Cast irons are iron-carbon alloys generally containing 1,7-6,7% carbon, 1-3% silicon, and small amounts of elements like manganese, phosphorous and Sulphur. These alloys are inexpensive, durable and easy to cast. Depending on their chemical composition and cooling rates, cast irons can be classified into two main groups, namely white cast irons and grey cast irons, according to their fracture characteristics.
White cast iron is obtained by rapid or non-equilibrium cooling during casting. It has slightly lower levels of carbon and silicon than grey cast irons. White cast iron is characterized by a hard microstructure composed of pearlite and cementite (iron carbide). In fact, it is the presence of cementite, an iron carbide (FE3C), that makes the alloy very hard but also fairly brittle. For these reason, white cast iron is particularly intended for wear applications and it is not considered as weldable for its nil ductility.
However, white cast iron can undergo a high temperature annealing, called malleabilization, within a temperature range of 800-860°C (1475-1580°F) for 30 to 40 hours. This treatment transforms the hard white cast iron to a malleable iron with higher ductility. This aims to remedy its fragile structure by breaking down the iron carbides, while instead precipitating graphite nodules (temper graphite) in the matrix.
Grey cast irons are elaborated from chemical compositions with higher levels of carbon (2,5-4%) and silicon (1-3,0%), using an equilibrium cooling mode. They are called grey cast irons because of their grey fracture surface, caused by almost all of the carbon content crystallizing into graphite.
Contact our metallurgists, to get the right alloy for your welding project.
Bases machine, pump body, engine blocks, valves, oily fonts, gears, cylinder heads, manhole covers, sewer grates, winches, covers, pulleys, etc.
Engine blocks, machine bases, differentials, build-up of missing sections, resurfacing worn castings, gear boxes, pump housings, piston grooves, gears, pulleys, filling holes without slag removal, etc.
Casting defects, wear resistant applications, farm equipment, furnace grates, burned out castings, pulleys, supports, etc. Ideal for use as a buttering electrode on oily or contaminated cast irons before joining.
Casting defects, wear resistant applications, farm equipment, furnace grates, burned cast iron, pulleys, supports, etc. Ideal for use as a buttering electrode on oily or contaminated cast irons before joining.
Engine blocks, machine bases, differentials, build-up of missing sections, resurfacing worn casting, gear boxes, pump housings, piston grooves, gears, pulleys, filling holes without slag removal, etc.
Engine blocks, machining mistakes, pulley, gear boxe, pumps, gears, differential, spline, machinery bases, build-up worned cast iron parts, filling holes, etc.
Machine bases, housings, engine blocks and heads, pumps, differentials, gear boxes, piston grooves, pulleys, compressors, cast iron dies, joining cast iron to steel, nodular cast iron, etc.
Machine bases, thin sections, build-up of worn or missing sections, foundry defects, gear housings, pump housings, gear teeth, brake drums, aluminized muffler and exhaust pipes, exhaust manifolds, sewer grates, furnace grates, cylinder heads, etc.
Machine bases, housings, engine blocks and heads, pumps, differentials, gear boxes, piston grooves, pulleys, compressors, cast iron dies, joining cast iron to steel, nodular cast iron, etc.
Compressors, control valves, cylinder blocks, differential housings, engine block casings, gear teeth, hydraulic press rams, pump housings, pulleys, crank cases etc.
Machine bases, casings, pump housings, engine blocks, machine frames, valve housings, oily castings, gears, cylinder heads, manhole covers, winch barrels, crank cases, pulleys, etc.
Joining and building up most castings, engine blocks, gear teeth, cylinders, housings, farm equipment, machine bases, valves, etc.
Compressors, control valves, cylinder blocks, differential housings, engine block casings, gear teeth, hydraulic press rams, pump housings, pulleys, crank cases, etc.
