Cast Iron Machined Parts

Easy to form into complex shapes when molten and capable of exhibiting unique characteristics when alloyed with certain elements, cast iron is an extremely versatile material found in an array of applications. The liquid iron is cast, or poured and hardened, into crude ingots called pigs. The pigs are subsequently re-melted along with scrap and alloying elements in cupola furnaces before being re-cast into molds for the production of finished material in a variety of shapes and sizes.

While cast iron is tough but brittle, adding elements such as manganese, phosphorous, nickel, cerium, and magnesium during the production process improves performance characteristics. Properties of cast iron alloyed with other elements include:

• Excellent castability
• High stiffness
• Dampens vibrations
• Deformation resistance
• Easy to machine
• Low tensile strength
• High compressive strength

Cast iron is made into components found in common and high-performance applications, from vehicle engine components and pipe fittings to electrical fittings and farm equipment. This material type is classified into four significant grades.

• Grey cast iron
• White cast iron
• Malleable cast iron
• Ductile cast iron

While all grades of cast iron have a carbon content greater than two percent of the total chemical composition, unique characteristics make them better suited for specific applications. Here’s a breakdown of the four major grades of cast iron.

Grey Cast Iron

Grey cast iron features a graphite microstructure consisting of many small fractures. Its name comes from the presence of these small fractures, which create the appearance of a grey color. It’s used in applications where its high stiffness, machinability, high heat capacity, vibration dampening, and high thermal conductivity are advantageous. Examples include cylinder blocks, flywheels, gearbox cases, manifolds, disk brake rotors, and cookware.

White Cast Iron

While not as common as grey cast iron, white cast iron is another widely used cast iron grade. Its off-white color is the result of iron compounds known as cementite. Like grey cast iron, white cast iron features many small fractures. It’s wear-resistant yet brittle, and the material exhibits high hardness as a result of a microstructure that contains large iron carbide particles. White cast iron is ideal for abrasion-resistant parts for which brittleness is of little concern. Examples include shell liners, slurry pumps, ball mills, lifter bars, extrusion nozzles, cement mixers, pipe fittings, flanges, crushers, and pump impellers.

Malleable Cast Iron

Malleable cast iron is the most easily workable of all cast iron grades. It’s typically produced by heat-treating white cast iron. The white cast iron is heat-treated for up to two days and then cooled. When finished, it’s bent sand manipulated to achieve unique shapes and sizes. This cast iron grade exhibits good malleability and ductility. With a lower silicon content, it presents excellent fracture toughness at low temperature. Malleable cast iron is used for electrical fittings and equipment, hand tools, pipe fittings, washers, brackets, farm equipment, mining hardware, and machine parts.

Ductile Cast Iron

Commonly called nodular cast iron, ductile cast iron is a type of soft, ductile iron alloy with high carbon content. It’s commonly made with trace amounts of other compounds, including magnesium and cerium. This material is more ductile than grey or white cast irons. It’s used for piping found in water and sewage infrastructure. Ductile cast iron can also stand up to thermal cycling, which makes it perfect for gears, suspension components, brakes, valves, pumps, and hydraulic parts, and wind turbine housings.

Delivery of non-conforming components can trigger unexpected downtime, elicit negative customer feedback, harm company perception, and, ultimately, hurt the bottom line. That’s why Lincoln Park Boring Co. is here to help.

When we take care of cast iron manufacturing, your crews are free to focus on their primary functions. Our team confirms that materials meet customer requirements or industry standards before use. After machining, parts are checked to ensure conformity.

Optimize your application with high-value cast iron part or component manufacturing services from Lincoln Park Boring Co.

Request a quote today for Lincoln Park Boring's cast iron machining services!

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