iron:

         i.            It is gray in color.

       ii.            This is soft compared to other Cast Irons and has good machinability.

     iii.            It has high compressive strength.

     iv.            It is poor in tensile strength and impact strength with almost no ductility.

Uses of Grey Cast Iron:

         i.            It is used for machine tool bodies.

       ii.            It is used for pipe and pipe fittings.

     iii.            It is used for automobile cylinder blocks, heads, housings, etc.

     iv.            This is used in flywheels and agricultural implements.

3. Properties of White Cast Iron:

         i.            It is white in color.

       ii.            This is hardest of all Cast Irons and is wear-resistant.

     iii.            This is brittle.

     iv.            It has high tensile strength but weak compressive strength.

       v.            It is not easily machinable due to its hardness, hence, require special tools for machining.

Uses of White Cast Iron:

This is used for car wheels, rollers for crushing grains, crusher jaw plates, etc.

4. Uses of Malleable Cast Iron:

        i.            It is used in Automobile industries for making rear-axle housing, steering-gear housing, hubs, and pedals, etc.

      ii.            It is used in Railways equipment of a great variety.

    iii.            It is used in Agricultural machinery making and carpentry tools.

5. Properties of Ductile Cast Iron:

        i.            It has high fluidity.

      ii.            It has high tensile strength, toughness, and wear resistance.

Uses of Ductile Cast Iron:

         i.            It is used for castings where shock and impact loads are operating.

       ii.            It is used in rolls for rolling mills, hydraulic cylinders, cylinder heads, etc.