INTRODUCTION

 Cast iron is the name given to those ferrous

metals containing more than 2.0% carbon.
 Cast irons like steels, are basically alloys of
iron and carbon.
 Cast irons contain more than 2 percent
carbon.
 Most commercially manufactured types are
in the range of 2.5 to 4 percent carbon.
 COMPOSITION

 All cast irons contain more than 2% C.

 Cast iron is the alloy of carbon with 1.7 to 4.5%
carbon and 0.5 to 3% silicon.
 But in some alloy it has Manganese 0.5 to
1.0%, Phosphorous 0.1 to 0.9 %, & Sulphur
0.07 to 0.10%.
 STRUCTURE
 Ithave a matrix structure which may be
established either during cooling from
the molten state ( as cast condition) or as
a result of heat treatment. The main
component of cast iron are Iron, carbon,
silicon.
 TYPES OF CAST IRON

 The best method of classifying cast iron is

according to metallographic structure.
 There are four variables to be considered
which lead to the different types of cast iron.
 Some variables may control the condition of
the carbon and also its physical form.
 The types of cast iron are as follows:
1. White Cast Iron

2. Malleable Cast Iron

3. Gray Cast Iron

4. Chilled Cast Iron

5. Nodular Cast Iron

6. Alloy Cast Iron

1. WHITE CAST IRON
 It is the cast iron in which all the cast iron in
the combined form as cementite.
 All white cast iron are hypoeutectic.
 In the figure the alloy at “x” exists as a uniform
liquid solution of carbon dissolved in liquid
iron.
 Solidification now begins by the formation of
austenite crystals containing about 1
percent carbon.
1. WHITE CAST IRON

STRUCTURE:
 The typical microstructure of white cast iron,
consisting of dendrites of transformed
austenite (pearlite) in a white interdendritic
network of cementite, Higher magnification of
the same sample reveals that the dark areas
are pearlite.
1. WHITE CAST IRON
PROPERTIES:
 It is hard, brittle & interstitial compound.

 Due to large amount of cementite it is hard & brittle but

extremely brittle & difficult to machine

 The range mechanical properties for unalloyed white irons is

as follows: hardness Brinell 375 to 600, tensile strength

20,000 to 70,000 psi, compressive strength 200,000 lo
250,000 psi and modulus of elasticity 24 to 28 million
psi.
1. WHITE CAST IRON
APPLICATION:
It can be used as liners of cement mixers, ball
mills, drawing dies and extrusion nozzles.

NOZZLE
BALL MILLS CEMENT MIXERS
2. MALLEABLE CAST IRON
INTRODUCTION:
 It is the cast iron in which most or all of the
carbon is uncombined in the form of irregular
round particles known as temper carbon.
 This is obtained by heat treatment of white
cast iron.
2. MALLEABLE CAST IRON
MANUFACTURING:
 White irons suitable for conversion to
malleable iron are of the following range of
composition:
 Carbon  2.00-2.65%
 Silicon  0.90-1.40%
 Manganese  0.25-0.55%
 Phosphorous  Less than 0.18%
 Sulphur  0.05%
2. MALLEABLE CAST IRON
 Commercially, It can be prepared by two steps:
(1) First stage annealing.
(2) Second stage annealing.
 In the first-stage annealing, the white-iron
casting is slowly reheated to a temperature
between 1650 ˚F and 1750 ˚F.
 This graphitization starts at the malleableizing
temperature.
2. MALLEABLE CAST IRON
 The initial precipitation of a graphite nucleus
depletes the austenite of carbon, and so
more is dissolved from the adjacent
cementite.
 The graphite nuclei grow at approximately
equal rates in all directions and ultimately
appear as irregular nodules or spheroids
usually called temper carbon. As shown in
figure.
MALLEABLE IRON, UNETCHED. IRREGULAR
NODULES OF GRAPHITE CALLED TEMPER
CARBON. (1OOX)
2. MALLEABLE CAST IRON
• After first-stage annealing, the castings are cooled
as rapidly as practical to about 1400oF in
preparation for the second stage of the annealing
treatment.
• During the slow cooling, the carbon dissolved in
the austenite is converted to graphite on the
existing temper-carbon particles, and the
remaining austenite transforms into ferrite. After
cooling to room temperature the structure is
known as standard malleable cast iron.
Ferritic malleable iron, temper carbon (black) in a ferrite matrix. Etched
in 5 percent nital, 100x,
2. MALLEABLE CAST IRON
The changes in microstructure during the
malleableizing cycle are shown schematically
in Figure.
 The changes in microstructure as a function of
the malleableizing cycle-resulting in temper carbon in a
ferrite matrix'
2. MALLEABLE CAST IRON
PROPERTIES:
 When copper is added it increase its tensile strength,
corrosion resistance e.t.c.
 The properties of malleable cast iron are:
1.Tensile Strength  58000-65000 (psi)
2. Yield point  40000-450000 (psi)
3. Elongation % in 2 in 15-20
4. BHN  135-155.
2. MALLEABLE CAST IRON:
APPLICATION:
It can be widely used as:
 Pipe fittings.

