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cast iron

Cast iron is a group of iron–carbon alloys with a carbon content more 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, and ductile cast iron has spherical graphite "nodules" which stop the crack from further progressing.
Carbon (C), ranging from 1.8 to 4 wt%, and silicon (Si), 1–3 wt%, are the main alloying elements of cast iron. Iron alloys with lower carbon content are known as steel.
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 material with 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 damage by oxidation but is difficult to weld.
The earliest cast-iron artefacts date to the 5th century BC, and were discovered by archaeologists in what is now Jiangsu in China. Cast iron was used in ancient China for warfare, agriculture, and architecture. During the 15th century, cast iron became utilized for cannon in Burgundy, France, and in England during the Reformation. The amounts of cast iron used for cannon required large scale production. The first cast-iron bridge was built during the 1770s by Abraham Darby III, and is known as The Iron Bridge in Shropshire, England. Cast iron was also used in the construction of buildings.

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  1. W

    Cast Iron Bath

    Only done one full bathroom to date. Went well but obviously being my first took it out of me a bit. Got possible 2nd one to quote on shortly. She says there's a cast iron bath to remove. Dealt with one of these before with one of the guys I worked with. Was a case of.. gloves on, goggles on...
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  2. C

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  3. W

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  4. P

    40mm waste to cast iron soil stack

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  5. C

    Cast Iron Soil Pipe Junction Rotation/Removal

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  6. T

    Connecting to old cast iron soil

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  7. T

    cast iron rad valves , a cheaper alternative?

    just wondering what kind of valves manual rad valves are? i was thinking i could perhaps use the gate valve and lock shield gate valve half way down the page? what do you guys think? Toolstation > Plumbing > Valves
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  8. J

    cast iron radiators

    Hi all I am due to take out some old cast iron rads and want to know how easy it might be to take them apart on site for ease of handling. As they are all damaged they have no salvage value. I have read on other posts that there are different methods of joining the sections but how can you...
  9. T

    wanted cast iron rads, suffolk or east sussex areas.

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  10. S

    Cast Iron Radiator repairs??

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  11. P

    cast iron again

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  12. P

    cast iron stack

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  13. J

    cast iron soil pipes

    I am in the process of fitting a mascerator with a32mm dicharge pipe can anyone help on how to fix said discharge pipe into soil pipe please. john L
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  14. R

    cast iron work

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  15. A

    Cast Iron External Stack

    I have to install a downstairs WC Cloakroom and need to cut a hole through the wall and boss a 4" branch into an existing black cast iron stack. I have a few ideas but wanted to see what other's ideas were. The main two were buying a 110mm black boss and drilling a hole into the cast iron...
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  16. J

    3.5" Cast iron soil to Modern loo pan

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  17. T

    Removing cast iron soil pipe

    Hi all, I plan to replace the cast iron soil pipe on the outside of my house with plastic, but I was wondering if it's a job that's feasible from ladders or am I realistically looking at hiring scaffolding? Thanks in advance.
  18. L

    cast iron column rads

    Hi, Can anybody advise me how to calculate the output of cast iron column radiators please. also another question on a different project, on a CHS sourced by a wood boiler stove the norm is to use 22mm tube on the flow and return to the radiators linking the rads with 15mm tube. Can this be...
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  19. P

    Cast iron bath

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  20. J

    How can I remove the cast iron drain pipe fittings?

    Hi, I live in a 50 year old house but have a problem removing the cast iron drain pipe fittings. The cast iron hopper at the top of the drain pipe has cracked and water is seeping down the wall. I have in fact been able to smash the cast iron wall fixing with a hammer but the bolts securing...
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