Melting of cast iron: optimal temperature, material classification, comparison with steel

Iron alloy is called cast iron, which contains more 2% carbon. In addition to these components, constant substances are present in the mixture, such as sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, manganese and alloying additives. The material is divided into different types depending on the alloy, which is determined by the structure of the fracture. Cast iron has up to a hundred different brands, among them stands out foundry, it is different from others:texture, purpose and technology of receipt.

Classification of material

This material is more fragile, than steel. It is able to collapse without noticeable deformations. The carbon in the alloy has the form of graphite and cementite or each substance is presented separately. Varieties of cast iron appear due to their shape and quantity:

• White. All carbon is in the form of cementite. This color of the material is visible at the break. It can be described as fragile, but solid. It is processed, mainly, to obtain forging varieties.
• Gray. Carbon in the form of a plastic form of graphite. Characterized as soft, well processed, at which low melting temperatures are used.
• Malleable. This type is called conditionally, as the material is not susceptible to forging. This type is obtained by prolonged firing of white, then graphite is formed. The properties of the material are negatively affected by overheating 900 degrees, as well as the cooling rate of graphite. As a result, the process of welding and processing is complicated.
• High strength. It contains spherical graphite, which is formed by crystallization.

The differences were from cast iron

The difference in materials is expressed as follows:

• Cast iron is less hard and durable, like steel.
• Steel is heavier and has a higher melting point.
• Since they have become lower in carbon, it is better processed (forging, cutting, weld, rolling). For this reason, cast iron products are made by casting.
• Porous cast iron products (through Lithuania), therefore their thermal conductivity is lower.
• Artistic steel products have a shine and shine, they are made of cast iron and black and matte.
• Cast iron is the primary product of ferrous metallurgy, and steel - the final.
• Steel, usually, subjected to the hardening procedure.
• Cast iron products are formed during casting, and steel products are forged and welded.

Cast iron: melting point

Pros of the material

This material has good casting properties, has a good fluidity, lower melting point compared to steel and malleable cast iron. These properties are taken into account in the manufacture of the form.

Gaseous flux is most often used for welding brass material. Also use cast iron rods with copper coating, which improve the wettability of the edging surfacing metal. Eutectic cast iron rods are used, its melting point is in the range 1050 — 1200 degrees. Welding also occurs due to the flux, which are used in the form of a paste. If there are no special cast iron rods or brass L-62, then cracks in the parts of this material can be welded with wire, which is made of electrolytic red copper.

Much higher than the melting point of overheating of cast iron, which leads to, that these suspended particles dissolve, perhaps, not fully, and this complicates the formation of graphite. In some cases, it can occur when adding various substances to cast iron, due to which there will be additional centers of crystallization of graphite.

Cast iron has the best casting properties, if we compare it with steel. Convenience in work, as well as good fluidity and filling of the mold is provided by a lower melting point and the final crystallization process at a constant temperature.