- 2078 Kartik · 3 marks
Cast iron versus wrought iron
Short answer
Cast iron has 2-4.5% carbon, is hard and brittle, strong in compression but weak in tension, used for pipes and columns. Wrought iron has below 0.15% carbon, is soft, tough, can be forged/welded, and used for ornamental work, gates.
Differentiate between cast iron and wrought iron.
| Point | Cast iron | Wrought iron |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon content | 2-4.5% | Below 0.15% (almost pure iron) |
| Production | Remelting pig iron in a cupola | Puddling pig iron in a furnace |
| Nature | Hard and brittle | Soft, tough, ductile and malleable |
| Tensile strength | Low | High |
| Compressive strength | High | Moderate |
| Forging / welding | Cannot be forged or welded easily | Can be forged and welded |
| Fusibility | Melts easily (lower melting point) | Melts at high temperature; not cast |
| Corrosion | Resists rust well | Resists rust (due to slag fibres) |
| Fracture | Granular | Fibrous |
| Use | Pipes, columns, manhole covers, brackets | Gates, railings, chains, rivets, ornamental work |
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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