Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Metals are used for various engineering purposes such as structural members, roofing materials, damp proof courses, pipes, tanks, doors, window etc. Out of all the metals, iron is the most prevalent metal and used in construction activity since pre-historic times.
Ferrous Metals: Ferrous metals are the type of metals which contains iron as their main constituent.
Non – Ferrous Metals: Non – ferrous metals are the type of metals which does not contain iron as their main constituent. The earth’s crust contains about 5% iron. However, it is present as iron oxide. Iron is obtained from iron oxide by reduction with a reducing agent. The principal reducing agent
that is used naturally occurring carbon in the form of coke, coal or charcoal.
According to ‘Ahindra Ghosh and Amit Chatterjee’ (Author of Ironmaking and Steelmaking Theory and Practice), For economic extraction of iron, relatively well deposited iron ore, with iron contents above 55 – 60% are generally used. Iron can form alloys with many elements. Iron is most commonly
used metal in construction industry since pre-historic times. Nowadays, it is used in makingstructural members, roofing materials, damp proof courses, pipes, tanks, doors, windows etc. Any construction is incomplete without iron. To suit various needs, alloying of Iron is done to produce various
grades of Iron having multiple properties. Iron can form alloys with many elements.
Broadly speaking, the iron products can be classified into three categories,
Steel
Cast-iron
Wrought iron
Products of Iron
All three products are modified form of iron, artificially produced and having qualities of hardness, elasticity and strength varying according to composition. Today steel is an essential product of iron used for construction, while wrought iron is used in very small quantities for ornamental purposes.
Here, we are discussing the difference between Mild steel, Cast-iron and Wrought iron.
01. Definition
Mild Steel
According to ‘Christopher Gorse’, ‘David Johnston’ and ‘Martin Pritchard’ (Author of Oxford Dictionary of Construction, Surveying & Civil Engineering), Mild steel is a type of steel containing not more than 2 % carbon content and very few additional alloying elements. It is also called Low Carbon
Steel or soft steel.
Cast-Iron
According to ‘David Blockley’ (Author of New Dictionary of Civil Engineering), Cast-iron is a brittle alloy of iron and carbon that can be readily cast in a mould.
Wrought Iron
According to ‘David Blockley’ (Author of New Dictionary of Civil Engineering), Wrought iron is very malleable form of iron with low carbon content suitable for forging or rolling rather than casting.
02. Composition
Mild Steel
Carbon Steel is unalloyed steel, which contains elements such as carbon, manganese, phosphorus, Sulphur and silicon. Mild steel is a type of carbon steel which contains 0.15 to 0.25 % carbon.
Cast-Iron
Cast iron contains about 2 to 4 % of carbon. Also, it contains various impurities such as manganese, phosphorus, silicon and Sulphur.
The manganese makes cast-iron brittle and hard. Therefore, its proportion should be kept below 0.75 %.
The phosphorus increases the fluidity of cast-iron. It also makes cast-iron brittle and when its proportion is more than 0.30 %, the resulting cast-iron lacks toughness and workability. Sometimes, its percentage is kept at about 1 to 1.5 to get very thin castings.
The silicon combined with part of iron makes a reliable solution. It also removes combined carbon from graphite form. If its amount is less than 2.5%, it decreases shrinkage and ensures softer and better castings.
The Sulphur makes cast-iron brittle and hard. Also, it does not allow smooth cooling in sand mould. Its presence causes rapid solidification of cast – iron, resulting in blowholes and sand – holes. The Sulphur content should be kept below 0.10%.
Wrought Iron
Wrought iron is almost pure iron, produced by removing the impurities of cast-iron. The total impurities are limited to 0.5 % with a maximum percentage of carbon 0.15%, silicon 0.15 – 0.20%, phosphorus 0.12 – 0.16%, Sulphur 0.02 – 0.03% and manganese 0.03 – 0.10%.
03. Structure
Mild Steel
Cast-Iron
The structure of cast-iron is granular and crystalline with a whitish or greyish tinge.
Wrought Iron
The fresh fracture of wrought iron shows clear bluish colour with silky, lustrous and fibrous appearance.
04. Strength
Strength of material is its capacity to resist a force, pressure or stress. The Strength increases with increase in carbon content.
