Although both cast steel and cast iron involve melting metal in a furnace and then shaping it in a mold, there are significant differences between the two.
The main difference is that cast steel involves melting iron and carbon alloys in precise proportions to produce steel with specific properties. Adding alloying elements can improve the properties of the steel, such as corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, and hardness.
On the other hand, the cast iron process involves melting pure iron or high-carbon iron alloys (i.e., cast iron). Cast iron has a different crystalline structure than steel, making it more brittle, but also easier to melt and shape than steel.
Another important difference is that steel casting typically requires higher temperatures and more complex furnaces than cast iron. This is because steel alloys have a higher melting point and are more sensitive to temperature changes than cast iron.
Finally, the applications of steel castings and cast iron parts are generally different. Steel parts are often used in applications requiring high strength, durability, and corrosion resistance, such as aircraft engine parts, wind turbines, and drilling equipment. Cast iron parts, on the other hand, are more commonly used in applications where cost and ease of processing are more important, such as internal combustion engine parts and drainage pipes.
