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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. R

    Robin hood cast iron boilers

    Dear colleagues , My name is Roohollah and an overseas Heating tech. I have recently collected some data on oldest cast iron boiler from UK which is called Robin hood boiler . Thus, I would like to request for any data or pics of those products if you ran into them before. Thanks a bunch for...
  2. J

    Connecting into old cast iron stack

    Good evening I've came across 90mm cast iron before and used mcalpine extB (90 to 110 extension) But what I have here kind of bellows out to 108mm internal as you can see in the photos. Is this some sort of conversion to clay which is why their is a bulge? What would be the 'Best' way of...
  3. P

    Cast iron bath/basin waste pipe fitting size?

    Hi, Helping a friend, his soil stack is cast iron. The bath and basin wastes (all removed now) went into individual entries on the stack. These are iron pipes, with what looks like a female internal thread into which there is some sort of metal reducer with what is maybe a compression fitting...
  4. jimbobex3

    Cast Iron Radiator - External Rust Advice

    I've spotted this rust patch on the outside of a cast iron radiator in the house. There's no sign of any water leaking from it on the floor, however when I put my finger on it, I couldn't say it was bone dry. Any advice on what I should do to try and resolve this? I'm a bit fearful of...
  5. F

    USA Replacement of cast iron flange

    cast iron top of toilet flange rusted. I removed the top of flange. The top of flange and 4” drain pipe are even and level. Can I replace flange with retro fit pvc/abs flange without removing the remaining part of cast iron flange?
  6. J

    68mm plastic pipe connecting to 68mm cast iron pipe

    I need to connect 68mm plastic pipe to 68mm cast iron pipe and the water will be running plastic to cast iron. The couplers I've come across seem to be suitable if the water was running from the cast iron pipe first to the plastic pipe. Coud someone please send me a link for a suitable coupler...
  7. M

    ASHP not compatible with existing CH (cast iron) pipework?

    Hello, We were due to have an air source heat pump installed on a grant scheme on Monday, with radiator size upgrade, but retrofitting using the existing pipework. The calculations have been done to show it's viable etc... However their engineer has just (!!) looked at the photos taken by the...
  8. L

    Cast Iron Radiators - which brand is best?

    Hi, we want to upgrade our downstairs radiators from normal ones to new cast iron ones. We have had a quote from Castrads and the quality looks great but they are twice as expensive as another similar option. Are they significantly better please? What should we be looking for? We want them to be...
  9. S

    Condensate in cast iron pipe

    Hi there I'm looking to run a 32mm condensate into cast iron with a mcalpine mechanical boss adaptor. I need to make a 57mm hole and was wondering what's the best tool to use for it. The 57mm holesaws I can see say they do sheet metal but will they do the job on cast iron? Any help will be...
  10. J

    70mm cast iron waste (water) pipe

    Hi All Hope your all doing good :) I'm moving our kitchen about, so change all plumbing/electrics, everthing. It's all going well except for one plumbing point. The sink was originally connected under floorboards (badly) to a 68/70mm caste iron pipe, but since sink location has changed I'm now...
  11. M

    Trying to source a smaller bath waste for an old cast iron bath

    Hi, can anyone advise on where to get a replacement smaller unslotted waste for an old cast iron bath please? The existing waste appears to be 1 1/4 BSP, not 1 1/2 as you'd expect. I'm including some photos of the existing installed bath waste next to a new 1 1/2 BSP waste to show the...
  12. C

    Cast Iron Radiator Pressure Problems

    Hello, I am hoping to gain some advice following encountering several issues which I'm struggling to determine the magnitude of in my central heating system. I had 8 new cast iron radiators installed in December and since then my Vokera 28 Compact boiler has been dropping pressure on a regular...
  13. J

    Cast Iron central heating in a church, should we upgrade?

    Hi All, I'm after a bit of advice about our church heating. We have a cast iron central heating system in the main church building that has recently suffered a leak where it joins onto the newer (circa 10 years old) boiler feed steel pipework. Finding a contractor who wants to work with cast...
  14. siricosm

    Programmable TRVs for cast iron radiators

    Does anyone know of programmable TRVs that would not look out of place on period cast iron radiators? Even finding regular TRVs is tricky, all the ones that "look good" seem to be very expensive and very good quality.
  15. moonlight

    Best way to drill a hole in a cast iron soil pipe.

    Can anyone tell me what is the best way to drill a hole in a soil stack. What drill would be best.Its external. Thanks.
  16. G

    exposed cast iron pipe in brick wall

    Hi all Discovered a sewage pipe in the back wall of the bathroom, in between the bricks. Not sure if this is normal, if not the explanation lies in the two words 'glasgow' and 'tenement'. It seems fine, I am boarding over that wall so I can just leave it, but would it be a good idea to fill it...
  17. bmbouter

    Wet hemp and cast iron pipe in crawlspace

    I have a 5" or 6" vertical cast iron pipe in a crawlspace. There is hemp hanging down which feels damp, and the pipe itself also feels a little damp. We can't see a clear "trickle" however. Another 3" horizontal iron pipe comes from a nearby toilet and joins with this cast iron below the hemp...
  18. M

    Connecting to cast iron tee

    What's the best way of connecting 110mm plastic to a cast iron tee after removing the lead? Is it to just clear out the flange on the tee insert the 110mm pvc. Then rope and plumbers mate or silicone?
  19. C

    Limited options for adding a boss to 90mm cast iron stack

    Hello, I have the exact same issue as this chap had 4 years ago, however I am unable to post on that thread and no solution was ever arrived at (Cast Iron Boss for 40mm waste - https://www.plumbersforums.net/threads/cast-iron-boss-for-40mm-waste.89358/). I have already read a lot of threads on...
  20. R

    Cast Iron breather pipe - Internal air valve?

    Hi all, Anyone help on what part I need to get to fit to a 340mm diameter cast iron downpipe that does not serve the main sewage run? I'm told I need an ' Internal air inlet valve with rubber joiner'. The cast iron pipe will be cut, sealed then boxed in internally in a conservatory. Links to...
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