Cast Iron is a type of hard iron that is made into shapes by being poured into a mould when melted containing 2 to 4 percent carbon along with varying amounts of silicon and manganese and traces of impurities such as sulphur and phosphorus by weight whereas carbon steel contains less than 0.5 percent. The Cast Iron is formed by smelting iron ore, or melting pig iron, and then poured into molds and allowed to cool and solidify.
Reference Definition by Wikipedia: Cast Iron is a group of iron-carbon alloys with a carbon content greater than 2%. Its usefulness derives from its relatively low melting temperature. The alloy constituents affect its colour when fractured: white cast iron has carbide impurities which allow cracks to pass straight through; grey cast iron has graphite flakes which deflect a passing crack and initiate countless new cracks as the material breaks; ductile cast iron has spherical graphite “nodules” which stop the crack from further progressing.
Related Definitions in the Project: The Metallurgy (Corrosion and Cracking)