 Chain-hoist assemblies.

 Railroad equipment.

 Also as industrial casters e.t.c.

3. PEARLITIC MALLEABLE CAST IRON
 If a controlled quantity of carbon, in the order of 0.3 to 0.9
percent, is retained as finely distributed iron carbide, an
entirely different set of mechanical properties results.

 If manganese is added, the regular \ cycle can be

maintained to retain combined carbon throughout the
matrix.

 The second-stage annealing of the normal process may be

replaced by, a quench, usually air, which cools the casting
through the eutectoid range; fast enough to retain
combined carbon throughout the matrix.

 The matrix is completely pearlitic shown in figure.

MATRIX OF PEARLITIC MALLEABLE IRON
3. PEARLITIC MALLEABLE CAST IRON

If the cooling rate through the critical range is

not quite fast enough to retain all the combined
carbon, the areas surrounding the temper-
carbon nodules will be completely graphitized,
while those at greater distance from the nodules
will be pearlitic .
Because of its general appearance, this is
referred to as a bull’s-eye structure. As shown
in figure.
BULL’S EYE STRUCTURE
3. PEARLITIC MALLEABLE CAST IRON
PROPERTIES:
 We can also add some alloying element like
Manganese, sulphur & copper. Copper may be
added to increase corrosion resistance &
graphite distribution.
 If it is heated at 1200F to 1300F it improves its
machineability, toughness & lower the
hardness. The spheroidize the pearlite as
shown in figure.
Microstructure of a pearlitic malleable iron tempered to
obtain a spheroldite matrix. Nital etch, 500x
3.PEARLITIC MALLEABLE CAST IRON

APPLICATION:
 It can widely used in industries application
like:
 Camshafts and crankshafts in automobiles

 Rolls, pumps, nozzles, cams, and rocker arms

as machine parts.
 For a variety of small tools such as wrenches,
hammers, clamps, and shears.
CAMSHAFT
CAMSHAFT
CAMSHAFT

CRANKSHAFT
4. GRAY CAST IRON
 It is the cast iron in which most or all of the carbon is
uncombined in the form of graphite flakes.

 Most gray cast irons are hypoeutectic alloys

containing between 2.5 and 4 percent carbon.
 The initial appearance of combined carbon is in the
cementite resulting from the eutectic reaction at
2065F<.

 There is experimental evidence that, with proper

control of the alloying element, the alloy will follow the
stable iron-graphite equilibrium diagram, ), forming
austenite and graphite at the eutectic temperature of
4. GRAY CAST IRON
 At any rate, any cementite which is formed will
graphitize rapidly. The graphite appears as
many irregular, generally elongated and curved
plates which give gray cast iron its
characteristic grayish or blackish fracture.
As shown in figure.
Graphite flakes in gray cast iron.
Unetched, I0Ox
4. GRAY CAST IRON

Gray iron have a different size of flakes.

