Historically, cast iron was typically cheaper than wrought iron because of the way it was produced and the things that made it unique. Wrought iron, for instance, is made by heating up iron over and over again and changing its shape through hammering or passing it through rollers to get rid of impurities and create a fibrous structure. This method consumes more human effort and fuel when compared to casting; casting involves pouring molten metal into moulds.
Besides, wrought iron has excellent attributes like high tensile strength, durability against rusting and ability to be bent or shaped which make it good for many purposes, e.g., decoration, gates construction among others. Cast iron is considered inferior because of the above mentioned qualities and therefore cost less than wrought iron.
On the other hand, cast iron is produced by melting it and pouring it into molds. This requires less labor and energy compared to wrought iron production. This type of iron (cast) has good casting properties, high compressive strength with low-cost implications which make it appropriate for use in items like pipes production among others\xe2\x80\xa6machinery parts and engine blocks.
Note, however, that the relative costs associated with these two forms of iron could differ significantly depending on various factors such as; market demand, availability of raw materials, manufacturing processes among others specific applications. At times advancements in manufacturing technology or changes in market conditions could also lead to changes in the relative costs of these materials \xe2\x80\x93 wrought iron and cast iron alike.
During the current era, wrought iron is used less frequently compared to cast iron since it is more expensive and there are other materials in the market as well. Nevertheless, it still has some excellent aesthetics and individual characteristics that make it preferable in certain cases driving its cost higher than that of cast iron under particular circumstances.
