1/17/2025
Steel Casting: Meaning, grades, process, properties, types, uses.
Steel casting is a manufacturing process that makes steel ideal for various industries. Do you know how steel castings are made and what are its properties?
In this blog, we will read about how Jalpa Devi Engineering Pvt Ltd. makes its steel casting, its properties, manufacturing process, grades, and applications.
Steel casting is used in various industries in India and all over the world. Due to its versatility, steel casting makes it an ideal choice for a wide range of industries. Jalpa Devi Engineering being an ISO-certified company carries out the casting process with such efficiency that its products are highly preferred by professionals.
Meaning of steel casting
Steel melting is a manufacturing process that uses different types of steel. The casting process mainly uses cast steel poured into the casting to give the desired shape. Steel casting is generally used when cast iron does not have the required strength. In other words, steel is a casting of steel that is used in applications where strength is critical.
Properties of Steel Casting
The properties of steel casting include the following:
Strength: As mentioned above, steel casting is known for its strength and therefore is preferable in applications where strength is key.
Hardness: Steel castings have higher hardness. It can be enhanced with additional processing methods such as heat treatment.
Ductility: Steel castings have excellent ductility. This means that they can deform without breaking during traction.
Wear resistance: Steel castings are well known for their wear resistance property. This is an important characteristic in industries where abrasions and wear are needed.
Corrosion Resistance: Stainless steel castings have the highest corrosion resistance properties and therefore are the selected choice in industries such as chemical, petrochemical, Marine, Oil and gas, etc.
Machinability: Having the desired strength and hardness, steel castings are easier to machine. The degree of lightness depends on the grade of steel used. Machinability is an important characteristic in the fields of Mechanical Engineering where machining accuracy is paramount.
Other properties of steel casting include:
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Resistance
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Smoother surface
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Heat resistance
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Dimensional accuracy
Steel Casting Process
There are several types of steel casting. However, here are some of the key steps in the steel casting process.
Creating a template: A pattern of the desired part is made. This pattern is created in a form similar to that of the desired product and is called a pattern.
Forming: The template is then inserted into the container. The molding material is then packed to create a cavity in the mold. This cavity determines the shape of the steel part.
Merger: The steel is then melted in a furnace with a very very high temperature above 1500 degrees Celsius. The steel is then melted and poured into the mold.
Solidification stage: The molten steel is allowed to cool down and then it forms a cavity of it. Depending on the size and shape, solidification takes from a few minutes to several hours.
Removal: After the steel has hardened and cooled, it is safely removed from the mold.
Finish: Once the mold is removed, the steel casting is ready. Depending on the need and application, the casting can be subjected to additional treatments such as heat treatment, surface finish, and so on.
Types of Steel Casting
There are various methods of lost wax casting. Here are some of the most commonly used mixing modes:
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Sand casting:
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Investment casting
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Die casting
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Centrifugal casting
Grades of Steel Casting
As mentioned above, different types of steel are used for different purposes. The requirements for the merger determine its brands.
Below are some of the most used brands:
ASTM A27: This is a grade specification developed for carbon steel castings. ASTM A27 grade is mainly used for general applications.
ASTM A216: ASTM A216 grade is a type of casting alloy composed of iron and carbon. The characteristics of this grade include corrosion resistance, heat resistance, wear resistance, etc. This steel grade is suitable for applications where welding is required.
ASTM A352: ASTM A352 Die Casting Steel is usually used in parts such as valves, flanges, fittings, etc. This grade of steel is heat-treated.
ASTM A487 (ASTM A487 standard): This steel casting grade is suitable for the chemical and petrochemical industry. It has high strength and corrosion resistance.
ASTM A148: It is a high-strength steel casting mainly used for construction purposes. This means that it is used in the construction and production of industrial equipment.
Some other types of cast steel grades include:
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ASTM A732
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ASTM A743
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ASTM A744
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ASTM A890
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ISO 3755
Steel grades affecting the microstructure of steel smelting are determined by the way the molecules interact. Heating and cooling processes are used to change the microstructure when switching from one mold to another, which affects the quality of steel casting. The microstructure of steel casting cannot be seen with the naked eye but can be examined under a microscope.
Several different microstructures can be used in steel smelting: ferrite, perlite, martensite, cementite, and austenite.
Ferrite
Generally, low-carbon steel casting has this microstructure. The characteristic shape of ferrite is a body-centered cubic structure (BCC). Visually, it is a cube with molecules in each corner and molecules in the center of the cube. Compared with the microstructure of other steel grades, BCC molecules are packed more freely. However, the amount of carbon added to steel smelting without changing the microstructure of ferrite is small, only 0.006% at room temperature.
Austenite
Austenite is a microstructure formed when iron-based alloys are heated to temperatures above 1,500 F F but below 1,800 F The characteristic form of austenite is the face-centered cubic crystal structure (FCC). Visually, it's like a cube with a molecule in each corner and a molecule in the center on each side of the cube. The molecules in the austenitic structure are denser than those in the ferritic structure produced by steel casting. Austenite can contain up to 2% carbon and is a common microstructure for foundry steel grades.
Cementite
When steel smelting is heated to the temperature of austenite, it must be cooled in the absence of any alloy to maintain the shape of austenite. That is, the microstructure of steel casting is reduced to a ferritic form. However, if the carbon content of steel casting is more than 0.006%, the excess carbon atoms combine with iron to form a compound called Fe3C or cementite. Under normal conditions, cementite does not form on its own, since some types of molten steel contain ferrite.
Perlite
Perlite is a layered structure formed by alternating layers of ferrite and cementite from steel casting grades. When the melting grades of steel cool down slowly, an eutectic mixture is formed. An eutectic mixture is a mixture obtained by the simultaneous crystallization of two molten materials. Under such conditions, ferrite and cementite alloys are simultaneously formed in steel smelting, resulting in the formation of alternating layers in the microstructure.
Martensite
Martensite has a tetragonal crystalline structure centered on the body. This microcrystalline form is obtained when steel is poured with rapid cooling, causing the retention of carbon atoms in the iron lattice. Ultimately, cast steel grades with a very hard needle structure can be obtained. Martensite microcrystalline structure steel casting is generally a low-carbon steel alloy containing about 12% chromium.
Steel casting manufacturers and consumers need to know the microstructure of steel casting and steel casting grade. Carbon content, alloy concentration, and finishing methods affect all steel smelting grades, allowing you to control the finished product'sperformancet. Depending on the method of finishing and heat treatment used, two steel castings with the same alloy content may have different microstructures.
Steel Casting: Uses
Below are some applications for steel casting.
Automotive Steel is an important raw material for the automotive industry. Steel casting is characterized by a lower density, and therefore a low weight. This, combined with other properties such as wear resistance, corrosion resistance, etc., makes it an ideal choice for the automotive industry.
Construction:
High-strength steel castings such as ASTM A148 find application in structural steel, making them an ideal choice for the construction industry.
Industrial plant:
The wear resistance of steel casting makes it an ideal material for industrial equipment.
Chemical and petrochemical industry:
Steel casting is widely used in the chemical industry to produce pressure parts such as valves, flanges, fittings, etc.
Other industries where steel smelting is used include:
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