Using cast iron is a very strong and versatile material. Manufacturers have been employing cast iron in various industries for ages, such as agriculture, construction, automobile manufacturing, etc. It features high strength, heat retention, and thermal shock resistance. It can be moulded into close favoured shapes. Due to a high carbon percentage and other ingredients, especially silicon, various cast iron types are produced by altering the composition and cooling methods. Each of these cast iron types comes with separate characteristics and numerous uses. This blog identifies the basic types of cast iron that are commonly used today, along with its main properties, uses, and benefits.

Types of Cast Iron

The various cast iron types are as follows:

1. Gray Iron

The most common type of cast iron is gray iron, and it is easily identified by the grey colouration of the fracture surface owing to the flake shape of the graphite present therein. This kind of cast iron is preferred for its good machinability and stability in heat treatment, thus making it suitable for vehicle and frame parts.

Thermal Conductivity: Another feature of gray iron is the fact it has better thermal conductivity than other classes of cast iron, a feature important in parts such as engine blocks and cooking utensils.

Vibration Damping: It is highly versatile and can absorb a vibrating force; thus, gray iron is used in manufacturing machine bases and frames where the vibration is a significant factor.

Wear Resistance: The presence of a flake graphite structure makes gray iron have high wear resistance. It is used in situations where it will undergo high wear.

Uses: This type of iron is widely used for manufacturing machines, automotive spare parts (brake rotofs), pipes, utensils, etc.

2. White Iron

White iron owes its name to the fact that its fractured surface looked crystalline white in colour. Free graphite is absent in white iron due to the fact that it solidifies too fast and undergoes a process of rapid cooling. This leads to the formation of a harder but more brittle material that has been characterised by high compressive strength as well as resistance to abrasion.

Hardness: White iron is harder than other types of cast iron since it is commonly used in applications that involve heavy duty, wear, and impact.

High Abrasion Resistance: Due to these characteristics, white iron is suitable for equipment that requires heavy abrasion, like mining equipment and cement mixers.

Brittle Nature: It is very tough and very brittle; thus, it is used where there is no need for elasticity.

Uses: White iron is applied to the wearing surfaces of devices such as pump casings, mill liners, and industrial rollers.

3. Malleable Iron

White iron is heat treated in order to develop malleable iron because the heat treatment dissolves the iron carbide molecules and permits the formation of free graphite. This process leads to the formation of a material that is more ductile and flexible and, hence, can be utilised in many fields.

Improved Ductility: Malleable iron can bend or deform into a shape without fracturing, unlike brittle cast iron types.

Shock Resistance: Some of the applications of Malleable iron include cases where it is needed to take impacts and shocks. It is ideal for machinery or transport applications.

Ease of Machining: Malleable iron is quite easy to work with and is used to create smaller components with complex shapes.

Uses: Malleable iron is applied in construction hardware, pipe fittings, gears, and other mechanical parts for applications requiring them to be tough.

4. Ductile Iron (Nodular Iron)

Nodular or ductile iron is an iron alloy that is capable of undergoing deformation without breaking due to its nodular graphite structure. Grey cast iron is made with the addition of magnesium into the molten iron, which alters the structure of the graphite from flake into spherical shape.

Impact Resistance: Ductile iron castings have high impact resistance, and they do not shatter. It is suitable for producing safety products such as bollards and barriers.

Tensile Strength: Ductile iron can withstand tensile stress more than that gray iron, thus offering good strength and flexibility. It is useful in applications that require strength and flexibility.

Corrosion Resistance: Ductile iron has a higher resistance to corrosion, and it has a longer life span in corrosive conditions.

Uses: Due to the high tensile strength and elongation factors, ductile iron is useful in producing pipes, automobiles, and even in structures outdoors like bollards.

5. Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI)

Compacted graphite iron (CGI) has a unique set of properties from both gray and ductile iron due to the flake-like structures of graphite. This leads to high tensile strength and toughness in comparison with grey iron but with some extent of heat-conducting characteristics.

Enhanced Tensile Strength: CGI has a higher tensile strength than gray iron, which makes it suitable for components that must endure higher stress levels.

Good Machinability: It still has the strength of ductile iron while being easier to machine, a factor that makes it suitable for engine parts.

Thermal Conductivity: CGI has densification and good heat dissipation characteristics. It is used in engine blocks and brake parts.

Uses: CGI is used in engine blocks and brake discs as well as in parts that are required to offer strength and dissipate heat.

Benefits of Cast Iron in Modern Applications

The cast iron types offer various advantages in different industries, including construction, automobile manufacturing, and structures. Some key advantages of cast iron include:

Durability and Strength: It exhibits high tensile strength and can bear heavy loads and stress. Hence, it can be used for structural and mechanical purposes.

Heat Retention: Cast iron is very good in its thermal conductivity thus, it is ideal for the cookware and components that experience high temperatures.

Cost-Effectiveness: The ability to create intricate shapes saves time and by extension brings down the cost of production, particularly when it comes to mass production of goods.

Corrosion Resistance: Cast iron products such as gray iron normally rust and corrode but get a natural coat which prevents oxidization.

Vibration Damping: Due to its good vibration-absorbing characteristics gray iron is used for making machines and engine parts.

AKP Ferrocast - Your Reliable Cast Iron Provider

Thus, commercial cast iron types include Gray iron, White iron, Malleable iron, Ductile iron, and Compacted Graphite iron, which each have unique characteristics that make them useful in many industries. With the better machinability of gray iron to the impact strength of ductile iron, no other material can be as versatile as cast iron in many applications.

AKP Ferrocast is a reliable supplier of ductile and gray iron castings, including high-quality ductile and gray iron products. Specialising in the supply of high-quality and long-lasting cast iron products, AKP Ferrocast guarantees that its products meet the desired standards of the modern market. From large equipment and components to complex industrial demands, AKP Ferrocast has a set of skilled personnel and the right materials to ensure success at all times.

Learn more about their wide selection of ductile and gray iron products and enjoy the sturdiness, elasticity, and sturdiness that only cast iron types offer.