Being a staple of industries all around the world, iron is a component that cannot be underestimated in the sphere of manufacturing and construction. It is a rather rigid, powerful component. Iron is present in large quantities. Therefore, it cannot be understated how it is used to make an array of products, including the construction of high-rise buildings and suspension bridges, automobiles, the production of household goods, and several other uses.
Iron has significance not only with its direct functions. It is widely required to manufacture steel, which forms the base of the present world. Unfortunately, the public is still largely unaware of the variety of iron, such as pig iron and cast iron. These two types of iron have more differences than similarities in their composition and use. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the pig iron vs cast iron comparison thoroughly.
Pig iron is used in the steel-making process. It is quite distinct from cast iron, which is renowned for its hardness and ability to cast. Thus, this blog focuses on the comparison between pig iron and cast iron. It is a detailed view of how is cast iron different from pig iron. It will differentiate the two based on their properties, composition, and uses.
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Cast Iron
Cast iron is classified as an iron-carbon alloy. Cast iron carbon percentage is between 2 and 4%. It is characterised by high castability. So, it can be used to work with rather complex shapes and designs. Regular cast iron is made by melting iron and adding a combination of scrap iron, steel, and limestone, then pouring the molten cast iron on casting moulds for cooling and hardening. The high percentage of carbon in cast iron confers high hardness and brittleness as well as high-temperature strength and resistance to wear and deformation. As a result, these properties make cast iron very suitable for a multitude of uses in machinery parts, automobile parts, cookware, construction components, etc.
Cast Iron Properties
- High Carbon Content: Has more than 2% of carbon, making it hard and brittle in nature.
- Excellent Castability: It is easy to mould the metal into complicated shapes since it becomes quite fluid when melted.
- Good Wear Resistance: High resistance that withstands wear and abrasion, making it suitable to be used in high-wear applications.
- High Compressive Strength: Resists very high compression loads; good for use in applications that require support, such as in beams.
Cast Iron Composition
- Cast iron has about 2 to 4 percent of carbon.
- Manganese may make cast iron brittle and hard. So, it is included in the composition below 0.75 percent.
- Phosphorus is brittle. Its percentage may be 1 to 1.5 percent.
- Silicon decreases shrinkage. It also ensures softer and better castings. So, it may be less than 2.5 percent.
- Sulphur makes cast iron brittle and hard. It is only 0.10 percent or less in the cast iron composition.
Cast Iron Price in India
The price of cast iron per kilogram is between INR 50 and INR 100. However, it might vary depending on various factors.
Cast Iron Uses
Cast iron is acknowledged for its flexibility and is used almost everywhere because of the characteristics mentioned above. Here are some of the primary uses:
- Cookware: Cast iron has the ability to retain heat and provide an equal heat distribution.
- Pipes and Plumbing: Applied mainly in water pipes, drainage, and sewage systems as it is strong and does not corrode easily.
- Construction: Common in construction works, especially in frames, columns, and other supporting structures, because of its high compressed strength.
- Machinery: Used in the production of bases, housing, and machine frames.
- Automotive Industry: Used in engine bounds, cylinder heads, and manifolds because of their heat and pressure-resistant properties.
- Agricultural Equipment: It is used in some sections of ploughs, tractors, and various other farming equipment owing to its hard-wearing and abrasive nature.
Pig Iron
Pig iron is obtained by smelting iron ore with coal, which is coke, and limestone as a fluxing agent. It is made in a blast furnace and comes with high carbon levels, averaging 4%. About 5 percent of impurities are present in pig iron, including silicon, manganese, and sulphur. This traditional method of casting has given the name “pig iron” to the iron that is supplied for this process since the moulds in the form of tree branches are used to pour molten iron in the same way that the piglet feeds on the sow’s teats. Pig iron, therefore, has no direct application as a material since its characteristic is brittleness. However, it is a crucial component in the production of steel and other iron-based alloys.
Pig Iron Properties
- Carbon Content- High carbon content, typically between 3.5% to 4.5%.
- Impurities- Contains impurities such as silicon, manganese, and sulphur. The major impurity in pig iron is graphite.
- Nature- Brittle and difficult to work with directly.
- Production- Produced in blast furnaces from iron ore, coke (carbon source), and limestone (flux).
Pig Iron Composition
- Carbon: High carbon content ranging from 3.5% to 4.5%.
- Silicon: Usually around 1% to 3%.
- Manganese: Typically, about 0.5% to 1.5%.
- Sulphur: Varies but generally low, around 0.02% to 0.1%.
- Phosphorus: Generally present in small amounts, around 0.1% to 0.5%.
Pig Iron Price in India
Pig iron per kilogram price is between INR 30 and INR 60. However, it might vary depending on various factors.
Pig Iron Uses
Below are the most common uses of pig iron.
- Steel Production: Pig iron is used in the production of steel. It gets refined in basic oxygen furnaces or electric arc furnaces to reduce its carbon content and remove impurities, producing various grades of steel.
- Foundry and Casting: Pig iron is directly used in foundries for casting components like engine blocks, pipes, and automotive parts.
- Alloy Production: Pig iron can be alloyed with other metals to produce specialised alloys used in industries such as automotive manufacturing, aerospace, and construction.
- Chemical Industry: Some forms of pig iron are used in the chemical industry to produce compounds like iron chloride and iron sulphate, which have applications in water treatment and other chemical processes.
- Construction: Pig iron can be used in construction to manufacture structural elements like beams and columns, though more commonly as an intermediate product in steel used for construction.
Also Read:- Types of Iron Ore in India and Its Production
In the End
Pig and cast iron are two different types of iron. You must know their differences to use the right type at the right place. This guide on pig iron vs cast iron will help you with the same. However, remember to buy the right iron products from trusted manufacturers to ensure high quality.
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