[TheForge] why doesn't cast iron oxidize and burn in the same way?(was: oil/wax finish, blackened steel)

[Andy Gladish]

Yeah, just wondering on a chemical level exactly what's happening with the 
oxygen stream, seems to be a lot going on.
I think of carbides as being flammable but apparently they only interfere if 
anything. Carbon content per se doesn't seem to be a factor in the burning 
reaction.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Bruce Freeman
Sent: Monday, November 01, 2010 8:10 PM
To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: [TheForge] why doesn't cast iron oxidize and burn in the same 
way?(was: oil/wax finish, blackened steel)

Andy,
Yes, when you "burn" steel, the iron is oxidizing.
I'm not sure I follow the question about cast iron.  It certainly will
oxidize (rust).  Does this question refer to cutting with an oxygen
stream?

On Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 2:29 PM, Andy Gladish <gladish at cablerocket.com> 
wrote:
> I was teaching metal fab for a wind turbine building class this past week
> (see www.scoraigwind.com ) this past week, and in the middle of a run of
> torch work got asked a number of times, what is actually going on when you
> burn steel...is the iron oxidizing? If so, why doesn't cast iron oxidize 
> and
> burn in the same way?
> Anyone want to field that one?
> Andy G.

-- 
Bruce
NJ
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