4. GRAY CAST IRON
REDUCING FALKE SIZE:
The best method of reducing the size and improving the
distribution of the graphite flakes seems to be by the addition of
a small amount of material known as an inoculant. Inoculating
agents that have been used successfully are metallic calcium,
aluminum, titanium, zirconium, silicon carbide, calcium silicide ,
or combinations of these. They probably promote the nucleation
of primary austenite, resulting in small grains, which reduces the
size and improves the distribution of the graphite flakes.
 3. GRAY CAST IRON
SOME EXAMPLES:
The AFS & ASTM prepared 5 flakes size which
are shown in figure.
4. GRAY CAST IRON
MECHAINICAL PROPERTIES:
(1) TENSILE STRENGTH:
Tensile strength is important in selecting a gray iron for parts that are
subjected to static loads in indirect tension or bending. Such parts
include pressure vessels, housings, valves, fittings, and levers, irons
above 40,000 psi in tensile strength are usually considered high-
strength irons and are somewhat more expensive to produce and more
difficult to machine.
 4. GRAY CAST IRON
(2) YIELDING:

Gray irons do not exhibit a well-defined yield point as do most mild steels. The
stress-strain curve does not show a straight-line portion; thus a definite
modulus of elasticity cannot be determined. The percent elongation is small for
all cast irons, rarely exceeding 3 to 4 percent, and the reduction of area is too
slight to be appreciable.

(3) COMPRESSIVE STRENGHT:

Compressive strength is important when the gray iron is used for Machinery
foundations or supports. Like all brittle materials, the compressive strength of
gray iron is much greater than its tensile strength and is largely a function of the
shearing strength. Failure in compression usually occurs along an oblique
plane unless the specimen is long enough to allow failure by buckling
 3. GRAY CAST IRON
(4) TROSIONAL PROPERTIES:
Many grades of gray iron have higher torsional shear
strength than some grades of steel. This characteristic,
along with low notch sensitivity, makes gray iron a suitable
material for various types of shafting.

(5) HARDNESS:
The composition also exerts a considerable effect on the
hardness. Increasing carbon and silicon contents will
result in decreasing hardness, although the effect is not as
marked on hardness as it is on tensile strength. Some
hardness number are given in figure.
 3. GRAY CAST IRON
ELEVATORS DOORS
APPLICATION:
 Some common application of gray cast iron:
 Elevators and industrial furnace door
 Guards and frames around hazardous machinery

 Many types of gear housings, enclosures for

electrical equipment, pump housings, and steam
FURNACE DOOR
turbine housings.
5. CHILLED CAST IRON
 Chilled-Iron castings are made by casting the molten
metal against a metal chiller, resulting in a surface
of white cast iron.

 This hard, abrasion-resistant white-iron surface or case is

backed up by a softer gray-iron core.

 This case-core structure is obtained by careful control of

the overall alloy composition and adjustment of the
cooling rate.

 A chilled-iron casting may be produced by adjusting the

composition of the iron so that the normal cooling rate at
the surface is just fast enough to produce white iron while
the slower cooling rate below the surface will produce
mottled or gray iron. As shown in figure.
Fracture of chilled iron
casting showing the
white, mottled & gray
portion.
5. CHILLED CAST IRON
INFLUENCE OF SOME ALLOY CONTENT:
The depth of the chilled zone decrease and hardness of
the chilled zone increases by:
 Carbon, silicon & manganese content.

 Phosphorus which can decreases the depth of chill.

