White cast iron

Description

A hard brittle cast iron that contains less than 1% silicon. White cast iron is heated for long periods at 800-900 C then cooled rapidly. This produces a matrix of cementite (Fe3C). White cast iron is very wear resistant and is used for rollers and machinery.

Synonyms and Related Terms

cermet; ferro fundido branco (Port.)

Other Properties

Very brittle, but good hardness and abrasion resistance.

Authority

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 155

• David C. Scott, Metallography and Microstructure of Ancient and Historic Metals, The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, 1991

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cast_iron (Accessed Oct. 18, 2005)