Cast iron is one of the oldest and most widely used metals in various industries. It has high strength, good wear resistance and ease of processing. This metal has its own characteristics that must be taken into account when carrying out welding and surfacing work. In this context, ESAB offers solutions that facilitate the welding and surfacing process of cast iron, providing excellent quality joints and coatings.
Material characteristics
The alloy contains more than 2% carbon, which gives it has unique physical and mechanical properties. But the high carbon content makes the job challenging. The metal can be brittle and susceptible to cracking during the process, which is due to:
- low ductility - the alloy has low ductility, which increases the likelihood of cracks when cooling.
- high content carbon - the higher it is, the greater the likelihood of cracking;
- non-uniform structure - may contain different phases (ferrite, austenite, pearlite and cementite), this also affects its behavior under thermal exposure.
Cast iron welding technology
It is recommended to preheat the parts to a temperature of 200-300 °C in order to reduce temperature gradients and thereby reduce the risk of defects. Welding consumables that have good compatibility with this metal should be used to avoid the formation of brittle structures.
Fladding
Fluid welding of cast iron is used to restore worn parts and increase their wear resistance. It can initiate the initiation and regeneration of surface properties, including strength and corrosion resistance.
The most commonly used is double fusion, where the first layer is made using cored wire, gives good adhesion and exceptional smoothness of the weld, and the secondary layer provides additional properties, such as resistance to abrasive wear.
ESAB Products
This manufacturer offers different options for welding and surfacing materials specially created for cast iron alloys.
- Wire for welding cast iron – designed for connecting parts made of gray and ductile cast iron with minimal deformation and exceptional seam quality. It contains special alloying elements that impart strength and ductility.
- Electrodes for welding and surfacing of cast iron – electrode materials are suitable for manual arc welding OK series They allow effective process control and minimize cracking. Surfacing of cast iron products using ESAB materials allows not only to restore their shape and size, but also to achieve an increase in strength.
Welding and surfacing of cast iron parts require special attention to the process and selection of materials. The use of high-quality, certified and specially designed products significantly increases the chances of successfully performing welding work with this alloy. The use of modern equipment and specialized wires will help to significantly improve the quality of seams and increase the service life of repaired products. You should always remember to carry out preliminary inspections and strength tests to ensure the safety and reliability of the final product.
