Cast iron is an iron-carbon alloy with iron (Fe) as the base metal and a carbon (C) content between 2.1% and 4%.
Its core characteristics include high carbon content (carbon exists in the form of graphite or iron carbide), silicon (1%-3%) promoting graphitization, and the influence of impurities such as manganese, phosphorus, and sulfur. Cast iron has a low melting point (approximately 1200°C) and low cost, but its tensile strength is relatively weak (only 150-400 MPa for gray cast iron), making it suitable for manufacturing complex-shaped parts, such as engine blocks and pipes.
Cast iron is mainly classified into gray cast iron, ductile cast iron, white cast iron, and vermicular graphite cast iron. Gray cast iron (HT) has a flake-like graphite structure, excellent shock absorption (damping coefficient 4-5 times that of steel), and is widely used in machine tool bases, brake discs, etc. Ductile cast iron (QT) undergoes magnesium/cerium treatment to spheroidize the graphite, achieving strength close to steel (tensile strength 400-900 MPa), suitable for dynamic load components such as crankshafts and municipal manhole covers. White cast iron has carbon in the form of iron carbide (Fe3C), high hardness (HRC 50-55), but is extremely brittle, used for wear-resistant parts such as rolls and grinding balls. Vermicular graphite cast iron (RuT) has vermicular graphite, combining the advantages of gray cast iron and ductile cast iron, and is used for high-temperature components such as turbine housings.
Modern cast iron technology continues to innovate, including lightweighting (thin-wall casting process, minimum wall thickness 3-5mm), environmental friendliness (using recycled scrap steel for smelting, reducing energy consumption by 30%), and high performance (e.g., isothermal quenched ductile cast iron can achieve a tensile strength of 1600 MPa). Of course, if you need to customize large quantities of cast iron parts, you can choose to cooperate with Mulan Metal. Mulan Metal has 12 years of experience in the production and processing of cast iron parts and has helped customers in more than 30 countries complete the commissioned production of various cast iron parts. We look forward to your cooperation inquiries.
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