Cast iron

Cast iron is an iron–carbon alloy, usually containing more than 2% carbon, produced by melting and casting. Its high carbon content makes it easy to cast but generally brittle.

Graphite: Graphite is a crystalline form of carbon with atoms arranged in layered sheets. In gray cast iron, graphite precipitates as flakes that influence fracture and vibration damping.
Iron–carbon phase diagram: The iron–carbon phase diagram maps stable phases and transformations against carbon content and temperature. It places cast iron compositions beyond the usual steel carbon range.
Cast-iron cookware: Cast-iron cookware is cooking equipment made from cast iron, valued for heat retention and durability. Cookware illustrates cast iron’s ability to hold heat and form complex shapes.
Gray cast iron: Gray cast iron contains graphite flakes that give fractured surfaces a gray appearance. It is the common flake-graphite form, combining castability with brittleness.
Cementite: Cementite is the hard, brittle iron carbide Fe₃C found in many iron alloys. Its presence in white cast iron creates a hard, wear-resistant structure.
Steel: Steel is an iron–carbon alloy with carbon content generally below about 2%. The carbon-content boundary separates most cast irons from steels.
Ductile iron pipe: Ductile iron pipe is a pressure pipe made from cast iron whose graphite forms rounded nodules. It shows how modifying graphite morphology can make cast iron suitable for water infrastructure.
White cast iron: White cast iron contains carbon chiefly as cementite, producing a pale fracture and high hardness. It contrasts with gray iron because carbon remains combined rather than forming graphite flakes.
Eutectic system: A eutectic system is a mixture whose components solidify together at a characteristic composition and temperature. The iron–carbon eutectic governs cast iron’s solidification range and microstructure.
Pig iron: Pig iron is the high-carbon iron produced by smelting iron ore in a blast furnace. It is a common molten feedstock for making cast iron.

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