Cast Iron Technology

Despite the decline in the cast iron industry, cast irons remain important commercially. This book focuses on the technological advances that have taken place in solidification science and founding techniques during the same period and demonstrates their importance to the new founding industry. Following an introduction to the cast iron family and its wide range of engineering properties, the question of cupola or electric melting and the theory and practice of the liquid iron treatments, desulphurization, innoculation and spheroidization, are discussed. Solidification science is then used to explain how cast iron structures form, and the use of thermal analysis in the foundry is highlighted. A description of the heat treatment and joining of cast irons is given, with particular emphasis on austempered irons. The book concludes with a discussion of advances in founding techniques and an examination of typical cast iron microstructures Cast Iron Technology presents a critical review of the nature of cast irons. It discusses the types of cast iron and the general purpose of cast irons. It also presents the history of the iron founding industry. Some of the topics covered in the book are the description of liquid metal state; preparation of liquid metal; process of melting; description of cupola melting and electric melting methods; control of composition of liquid metal during preparation; description of primary cast iron solidification structures; and thermal analysis of metals to determine its quality. Solidification science and the fundamentals of heat treatment are also discussed. An in-depth analysis of the hot quenching techniques is provided. The graphitization potential of liquid iron is well presented. A chapter is devoted to microstructural features of cast iron. The book can provide useful information to iron smiths, welders, students, and researchers. Content: Front Matter, Page iii Copyright, Page iv Preface, Page v Chapter 1 - An introduction to cast irons, Pages 1-45 Chapter 2 - Liquid metal preparation, Pages 46-90 Chapter 3 - Solidification of cast irons, Pages 91-125 Chapter 4 - Solid state transformations, Pages 126-164 Chapter 5 - Some founding considerations, Pages 165-220 Chapter 6 - Microstructural features of cast irons, Pages 221-238 Index, Pages 239-244 Comprehensive and essentially practical book covering recent developments in solidification science and founding techniques and their importance to the founding industry. Despite the decline in the cast iron industry, cast irons remain important commercially.