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Name: Tim
Status: Student
Grade: 9-12
Location: TX
Country: USA
Date: April 2006
Question:
Why are cast iron cook-ware black in color? Iron is silver colored. Iron oxide is reddish. What is the composition of the black iron?


Replies:
Hi, David.

Cast iron contains carbon, which makes it appear slightly different from pure iron, but the main reason the cookware is black is that cast iron cookware takes on a patina from the cooking, both from the food and the heat. This deepens the color to black. New cast iron cookware has the gray color.

David Brandt, P.E.


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