malleable cast iron

method, process, technology

A tough and easily workable type of cast iron that has better mechanical properties than traditional cast iron. Malleable cast iron is produced by heat treatment, i.e. tempering, of a raw casting, which is hard and brittle.

Johann Conrad Fischer was awarded an exclusive privilege by Kaiser Franz II in 1829 for his invention of malleable cast iron, which he referred to as “ductile iron”.

Fischer first encountered malleable cast iron in Birmingham in 1814.

Also known as soft iron.

Traveljournal 1814

First encounter with malleable cast iron in Birmingham, 30 August 1814

Traveljournal 1825

Traveljournal 1851

Fischer’s second visit, 19 June 1851

Fischer, Johann Conrad: Tagebücher. Bearbeitet von Karl Schib. Schaffhausen 1951.
Gnade, Rudolf/Schib, Karl: Johann Conrad Fischer 1773–1854. Aus der Schriftenreihe zum hundertfünfzigjährigen Bestehen der Georg Fischer Werke. Schaffhausen 1954, S. 67.
Tempern. In: Lueger, Otto: Lexikon der gesamten Technik und ihrer Hilfswissenschaften 2. Auflage, Band 8. Stuttgart, Leipzig 1910, S. 520f. (Zeno.org, Stand 25.2.2023). Siehe auch Eisenbibliothek Aa 182x.

Cite as: malleable cast iron. In: Travel Reports of a Pioneer: Digital Edition of the Travel Journals of Johann Conrad Fischer 1794–1851. Published by Franziska Eggimann. Edited by Franziska Eggimann, Nicolau Lutz, Valerija Rukavina und Christopher Zoller-Blundell. Schlatt 2023, Version 1.2, https://johannconradfischer.com/en/keywords/gfa-keywords-56, viewed on 7 June 2025.