A Question About Pouring Cast Iron

[RoyG]

358780Over on the woodwork forum, someone recently posted links to Matthias Burger (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjAX3Gz9iyJnEtR6yqZr53g)'s Youtube Channel. The subject of most of his videos is traditional 15th Century Wood Framed House renovation woodworking and renovating and using late 1800s and early 1900s woodworking machinery.

However, two of his videos address making a wooden casting die (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhMk_G-M7vM&list=PLIWqttZ7MZWEbgjxKMLyD_RzVdy4vaROc&index=3), and then pouring some cast iron wheels. The following is the link to the "Casting an Iron Wheel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTr8cscmx-M&list=PLIWqttZ7MZWEbgjxKMLyD_RzVdy4vaROc&index=1)" video.

So - now the question. At the 7 minute 56 second point in the Casting an Iron Wheel video, just as the liquid cast iron is poured from the furnace into a big ladle, the ladle operator tips a cup of something into the liquid cast iron mix. The image at left is taken from that moment in the video. Does anyone know what would have been added at that point, and why ?

Thanks,

RoyG

[Master Splinter]

I would presume limestone, to help separate the slag off the top.

[LordBug]

Could it be bicarb soda (or similar) for degassing purposes?

[texx]

ferrosilicon would be my guess

[labr@]

A late reply I know but I've only just stumbled on to this forum.

Texx is right, it would be ferrosilicon or a proprietary inoculant based on ferrosilicon.

The late addition of a small quantity helps provide extra seeding sites that refine the structure and help reduce the likelihood of carbides in faster cooling areas like thin section/external corners. It's been a while since being involved with such things but I think the addition rate was somewhere in the order of 0.05 - 0.1 % of the metal weight.

Tipping it into the stream coming out of the furnace is the preferred method of addition to assist even distribution.

[Peter 305]

A late reply I know but I've only just stumbled on to this forum.

Texx is right, it would be ferrosilicon or a proprietary inoculant based on ferrosilicon.

The late addition of a small quantity helps provide extra seeding sites that refine the structure and help reduce the likelihood of carbides in faster cooling areas like thin section/external corners. It's been a while since being involved with such things but I think the addition rate was somewhere in the order of 0.05 - 0.1 % of the metal weight.

Tipping it into the stream coming out of the furnace is the preferred method of addition to assist even distribution.

I'd recommend going to YouTube and looking for videos by LuckyGen 1001 .Excellent stuff with lots on melting cast iron and furnace building.