KT Metal Castings Blogs

Stainless steel contains at least 10.5% chromium, which forms a protective oxide layer that prevents rust and corrosion. This versatile material comes in five main families—austenitic, ferritic, martensitic, duplex, and precipitation-hardening—each with unique properties that make them suitable for different applications. Composition of Stainless Steel Types of Stainless Steel Austenitic…

Stainless steel welding requires specific techniques and careful attention to detail that go beyond regular steel welding. The material’s unique properties – high chromium content for corrosion resistance, lower thermal conductivity, and higher thermal expansion – make it both valuable and challenging to work with. Can You Weld Stainless Steel…

Steel melts between 1370°C and 1540°C (2500°F to 2800°F), depending on its composition. Unlike pure iron which melts at exactly 1538°C, steel transitions from solid to liquid over a temperature range because it’s an alloy of iron, carbon, and other elements. The carbon content is the biggest factor affecting steel’s…

Aluminum corrodes but doesn’t rust – it forms a protective oxide layer that actually shields the metal from further damage. This thin, invisible coating forms instantly when aluminum touches air or water, acting like built-in armor for the metal. Unlike iron that develops flaky red rust that keeps eating away…

Understanding the difference between yield strength and tensile strength can save you from catastrophic failures in aluminum structures. These two properties determine whether your aluminum part will bend, break, or hold up perfectly under stress – yet many engineers confuse them or use them interchangeably. Yield strength tells you when…

The yield point is the stress level where a metal starts to permanently deform. Below this stress, the metal behaves like a spring – it bends but bounces back to its original shape when you release the force. Above the yield point, the metal stays bent even after you remove…

The yield strength of aluminum is the stress level at which the metal permanently deforms—typically ranging from 35 MPa to 550 MPa depending on the alloy and heat treatment. When you apply force to aluminum and it doesn’t spring back to its original shape, you’ve exceeded its yield strength. This…

The yield point is the exact stress level where aluminum permanently deforms instead of bouncing back to its original shape. Finding this point requires a tensile test and careful analysis of the stress-strain curve, since aluminum doesn’t show an obvious yield point like steel does. Step 1: Prepare Your Test…

Choosing between cast aluminum and wrought iron for your outdoor furniture, fencing, or decorative pieces comes down to understanding their key differences. Cast aluminum wins on weight, weather resistance, and low maintenance, while wrought iron offers superior strength and a classic, timeless appearance. Cast Aluminum Cast aluminum is a lightweight…

Selecting the right stick electrode for welding cast iron determines whether your weld will crack, hold strong, or fail completely. Cast iron’s high carbon content and brittleness make it one of the trickiest metals to weld, but choosing the correct electrode transforms this challenging task into a manageable project. The…