With carbon and silicon constant, an increase of 0.1
percent phosphorus will decrease the depth of
chill about 0.1 in.
 Nickel which can reduces the chill depth, and its
influence is about one-fourth that of silicon.
 Copper, in additions of less than 4 percent, decreases
the depth of chill, but in excess of this amount the
5. CHILLED CAST IRON
 A constant chill depth may be obtained by using a
combination of alloying elements that have opposite
effects. Since nickel reduces chill depth, it is common
practice to add chromium produce the opposite effect.
The normal ratio employed in this purpose is 3 parts of
nickel to 1 of chromium.
 4. CHILLED CAST IRON
CRUSHING ROLLS
APPLICATION:
Some common examples of chilled cast iron are
railway car wheels, crushing rolls, stamp shoes, dies,
sprockets, plowshares, and many other heavy-duty
machinery parts.

SPROCKETS
6. NODULAR CAST IRON
 Nodular cast iron, also known as ductile iron,
spheroidal, graphite iron, and spherulitic iron, is
cast iron in which the graphite is present as
tiny balls or spheroids.
 Nodular cast iron differs from malleable iron in
that it is usually obtained as a result of
solidification and does not require heat
treatment.
 The spheroids are more rounded than the
irregular aggregates of temper carbon found in
malleable iron. As shown in figure.
Nodular Iron unetched, showing graphite
sphrodize, 125x.
6. NODULAR CAST IRON
PROPERTIES:
The structure of nodular cast iron have
toughness, maximum ductility & machinability
which can widely used in some applications.
 5. NODULAR CAST IRON
APPLICATION:
 Some typical application Nodular cast iron are
in the ield of:
f cultural & tractor parts.
 Agri motive & diesel crankshafts.
 Drive
Auto pulleys
 Fly pulleys.
 Elevator doors
 Furnace buckets e.t.c.
 TRACTOR PART

CRANKSHAFTS
7. ALLOY CAST IRON:
 An alloy cast iron is one which contains a specially
added element or elements in sufficient amount to
produce a measurable modification in the physical or
mechanical properties.

 Alloying elements are added to cast iron for special

properties such as resistance to corrosion, heat, or
wear, and to improve mechanical properties and also
for accelerate or graphitization.

 The most common alloying elements are chromium,

copper, molybdenum, nickel and vanadium.
7. ALLOY CAST IRON:
MOLYBD EUM:
Molybdenu m Improves mechanical properties and Is a mild
stabilizer of c arbides. Molybdenum is added n quantities
from 0.25 to iilar to that in
steel. Fatigu
1.25 percent and its effect is simverse strength,
heal resista are all
improved. e strength, tensile strength, trans
nce, and hardness of the cast
iron
VANADIU
Vanadium is abilizes
cementlte, a ium additions
between 0.10M: and 0.25percent, increase tensile strength,
very powerful
transverse strength carbide former,
and hardness.
st nd reduces graphitization.
 7. ALLOY CAST IRON:
NICKEL
: raphitizer. The purpose of nickel (0.5 to 6.0
Nickel is in
percent) a the engineering gray irons is to control the
structureg y retarding austenite transformation, bilizing
b pearlite,sta nd maintaining combined carbon at utectoid
a quantity.the e hus the microstructure of a low- ast iron
T shows nickel c phite, pearlite, and very little n figure.
gra ferrite. As i
 Comparative table

Nominal
compositi Yeild
Form and Tensile
Name on [% by Ductility Hardness Uses
condition Strength strength
weight]

Grey cast
C :3.4, Engine cylin
Si:1.8, der blocks,
iron
Cast Low High Low Average flywheels, ge
Mn: 0.5 ars machine-
tool bases
White cast C :3.4,
Si :0.7, Bearing surfa
iron Mn: 0.6 Cast (as cast) Lowest Low Lowest Highest ces

C :2.5, Axle bearing

Malleable Si :1.0, s, track
Mn :0.55 Cast High High High Lowest whee,Colum
(annealed) n, arches
iron
C :3.4,
P :0.1, Gears, camsh
afts,
Mn:0.4, Ni:1. Cast Highest Highest Highest Low crankshafts
0, Mg :0.06
Ductile Iron