Abstract: An apparatus for the introduction of additives into a casting mold having an internal casting cavity which is fed molten metal through a controlled flow path formed in the mold with the apparatus continuously feeding a wire of additive material into the flow path within the mold for erodibly substantially completely mixing with the molten metal prior to its entry into the casting cavity.

Abstract: A gray iron casting particularly suitable for automotive camshafts or the like includes, by weight, 3.10 to 3.45 percent carbon, 1.60 to 1.70 percent silicon, 0.60 to 0.80 percent chromium, 0.40 to 0.90 percent manganese, and the balance iron with residual impurities individually limited to less than 0.40 percent to provide a relatively high, yet closely controlled iron-chromium carbide content of from 20 to 40 percent in a preselected region thereof for improved resistance to wear, with the remainder being relatively more pearlitic and graphitic for increased strength.