Mild Steel
The Strength of mild steel is less than Cast-iron and more than wrought iron.
Cast-Iron
The Strength of Cast-iron is more than mild steel and wrought iron.
Wrought Iron
Ultimate Compressive Strength is the maximum stress that a material can withstand before getting crushed.
Mild Steel
The ultimate compressive strength of mild steel varies from 800 to 1200 N/mm2.
Cast-Iron
Wrought Iron
Ultimate tensile strength is the maximum stress that a material can endure under a resultant tensile force or stress.
Mild Steel
The ultimate tensile strength of mild steel varies from 600 to 800 N/mm2.
Cast-Iron
Wrought Iron
07. Hardness
The ability of a material to resist penetration by a harder body is known as its Hardness. According to ‘Francis D. K. Ching’ (Author of Building Construction Illustrated), with the increase in carbon content, hardness increases.
Mild Steel
The Hardness of mild steel is less than Cast-iron but more than wrought iron.
Cast-Iron
The Hardness of Cast-iron is more than mild steel and wrought iron.
Wrought Iron
The Hardness of wrought iron is less than mild steel and cast iron.
08. Brittleness
Brittleness is a measure of how brittle material is, which is characterized by little or no plastic deformation. A material which breaks into pieces or which can be easily reduced to powder form is known as a brittle material. E.g. Glass. A deformation is said to be plastic when the solid
deforms when it is loaded, and change in shape takes place after the load is removed. The increase in carbon content increase the brittleness.
Mild Steel
Cast-Iron
Cast-iron is brittle.
Wrought Iron
09. Toughness
Toughness is a material property indicating the energy required to break a material. A material which does not easily break under a hammer is called tough material. According to ‘P. N. Khanna’ (Author of Indian Practical Civil Engineers’ Handbook), toughness decreases with the increase
in carbon content
Mild Steel
The toughness of mild steel is more than Cast-iron and less than wrought iron.
Cast-Iron
The toughness of Cast-iron is less than mild steel and wrought iron.
Wrought Iron
The toughness of wrought iron is more than mild steel and cast iron.
10. Tempering
Mild Steel
Cast- Iron
Cast-iron can be hardened by heating and sudden cooling, but it cannot be tempered.
Wrought Iron
11. Malleability
Malleability of material is defined as its ability that material can be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking or cracking. According to ‘M M Goyal’ (Author of Construction Handbook for civil engineers and Architects), as the carbon content increases, the malleability decreases.
Mild Steel
The malleability of mild steel is more than cast iron and less than wrought iron.
Cast-Iron
Wrought Iron
Melting point is defined as the temperature at which the solid changes into liquid.
Mild Steel
Cast-Iron
Wrought Iron
13. Ductility
Ductility is the ability of a material to undergo plastic deformation. According to ‘M M Goyal’ (Author of Construction Handbook for civil engineers and Architects), with the increase in carbon contentthe ductilitydecrease.
Mild Steel
Mild steel is ductile. Ductility of mild steel is more than that of cast iron and less than that of wrought iron.
Cast-Iron
Wrought Iron
Wrought iron is ductile. Ductility of wrought iron is more than mild steel and cast-iron.
14. Elasticity
Elasticity is the ability of a material to restore its initial form and dimensions after the load is removed.
Mild Steel
Cast – Iron
Wrought Iron
15. Plasticity
Plasticity of a material is defined as its ability to change its shape under load without cracking and to retain its shape after the removal of load.
Mild Steel
Cast – Iron
Wrought Iron
16. Weldability
Weldability is the ability of the material to get welded under specific conditions. According to ‘M M Goyal’ (Author of Construction Handbook for civil engineers and Architects),with the increase in carbon contentthe weldability decreases.
Mild Steel
The weldability of mild steel is more than cast-iron and less than wrought iron.
Cast-Iron
The weldability of the cast-iron is less than mild steel and wrought iron.
Wrought Iron
The weldability of wrought iron is more than mild steel and cast-iron.
17. Magnetization
Magnetization is a measure of how easily a material can exhibit magnetic properties when subjected to a magnetic field.
Mild Steel
Cast-Iron
Wrought Iron
18. Forging
Mild Steel
Cast-Iron
Wrought Iron
19. Rusting
Rusting is a form of material degradation highly prevalent in metals, especially ferrous metals and usually initiated by the presence of oxygen and water.
