Cast Iron Fundamentals: Types Properties and Applications

In Cast Iron Fundamentals: Types Properties and Applications, you'll learn ...

• Typical properties and applications for each type of cast iron
• How the shape of graphite in cast iron affects the ductility of the casting
• How to increase the hardness of cast iron by manipulating the silicon content and cooling rate
• The unique microstructure that allows Vermicular graphite iron to achieve some of the beneficial properties of both grey iron and ductile iron

Overview

Preview a portion of this course before purchasing it.

Credit: 2 PDH

Length: 29 pages

Cast iron was first invented in China in the 4th century BC and poured into molds to make ploughshares and pots, as well as weapons and pagodas. In the West, cast iron did not become available until the late 14th century, where its earliest uses included cannon and shot. Today, cast iron is the material of choice for a wide range of engineering applications. It has a relatively low melting point, good fluidity, excellent castability and machinability, and is resistant to abrasion and deformation.

The term cast iron is a rather broad description of many types of irons which are castings. In general, a cast iron is an alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon. Steels are primarily iron, but what differentiates steel from cast iron is the amount of carbon (C). Steels contain less than 2% C (and usually less than 1% C), while cast irons contain more than 2% C. The four basic types of cast iron are gray iron, white iron, malleable iron and ductile iron.

This 2-hour online course provides a thorough introduction to cast iron, including microstructure, properties, applications, and the relative merits of each type of cast iron. The course concludes with a discussion of welding cast iron, including an overview of several welding processes that are commonly used with cast iron.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify typical properties and applications of the major types of cast iron.
• Explain how graphite shape in cast iron affects casting ductility.
• Describe how silicon content and cooling rate can be manipulated to increase cast-iron hardness.
• Explain how the microstructure of vermicular graphite iron provides properties associated with both gray iron and ductile iron.
• Select an appropriate cast iron for wear surfaces and other abrasive applications.
• Explain why malleable cast iron is a low-cost option for small castings and castings with thin cross sections.
• Describe how the austempering process gives ductile iron mechanical properties comparable to those of many cast and forged steels.
• Identify alloys used by specialized foundries to produce cast iron with hardness values ranging from 450 to 800 HB.
• Explain why gray cast iron is difficult to weld without special precautions.
• Describe considerations for welding cast iron using the SMAW, GMAW, and FCAW processes.

Certificate of Completion

You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 10 questions. PDH credits are not awarded until the course is completed and quiz is passed.