Wrought Steel vs Cast Steel

Wrought Steel vs Cast Steel

Wrought steel and cast steel are often confused by consumers and manufacturers due to their similar names. However, they are fundamentally different materials with distinct properties and applications.

Wrought steel is typically heated and then shaped using tools and machinery, while cast steel is melted and poured into molds where it solidifies. The names of these steels also reflect their manufacturing processes—wrought steel means "worked steel," and cast steel refers to the casting process used in its production.

Wrought steel is known for its high ductility, allowing it to be reheated and reshaped multiple times. One of its key advantages is that its strength increases when it's worked. It contains less carbon than cast iron, making it more malleable and easier to work with. Here are some of its main benefits:

  • Excellent welding properties, making it easy to shape according to specific needs.
  • High flexibility and ductility, ideal for applications requiring bendability or formability.
  • Strong tensile strength, suitable for use in harsh environments.
  • Easy to forge, enabling the creation of complex shapes without significant difficulty.

Cast steel, on the other hand, has a higher carbon content (between 2.0% and 4.0%) and includes elements like manganese and silicon. It is produced by melting iron ore and combining it with scrap metals and alloys. The molten mixture is then poured into molds and allowed to cool and harden. Compared to wrought steel, cast steel is harder, more brittle, and less malleable.

It is widely used in the production of cookware, mechanical equipment, and construction materials. Its advantages include:

  • High compressive strength, offering resistance to pressure.
  • Good durability and toughness, which can be further improved through alloying and heat treatment.
  • Excellent machinability, making it easy to cut, grind, and drill into desired shapes.
  • High wear resistance, especially when enhanced with elements like chromium or molybdenum.

Table of contents

  • Difference between wrought steel and cast steel
  • Heat Treatment of cast steel
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of cast iron steel
  • Advantages of wrought iron
  • Puddling process vs Metal Casting process
  • Types of cast iron
  • Properties of 4140 cast steel
  • Chemical composition of Cast iron
  • Cast Iron mechanical properties
  • AISI 4140 Heat Treatment
  • Wrought Iron chemical composition
  • Wrought Steel mechanical properties
  • Inspection and Testing of Cast steel
  • Manufacturing process of 4340 steel casting
  • Cast steel valves temperature range
  • Difference between Wrought Iron and Steel
  • Surface finish of Cast iron parts

Difference between wrought steel and cast steel

Wrought Iron Cast Iron
It is iron that has been heated and then worked with tools. It is iron that has been melted, poured into a mold, and allowed to solidify
It is brittle It is ductile
Higher tensile strength Lower tensile strength compared to Wrought Iron
Low melting point High melting point
It is difficult to weld It is easily welded

Right technique for welding cast steel, check 4140/ 4340 Steel Heat Treatment and Casting hardness

Heat Treatment of cast steel

  • Annealing
  • Precipitation Strengthening
  • Tempering
  • Case Hardening
  • Normalising
  • Quenching
Heat Treatment of cast steel

Refer advantages of Cast and Wrought Steel products

Advantages and Disadvantages of cast iron steel

Advantages

  • Cast iron has excellent fluidity after melting
  • High Wear Resistance
  • Excellent Machinability
  • Compression Strength
  • Low Cost

Disadvantages

  • It is relatively brittle and may fracture
  • Very easily get rusted
  • It is relatively heavy

Advantages of wrought iron

  • Increased ductility
  • Excellent weldability
  • Easily forged
  • High tensile & compressive strength
  • Enhanced malleability

Check difference between puddling of cast iron and Metal Casting process

Puddling process vs Metal Casting process

The puddling process involves converting pig iron into wrought iron by heating and stirring it in a furnace without using charcoal. This was an early method for producing wrought iron in large quantities.

On the other hand, metal casting involves pouring molten metal into a mold, allowing it to solidify into the desired shape. This process is ideal for creating complex components that would be difficult or expensive to produce otherwise.

