Though austenitic stainless steels are expensive they still capture 70% of the market. Learn what makes this rust-resistant, formable, weldable steel stay tough even at cryogenic temperatures.
Steel pipes are commonly used in many industries, from scaffolding poles to sewage tunnels. Learn more about the production, use, and history of steel pipes.
All iron alloys poured in a foundry are cast iron. However, ductile is a relative newcomer…one that is surprisingly flexible.
Read our interview with Brian Done, a foundryman for 46 years, on the business of general manufacturing—and what has been lost in an era that has seen the globalization of production.
When oxidation occurs, the metal’s surface forms a scale that darkens to a patina. The alloy in question will determine if the corrosion is invasive or not. In cast iron, rust—a ferrous oxide—can form a thin, protective layer against pitting.
Yes, stainless steel can rust. From red rusted scratches to an all over speckle, corrosion can dull stainless’ silver shine. To prevent corrosion from blemishing your outdoor stainless steel, check out our guide to stainless steel maintenance.
Learn about polyurethane plastic’s properties, uses, and production. How is polyurethane recycled at the end of the product life cycle?
Metal corrosion can eat away at parts, causing them to fail. Passivation creates a self-healing chemical seal that uses corrosion to defeat corrosion. Learn about passivation in stainless steel, aluminum, and other metals.
We take a look at the properties and chemistry of polyethylene plastic, the modern material used in everything from cling wrap…to bollards.
Rust: the red flaky corrosion of iron and steel. It’s so common as to be unremarkable…yet what is it, exactly? Why don’t silver, aluminum, or zinc rust? Peek into the world of metal to learn how corrosion hits ferrous and non-ferrous alloys.
Learn more about steel grading systems and the effects of microstructure, hot and cold forming, and heat treatment.
Investment casting is capable of producing complex parts with excellent as-cast surface finishes. Learn how it works.
Learn how to select the right grade and class of ASTM A27 steel for your casting project. Each grade varies based on chemical composition, and type of heat treating needed to affect changes in mechanical properties. Find out the differences between testing steel for tensile strength vs. hardness.
Concrete is often a structural material, doing supportive work. Only some architectural schools use decorative concrete to make a statement, or to achieve an aesthetic effect. Read more about its artistic use in everything from buildings to bollards.
Heat treating metal influences the microstructures of a metal which give the material all its mechanical properties. Learn what changes are made when annealing, normalizing, quenching, or tempering steel.
Foundries are glowing metal furnaces and sparking rivers of steel. How do founders mange the scorching heat needed for melting and pouring metal?
Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials. Learn how concrete is produced at a concrete plant or on a job site. Different concrete types include ordinary, high performance, reinforced, precast, lightweight, and pervious concrete. Learn how they are used for concrete applications.
Metal casting is the process of pouring molten metal into a shaped space so that it will cool and harden in that form. For many items, this process can be less expensive than machining the part out of a piece of solid metal. Even though the idea behind it seems singular and simple, there are many ways foundries cast objects. How they make a metal casting mold will depend on the metals used, the size of the run, and the shape, symmetry, and complexity of the casting.
Learn more about the developments in rubber recycling and how old tires can be recycled into tire-derived fuel, asphalt, playground surfaces, and other molded rubber products.
Learn about the steps and techniques required for successful in-house welding of cast iron parts.
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