Cast iron has greater than 2.1% carbon.
Cast iron is primarily composed of iron with a high carbon content (2-4%). The atomic structure consists of iron atoms arranged in a lattice structure, with carbon atoms occupying the spaces between the iron atoms. This combination of iron and carbon gives cast iron its unique properties, such as high strength and good wear resistance.
Iron pots are typically made of cast iron, which is an alloy of iron and carbon. The carbon content can vary but is usually around 2-4%. Cast iron pots may also contain small amounts of other elements such as silicon, manganese, sulfur, and phosphorus to improve their properties.
The iron produced by a blast furnace is typically referred to as pig iron. It is a crude form of iron with high carbon content, which needs to be further processed to remove impurities and adjust its carbon content before it can be used in various applications.
Iron from the blast furnace is brittle because of its high carbon content. This carbon content forms brittle compounds like cementite in the iron, which weakens its ability to deform plastically and makes it prone to fracture under stress.
Pig iron is made by heating iron ore with a high carbon content in a blast furnace. The carbon in the ore combines with oxygen to create carbon monoxide, which reduces the iron oxide to iron. The molten iron is then poured into molds to cool and solidify, forming pig iron.
Carbon is primary hardening element in steel. Hardness and tensile strength increases as carbon content increases upto 0.85%. Ductility and weldability decreases as carbon content increases. If the solution of carbon and liquid iron is solidified slowly the carbon tends to separate out in the form of graphite flakes (Grey cast iron). It is easily machinable. If the same iron is cast and colled quickly, it is hard and has a higher tensile strength, is difficult to machine (white cast iron).
Soft iron typically has a very low carbon content, usually less than 0.1%. This low carbon content contributes to its high ductility and magnetic properties, making it suitable for applications like electromagnets and transformer cores. In contrast, higher carbon content in iron leads to harder and more brittle materials, such as cast iron or steel.
As far as i know, coolant is not required while machining cast iron because, carbon in cast iron is present in the form of graphite (which is a cooling agent - self cooling). Moreover the carbon content is high in cast iron.
Cast iron is primarily composed of iron with a high carbon content (2-4%). The atomic structure consists of iron atoms arranged in a lattice structure, with carbon atoms occupying the spaces between the iron atoms. This combination of iron and carbon gives cast iron its unique properties, such as high strength and good wear resistance.
The main difference between cast iron and mild steel is the carbon content. Mild steel has a lower carbon content than cast iron. This makes cast iron brittle, while mild steel is much harder.
Firstly, cast iron is made by casting process, or called as casting method, which is a type of metal fabrication method. You can compare it with forging, stamping, welding methods. Secondly, the main raw material for producing cast iron is pig iron. I think this is a reason the name. Although cast steel is also produced by pig iron, but cast steel has lower content of carbon element. So, scientifically speaking, if the carbon content is upper 2%, then it should be called as cast iron, but if lower than 2%, then it should be called as cast steel.
cast iron contain a considerable amount of carbon
Carbonized iron is typically referred to as cast iron, a type of iron that has been melted and cast into a specific shape. The carbon content in cast iron is higher than in other types of iron, which makes it more brittle but also more resistant to wear and corrosion.
Iron pots are typically made of cast iron, which is an alloy of iron and carbon. The carbon content can vary but is usually around 2-4%. Cast iron pots may also contain small amounts of other elements such as silicon, manganese, sulfur, and phosphorus to improve their properties.
Steel with a carbon content above 2.0% is considered cast iron so the limit is 2.0%. Grey cast iron starting at 2.5% is basically a mix of ferrite carbides and graphite. Going higher above cast iron is pure carbide or Fe3C at 6.1%. Above that and it's basically a mix of iron graphites.
Carbon Steel refers to various varieties of steel, hence carbon content is limited to max. 2.1%Low carbon steel: Carbon content less than 0.3%, also known as mild steel, very soft and ductile, easily machinable.Medium Carbon Steel: Carbon content varies from 0.3 to 0.5%, responsive to heat treatment, Good machinibility, good tougness and ductility properties and weldability.High Carbon Steel: Greater than 0.5%C. Greater strength as compared to LC and MC steel, accompanied with hardness, Toughness is imparted through heat treatment.Ductile Iron is essentially a Cast iron, with max. caron content upto 4-4.5%. Cast irons are generally hard and brittle in nature dur to such high carbon content. But depending upon the cooling rate the ductile iron contains carbon in spheroidal graphite form instead of flake form. This results in the formation of a ductile matrix, hence Ductile Cast Iron is relatively ductile with respect to other cast iron varieties and also it has good corrosion resistant prpoerties.
Grey cast iron, grades are FG300, FG350 and FG400 for example (grades range from 150 to 500) refers to hardness and carbon content