Types of cast iron

Gray Cast Iron

Gray Cast Iron

Ductile Cast Iron

Ductile Cast Iron

White Cast Iron

White Cast Iron

Malleable Cast Iron

Malleable Cast Iron

Properties of 4140 cast steel

  • Hardness
  • Ductility
  • Wear resistance
  • Corrosion resistance
  • Toughness
  • Strength
  • Machinability
  • Weldability
  • Low-temperature properties
  • High-temperature properties
Properties of 4140 cast steel
Types of Cast Steel material, check grades, composition, and density in kg/m3

Chemical composition of Cast iron

ASTM Chemical Requirements
STEEL GRADE Carbon Manganese Silicon Sulfur Phosphorus
Max % / Range
ASTM A27 / A27M
Grade N-1 0.25 0.75 0.80 0.06 0.05
Grade N-2 0.35 0.60 0.80 0.06 0.05
Grade U60-30 0.25 0.75 0.80 0.06 0.05
Grade 60-30 0.30 0.60 0.80 0.06 0.05
Grade 65-35 0.30 0.70 0.80 0.06 0.05
Grade 70-36 0.35 0.70 0.80 0.06 0.05
Grade 70-40 0.25 1.20 0.80 0.06 0.05
ASTM A148 / A148M
Grade 80-40 N/A N/A N/A 0.06 0.05
Grade 80-50 N/A N/A N/A 0.06 0.05
Grade 90-60 N/A N/A N/A 0.06 0.05
ASTM A216 / A216M
Grade WCA 0.25 0.70 0.60 0.045 0.04
Grade WCB 0.30 1.00 0.60 0.045 0.04
Grade WCC 0.25 1.20 0.60 0.045 0.04

Cast Iron mechanical properties

ASTM Mechanical Properties
STEEL GRADE Tensile Strength Yield Point Elongation in 2 in. Reduction of Area
Min. ksi [Mpa] / Range Min. %
ASTM A27 / A27M
Grade U60-30 60 [415] 30 [205] 22 30
Grade 60-30 60 [415] 30 [205] 24 35
Grade 65-35 65 [450] 35 [240] 24 35
Grade 70-36 70 [485] 36 [250] 22 30
Grade 70-40 70 [485] 40 [275] 22 30
ASTM A148 / A148M
Grade 80-40 80 [550] 40 [275] 18 30
Grade 80-50 80 [550] 50 [345] 22 35
Grade 90-60 90 [620] 60 [415] 20 40
ASTM A216 / A216M
Grade WCA 60-85 [415-585] 30 [205] 24 35
Grade WCB 70-95 [485-655] 36 [250] 22 35
Grade WCC 70-95 [485-655] 40 [275] 22 35

AISI 4140 Heat Treatment

Soft annealing °C Cooling Hardness HB
650-700 slowly max. 280
Stress-relief annealing °C Cooling
630 – 650 Furnace
1st pre-heating °C 2nd and 3rd Hardening °C Quenching Tempering °C Hardness after Teperature HRC
up to approx. 400 in an air-circulating furnace 780 and 1000 1190 – 1230 Saltbath, at least 520 °C Oil ,Air at least twice 530-560 64 – 66

Wrought Iron chemical composition

Element Iron, Fe Carbon, C Phosphorus, P Silicon, Si Sulfur, S Manganese, Mn
Content (%) 99-99.8 0.05-0.25 0.05-0.2 0.02-0.2 0.02-0.1 0.01-0.1

Wrought Steel mechanical properties

Properties Imperial Metric
Tensile strength 34000-54000 psi 234-372 MPa
Modulus of elasticity 28000 ksi 193100 MPa
Yield strength 23000-32000 psi 159-221 MPa

Inspection and Testing of Cast steel

  • Dimensional accuracy
  • Surface finish condition
  • Internal soundness
  • Chemical analysis
  • Heat analysis
  • Tensile properties
  • Impact properties
  • Hardness
Inspection and Testing of Cast steel

Manufacturing process of 4340 steel casting

  • Furnace charging
  • Melting
  • Refining
  • De-slagging
  • Tapping (or tap out)
  • Furnace turn-around
Refer cast steel valves uses and temperature limit

Cast steel valves temperature range

Temperature range -29°C to 425°C

Difference between Wrought Iron and Steel

Characteristics Wrought Iron Steel
Carbon content 0.08% 4%
Tensile Strength Very good tensile strength Greater tensile strength
Workmanship Requires less workmanship. Requires more craftsmanship than wrought iron

Surface finish of Cast iron parts

  • Shot Blasting
  • Painting
  • Powder Coating
  • Electroplating

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