Optimizing the chemical composition of phosphorus cast iron for the manufacture of brake shoes, which are used in the rolling stock, is based on specific tests, and the results must be within the specified limits of railway standards. This paper presents the processing of data taken from an economic agent producing brake shoes-with chemical composition and hardness values determined through the Brinell method-as well as optimizing these data by obtaining optimal variation intervals. These technological intervals are useful in the case of foundries in order to obtain superior products from a qualitative point of view.
Keywords: brake shoes; cast iron; hardness.