Knowledge

The various properties of different types of cast iron results in each type being suited for specific applications.

Gray iron applications

One of the key characteristics of gray iron is its ability to resist wear even when lubrication supply is limited (e.g. the upper cylinder walls in engine blocks). Gray iron is used to make engine blocks and cylinder heads, manifolds, gas burners, gear blanks, enclosures, and housings.

White iron applications

The chilling process used to make white iron results in a brittle material that is very resistant to wear and abrasions. For this reason, it is used to make mill linings, shot-blasting nozzles, railroad brake shoes, slurry pump housings, rolling mill rolls, and crushers.

Ni-Hard Iron is specifically used for mixer paddles, augers and dies, liner plates for ball mills, coal chutes, and wire guides for drawing wires.

Compacted graphite iron applications

Compacted graphite iron is beginning to make its presence known in commercial applications. The combination of the properties of gray iron and white iron create a high strength and high thermal conductivity product—suitable for diesel engine blocks and frames, cylinder liners, brake discs for trains, exhaust manifolds, and gear plates in high pressure pumps.

Machining and finishing

The hardness properties of cast iron demand careful selection of machine tool materials. Coated carbides are effective in production machining environments, but newer materials are being developed continuously as technology improves.

Surface finishing of cast iron products varies greatly according to the use. A few common applications:

• Electroplating
• Hot-dipping
• Thermal spraying
• Diffusion coating
• Conversion coating
• Porcelain enameling
• Liquid organic coating
• Dry powder organic coating

As the most professional manufacturer and supplier of cast iron products, we can provide you with the most professional product technical support and product production line. If you are interested in Vigor's products, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Vigor's professional technical engineer team.