Mild Steel
Mild steel rusts easily and rapidly than cast-iron. But do not rust easily than wrought iron.
Cast-Iron
Cast-iron does not rust easily than Mild Steel and Wrought iron.
Wrought Iron
Wrought iron rusts easily and rapidly than Mild steel and cast-iron.
Corrosion Resistance of material is defined as its ability to withstand contact with ambient natural factors without degradation or change in properties. Any increase in carbon content will increase the rate of corrosion.
Mild Steel
The corrosion resistance of mild steel is less than wrought iron. But corrosion resistance of mild steel is more than cast – iron.
Cast-Iron
The corrosion resistance of cast-iron is less than mild steel and wrought iron.
Wrought Iron
The corrosion resistance of wrought iron ismore than mild steel and cast-iron.
The ratio of the density of the given material to the density of the reference material is called as Specific gravity. It is also called as relative density.
Mild Steel
Cast-Iron
Wrought Iron
22. Uses
Mild Steel
Mild steel is used in the form of rolled sections, reinforcing bars, roof coverings and sheet piles and railway tracks.
Also Read: What is the Difference Between Mild Steel and Stainless Steel?
Cast Iron
For making cisterns, water pipes, gas pipes and sewers, manhole covers and sanitary fittings.
For making ornamental castings such as brackets, gates, lamp posts, spiral staircase etc.
For making machinery parts which are not subject to heavy shocks.
For manufacturing compression members like columns in building, bases of columns etc.
For preparing agricultural implements.
For preparing rail chairs, carriage wheels etc.
Wrought Iron
Nowadays, wrought iron is widely used in place of mild steel. Generally, it is used where tough material is required.
Conclusion:
Iron products are mainly classified as Steel, Cast-iron and Wrought iron. The differences in their properties are due to the different amounts of carbon they contain.
Smaller the amount of carbon in steel, nearer will its properties be to those of wrought iron and greater the quantity of carbon, Steel would resemble the cast-iron.
Here, we have discussed the difference between Mild Steel Vs Cast-iron Vs Wrought Iron with respect to constituents, properties and uses. We hope this article would enable to you to choose the perfect iron product for your various needs. If you have any queries, feel free to leave a comment.
Also Read:
200/300/400 Series
Large Inventory, Fast Delivery, High Quality, Low Price, Factory Direct Selling.
wxtisco.com OPEN
What is the Difference Between Mild Steel and High Tensile Steel?
Janvi Desai
Janvi Desai is a Civil Engineer (BE). She graduated from Government Engineering College – Bharuch in 2017. She is an Engineer
(Civil) at SDCPL – Gharpedia. She is passionate about research and study of latest developments. You can easily reach her via
LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest. Besides being blogger, she also participates in quantity survey, site management,
design & detailing.
BEST HOME DESIGNS
Showcase your Best Designs
Designer Corporate Skyline Pvt. Ltd. Owner Mr. Hanumant jadhav Designer Square 7 Architects & Interior Designers Owner Mr.Keshav Kunj Designer Space It Up
Designer Novel Furniture And More Designer Xclusive Interiors Pvt. Ltd Owner Mr.Hanumant jadhav Designer Square 7 Architects & Interior Designers
view all
Stainless Steel Sheet Price - What is the Di erence Shop For Wall & Floor Tiles Pros and Cons of Steel
Quality Assurance Between Mild Steel and Reinforcement Bars
High Tensile Steel?
Curtain Wall - Glass What is the Di erence Why Steel is Used in RC Di erent Methods for
Between Mild Steel and (Reinforced Concrete)? Mixing Concrete
Stainless Steel?
If You See Square Waves In The Ocean Get Out Of The Water
Immediately
MyHealthReads.com
0 Comments Gharpedia 🔒
1 Login
LOG IN WITH
Name
How To Play the U.S Mega Millions From Your Mobile? | 24Lottos
24lottos
Remember Her? Take a Deep Breath Before Seeing How She Looks Like Now
Half Eddie
Young, Sexy, and Filthy Rich! The Wealthiest Heiresses You May or May Not Know
Networthus.com
A Job In The UK May Pay You More Than You Think. Check The List
UK Jobs | Search Ads
View All