Ledeburitic cast iron

Cast iron with a carbon content exceeding two percent, featuring a microstructure composed of the eutectic mixture ledeburite and primary precipitates, providing high hardness and wear resistance.

Ledeburitic cast iron has so much carbon that it forms a very hard, brittle structure with massive carbides on cooling. Welding is tricky because the stuff cracks quickly if you heat it too much or cool it too fast. You absolutely must preheat the part and let it cool slowly afterwards, preferably in an insulating blanket or covered with sand. If you don't watch out, you'll get hard, cracked welds that break immediately during machining or in service.

MetallurgieSchweißtechnik