Cast iron sustainability
Cast iron is iron or ferrous alloy that has been heated until liquefied and then poured into a mold to solidify. It is usually made of pig iron. You can think of an alloy of carbon and iron. There are two types of cast iron and they are determined by the carbon content as gray cast iron and white cast iron. The qualities and uses of cast iron make it highly sustainable even in this 21st century.
QUALITIES AND USES
The formability, strength resistance, wear resistance, good flowability and relatively low melting point make it a preferred material, which is widely used in the field of construction engineering to make pipes and in the automotive industry to manufacture cylinder heads and gearboxes. It is resistant to destruction and weakening by oxidation and is therefore used to make utensils for cooking food.
SUSTAINABILITY
It is the oldest material in engineering, but we should say that it is gaining its fortune in the modern world when it comes to environmental impact and sustainability.
It does not rust. It just oxidizes that too, at a very slow rate. This process emits carbon-based iron ash, which is good for the environment compared to the PVC used now, as it is easy to handle. The carbon gases that are emitted promote plant growth and are also supposed to increase planktonic life in the oceans and thus prevent global warming.
It is fully recyclable. It is not recycled, in which case the material loses some of its superior properties.
Pig iron is the basic raw material. It can also be manufactured from a mixture of steel from the automotive and construction industries and scrap also in the foundry. Scrap is melted to get new iron. Therefore, waste becomes wealth.
Properly maintained cast iron products will last the life of the building, although the capital cost could be higher. Even when a building is demolished after its full useful life, it can be recycled and used for the same purpose.
It remains the most preferred material in the construction industry for structural support, windows, floor drainage, etc.
Cooking with cast iron utensils is sustainable because it is durable.
Cast iron cookware has natural non-stick properties compared to dangerous Teflon coated utensils. It is only necessary to cover the pans with oil so that they are not sticky.
Dishes should be washed only with hot water and a stiff brush. Therefore, they avoid the use of soaps that may have a high chemical content.
Distributes heat evenly and makes cooking easier.
When we eat food prepared in cast iron pans, we also consume small doses of iron which is good for our health.
In short, iron is the fourth common element in the earth’s crust that can be fully recycled each time without loss of properties and therefore sustainable.