One of the most popular ways to make lasting and quality components is through castings. Casting allows for a high level of detail, which results in not needing and additional fabrication or assembly. While many different materials can be cast, steel and iron are the two most popular due to their excellent mechanical properties for a wide range of applications. Let’s take a look at some of the differences between steel castings and iron castings.
Corrosion Resistance
When it comes to corrosion, iron has better corrosion resistance than steel. That doesn’t mean that either is impervious to corrosion though. When left unprotected, both metals will oxidize in the presence of moisture. Eventually, they will completely decompose. To prevent this, the coating is recommended for both steel and iron castings.
Cost
Cast iron is often cheaper than cast steel because of the lower material costs, energy, and labor required to produce a final product. While raw steel is more expensive, there are, however, prefabricated forms of steel. Those include sheets, rods, bars, tubes, and beams.
Castability
Cast iron is relatively easy to cast, as it pours easily and doesn’t shrink as much as steel. This flowability makes cast iron an ideal metal for architectural or ornate ironwork structures such as fencing and street furniture.
Are You in the Market for Steel Castings?
Whether you are in the market for cast iron or cast steel, at Ferralloy we have you covered. No matter what the project, we have the product for you. Contact us today to learn more about our casting products and to place an order.