Black Iron

name         David
status       other
grade        other
location     PA

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?
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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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