Cast iron is a term applied to a wide range of iron-carbon alloys with more than around 1.6% carbon. Cast irons can cover a range of chemical compositions and metallurgical structures which give different mechanical and physical properties.
The weldability of the different types of cast iron can vary considerably and this requires the use of different filler metals, welding processes and techniques.
Before attempting any weld or repair of cast iron, it is necessary to determine its type and, preferably, its chemical composition and condition together with the application for which it was designed. Once these factors have been established, it is usually possible to determine whether or not a weld or repair is feasible together with the optimum process and technique.
Further information is available in:
Welding of cast irons - a guide to best practice
C.L.M.Cottrell, 'Welding cast irons', published by TWI, Abington, Cambridge, UK, 1986 and available from Woodhead Publishing, Abington, Cambridge, UK. e-mail: sales@woodhead-publishing.com
ISBN 0 85300 176 6
Guide for Welding Iron Castings - ANSI/AWS D11.2-89 (R2006), American Welding Society, Miami, Florida, USA. e-mail: info@aws.org
ISBN 0 87171 295 4
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