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 carbideimpurities 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.

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Cast iron tends to be brittle, except for malleable cast irons. With its relatively low melting point, good fluidity, castability, excellent machinability, resistance to deformation and wear resistance, cast irons have become an engineering materialwith a wide range of applications and are used in pipes, machines and automotive industry parts, such as cylinder heads, cylinder blocks and gearbox cases. It is resistant to destruction and weakening by oxidation (rust)

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