The difference between cast steel and cast iron
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In our facility, the casing material for the mechanical pumps was cast iron; it was later changed to cast steel. How can one tell the difference from the surface? What are the methods to identify it?
1. Tap: Cast iron produces a muffled sound, while cast steel yields a sharper sound. 2. Observation: The fracture surface of cast iron pieces is dull, whereas that of cast steel pieces is brighter (this is due to differences in carbon content)； On the surface, the structure of cast iron is loose, while that of cast steel is denser. 3. Sampling for testing – these are some of my views; let’s learn from each other.
The main difference lies in the carbon content, and the visual inspection on the second floor makes this quite clear.
As mentioned on the second floor, these are probably the main visual identification methods, but since pump housings all have uniform paint, it’s not easy to identify them just by looking at their appearance.
A saw blade or file can be used to gently saw or file the surfaces of both. Cast steel is harder than cast iron; the cut surface of cast steel appears bright white, while that of cast iron is grayish.
Are there any other ways besides looking at the cut?
The simplest method is to strike it with a hammer and judge by the sound. We are in the field of melting; we use this method frequently when adding raw materials to the furnace as it is convenient and simple.
Can it be polished with a angle grinder, and can the shape of the sparks and the color of the worn surface be used to make a judgment?