Düsseldorf, 21-07-08 

Continuously Cast Iron: Suitable for Many Applications

A semi-finished product destined for machining, continuously cast strands are available in the form of round, square or flat bars in a variety of dimensions and lengths. As it is a characteristic of the process that continuous castings solidify more quickly than normal sand castings, the material features certain special properties. Because of its relatively dense and fine-grained structure, it is highly impermeable to pressurised fluids and gases. Besides, product performance may be further improved by heat-treating, pre-machining, and coating. On request, foundries are now prepared to furnish completely finished products.

Strand segments, also known as bars, are available unmachined, shelled, or processed, depending on the customers' requirements. Thus, bars delivered for finishing will conform to the customer's material, mechanical-property, and dimensional specifications.

Continuous castings are often ordered at very short notice. To ensure their ability to deliver quickly and in adequate volumes despite the multitude of iron grades and bar dimensions in existence, foundries keep stocks in hand.

Summarising the results of a joint endeavour undertaken by foundries all over Europe , two reports by the International Commission Quality Assessment – Continuous Casting describe the range of materials available, their process-specific characteristics and properties, and quality assurance.

The subject addressed in this trade press release, Continuously Cast Iron: Suitable for Many Applications, was covered in No. 2/2005 and 2/2008 of konstruieren + giessen . Copies are available free of charge from ZGV – Zentrale für Gussverwendung, Sohnstraße 70, D-40237 Düsseldorf. (zgv@bdguss.de) 

 

The subjects dealt with in previous ZGV information brochures include

• Cast Metals for Engine Components are Heavy-duty Specialists
• Bionically Designed Castings with a Great Lightweight and Strength Potential
• Precision Casting – an Economical Solution for Complex Components  
• Austenitic Cast Iron Features Properties for Extreme Applications
• Welding of Castings – an Overview
• High-tech Castings Mirror the Dynamic Development of Wind Power Generation
• Cast Iron with Lamellar Graphite – still the most Frequently Used Cast Iron Material
• Cast Cylinder Heads and Crankcases Offer Versatile Solutions for the Cars of Today and Tomorrow
• High-alloy Casting Materials for Special Applications in the Pump Industry World
• Steel Castings for Buildings all over the World
• What to know about Cast iron with spheroidal graphite
• Versatile Non-destructive Tests for Castings