Iron
1.3-30 usd/kg
Iron is a valuable modern engineering material that, in the past, played an import role in the development of architecture and industry. Wrought iron, which is now largely only used for decorative purposes, allowed for longer uninterrupted structures in architecture, as well as elegant detailing that was not practical with other materials of the time. In structural applications, wrought iron has been replaced by steel, which is tougher and stronger.
Cast iron, on the other hand, offers many advantages over steel and other metals when it comes to endurance and dampening, especially in complex castings and large structural components. These three metals are primarily distinguished by their carbon content. Wrought iron contains almost no carbon (<0.035%), cast iron between 2-4% and steel between 0.06-2%. Alloys are mixed with cast iron and steel to further enhance mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. And this opens up opportunities for heat treatment to refine strength and hardness.
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Sustainability concerns
Non-renewable ingredients
Raw material generates polluting by-products
Ductile cast iron, also called spheroidal graphite (SG iron) and nodular iron, has a small addition of magnesium (Mg) that causes the graphite to form spherical particles. This yields a tougher and stronger cast iron compared to grey cast iron, because it does not have the continuous crackle network of flake graphite. By carefully manipulating the microcrystalline structure during manufacture or heat treatment, a range of grades are produced.
The grades of ductile iron are named according to their combination of tensile strength and elongation, as follows:
≥ 400 MPa tensile and 15% elongation, ISO 400-15/S, DIN GGG40, JIS FCD400
≥ 400 MPa tensile and 18% elongation, ISO 400-18/S, QT400-18, DIN GGG40, JIS FCD400, ASTM 60-4-18
≥ 450 MPa tensile and 10% elongation, ISO 450-10/S, QT450-10, JIS FCD450, ASTM 60-42-10 and 65-45-12
≥ 500 tensile and 7% elongation, ISO 500-7/S, QT500-7, DIN GGG50, JIS FCD500, ASTM 70-50-05
≥ 600 tensile and 3% elongation, ISO 600-3/S, QT600-3, DIN GGG60, JIS FCD600, ASTM 80-60-03 and 80-55-06
≥ 700 tensile and 2% elongation, ISO 700-2/S, QT700-2, DIN GGG70, JIS FCD700, ASTM 100-70-03
≥ 800 tensile and 2% elongation, ISO 800-2/S, QT800-2, DIN GGG80, JIS FCD800, ASTM 120-90-02
Its high impact properties, excellent casting behaviour and good machining characteristics are utilised in demanding parts such as traffic bollards, tractor parts, automotive crankshafts and pistons, suspension, motor frames and manufacturing and mining equipment.