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White cast iron is a type of cast iron characterized by its high hardness and brittleness. This is because all of its carbon content exists in the form of cementite (Fe₃C), with no graphite present. This gives the fracture surface a bright, white appearance, hence its name.

Due to its extreme hardness, white iron cannot be machined and must be shaped by grinding. Its brittleness limits its applications, but it is sometimes used where high wear resistance is needed, such as in brake linings. A primary use of white iron is as a starting material for malleable cast irons, which undergo a heat treatment process to decompose the cementite into a more manageable form.12

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