Difference Between Cast Aluminum and Cast Iron

 

Key Points Cast Iron Cast Aluminum Weight Heavyweight Lightweight Melting Point More than cast aluminum Less than cast iron Thermal Conductivity Lower Higher Heat Holding Capability Higher Lower Lifespan Long-Lasting Not long-lasting Brittleness More brittle Less brittle

 

 

Cast aluminum is aluminum or its alloys that are heated to the melting point and then cooled after giving a particular shape using different types of molds. Whereas, cast iron is an alloy of iron where there is more than 2% carbon content.

Cast aluminum products are mostly for automobile and aerospace industries, unlike cast iron products which are mostly for home utility items such as cookware. There are more differences between the two metals which are described below:

Weight

 

When it comes to casting aluminum vs cast iron, casting aluminum products has a lighter weight than the same cast iron products. This is because aluminum is lighter than iron and though both cast iron and cast aluminum contain other metal contents it doesn’t change their weight too much.

Melting Point

 

Cast iron has a melting point of 2200oF or 1204oC. But casting aluminum’s melting point is 1220oF or 660oC and casting aluminum alloys have melting points varying from 865oF or 463oC to 1240oF or 671oC. The higher melting point of cast iron allows the parts to hold on to heat longer than cast aluminum parts.

 

Thermal Conductivity

 

Most cast aluminum alloys have a thermal conductivity of more than 100 W/m K. But cast iron’s thermal conductivity is only 52 W/m K. This means casting aluminum products heat up faster than cast iron products.

Product Lifespan

 

Cast iron parts do not decay as fast as cast aluminum products. So cast iron parts have a longer lifespan in comparison. But cast aluminum is less brittle than cast iron. Cast iron parts can have fractures over time, unlike casting aluminum. And cast iron components get rusty but aluminum components don’t.

 

Aluminum Die Casting Services Offered by Sunrise Metal

 

Sunrise metal is one of the top die casting aluminum parts manufacturers in China. We focus on die-casting aluminum and its alloys and we have been doing this for over a decade. Our die casting facilities include pressure die casting, vacuum casting, squeeze casting, and more.

We have over 182 skilled professionals including engineers, workers, and employees, who handle our production process with extreme care. For aluminum casting parts we provide high, medium, and low volume production services.

Our Casting Aluminum Capabilities

 

In sunrise metal, we have the most modern technology for die casting aluminum components. We use efficient techniques on casting aluminum. Our different finishing methods help the cast aluminum components to have better properties.

Casting is not the only service we provide. We also provide additional services to casting such as:

You can make prototype casting aluminum parts and test them here in our facilities before going into mass production. Sunrise metal is the complete solution for all your aluminum die casting manufacturing problems.

Which Industries We Work With

 

Sunrise Metal has 4 large dedicated facilities and we provide services to clients in China as well as other countries. Our products are used in different industries around the world such as:

 

• Medical
• Marine
• Automotive
• Telecommunication & Networking
• Laboratory Instrument
• Aerospace
• Smart Metering, etc.

Clients from these industries all over the world have already taken our die casting aluminum services and they found it quite satisfactory. You can also contact us to get the best casting aluminum parts manufacturing services.

 

When is Cast Aluminum More Preferable Than Cast Iron?

 

Cast iron has some advantages over cast aluminum, for example, cast iron components are stronger than casting aluminum. Also, cast iron components can hold heat much longer than casting aluminum. Still, in many cases, manufacturers prefer cast aluminum over cast iron, for example:

• Cast-iron components are usually quite heavy. In some cases, heavyweight can be a huge drawback. For example, automobile components need to be lightweight and strong. An engine block made of cast iron will only add more to the vehicle weight. So in this case, casting aluminum is more preferable.
• Cast aluminum components do not get rusty like cast iron components. So it is more convenient to use casting aluminum components in wet areas. Rainy weather can damage cast iron by making it rusty but not cast aluminum.
• Casting aluminum is also more preferable to cast iron in order to make products complex shapes. Because it is easier to shape cast aluminum with higher precision than cast iron.

 

Why Cast Aluminum Parts Are Cheaper Than Cast Iron Parts?

 

Aluminum as raw material costs more than iron ore. But when it comes to casting aluminum vs cast iron components, casting aluminum components are cheaper. This is because the most convenient casting method is die casting.

In die casting, the dies are of stainless steel which is another iron-carbon composite like cast iron. However, cast iron is not a suitable material for die casting due to having melting point near stainless steel. Though it is not impossible, it is not preferable by casting manufacturers to die cast iron.

 

 

But aluminum and its alloys are the most common materials to use in die casting. Manufacturers mostly use the sand-casting method for making cast iron components. Sand casting is more of a manual process that takes longer time and more labor. Both increase the production cost.

On the other hand, die casting is an automatic process that can produce the same product in less time. Also aluminum melts faster than cast iron and so aluminum components save time in this way too. Being an automatic process requires less labor, which reduces the overall production cost.