Cast iron
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White cast iron has a characteristic white, Crystalline fracture surface. Large amounts of Fe2C are formed during casting giving hard brittle material. It is formed by rapid cooling and has good wear resistance. It is used as railway brake shoes.
Gray cast iron has a grey fracture surface with afinely faceted structure. A significant silicon content (2 to 3wt %) promotes graphite (carbon) precipitation rather than cementite Fe3C. The sharp pointed graphiteflakes contributesbrittleness in greyiron. The dispersion of graphiteflakes accounts for 2 attractive properties. Grey cast iron has the largest tonnage amongst cast irons.
