(1) Cast iron Explanation: Cast Iron is a hard, brittle, nonmalleable iron-carbon alloy, cast into shape, containing 2 to 4.5 percent carbon. Steels contain less than 2% and usually less than 1% carbon, while all cast irons contain more than 2% carbon. Most steel contains less than 0.35 percent carbon. Wrought iron is an iron alloy with very low carbon (0.04 to 0.08%) content.