Iron Alloy Products

Atlas Bronze carries continuous cast iron alloy products in several shapes and sizes.

We carry G2 Gray Iron (Class 40) and Ductile Iron Grades 65-45-12 and 80-55-06.

Ductile Iron vs Gray Iron - Which cast iron alloy grade do you need?

Gray iron alloy is created due to little black flakes of graphite that give it a gray appearance. It comes with many benefits, including:

• High thermal conductivity
• It is inexpensive to make, which makes it incredibly affordable
• Great vibration/damping capability
• Holds up well during alternating extreme temperatures, also known as thermal cycling
• Outstanding compressive strength
• Corrosion and oxidation-resistant

Ductile iron alloy, on the other hand, is incredibly strong and often found to be a dependable solution for all types of engineering applications. Those who regularly use ductile iron bars and more do so for benefits such as:

• Extensive longevity
• Strength like steel, but much more affordable
• Excellent machinability and cast-ability
• Made of recycled steel and ferric scrap metal
• Safe to use in water applications
• Highly resistant to corrosion
• Incredibly durable

G2 Gray Iron Alloy

G2 is a pearlitic gray iron alloy containing Type A graphite. Gray iron bars made to this specification have optimal strength, wear, and hardness compared to the other gray iron grades. This material is well suited for applications requiring high resistance to wear and response to heat treatment. This specification is similar to ASTM A48 class 40.

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65-45-12 Ductile Cast Iron Alloy Grades

65-45-12 ductile iron alloy contains nodular graphite in a ferrite matrix with small amounts of pearlite. The ferritic structure provides excellent machinability with good surface finishes, along with optimal impact strengths, fatigue properties, electrical conductivity, and high magnetic permeability. In the as-rolled condition, this iron has approximately the same tensile and yield strengths as AISI 1020 steel. This specification conforms to ASTM A536 grade 65-45-12.

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80-55-06 Ductile Iron Alloy

80-55-06 ductile iron alloy will contain nodular graphite in a matrix of ferrite and pearlite. The pearlite/ferrite structure provides higher wear resistance and strength when compared to a ferrite grade of ductile iron. This material is readily machinable with good surface finishes. Tensile and yield strengths are similar to AISI1040 steel in the as-rolled condition. This specification is similar to ASTM A536 grade 80-55-06.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Iron Alloy

What are common uses for gray iron alloy?

Believe it or not, gray iron is widely used throughout the world, and it is one of the most popular metals. It can be found in manhole covers, wind turbines, cinder blocks, automotive suspension and hydraulics, gears, disc brakes, cooking utensils, valves, tractor parts, pumps, linkages, weights, counterweights, and so much more.

Why is gray iron so popular?

Gray iron is actually one of the cheapest iron alloys to produce. And thanks to its properties, such as its ductility and strength, many find it the perfect fit for any type of application.

What are the common uses for ductile iron?

Ductile iron alloy has many different applications due to its properties. It’s commonly used in piping, both in and out of the water, as well as component parts for cars and trucks, pump housing, drinking and potable water distribution and transmission, and so much more.

Is ductile iron the same as cast iron?

Ductile iron is a type of cast iron. In fact, some people refer to it as modern-day cast iron and have even referred to it as ductile cast iron. Both of these metals contain small pieces of graphite that end up changing the properties of the iron alloy. This likely explains why they are so similar. However, ductile iron is different from cast iron in that it is highly flexible and corrosion-resistant while cast iron is neither of these things.

What’s the difference between gray iron and ductile iron alloys?

While both beautifully serve their purpose, there are a few differences between gray iron and ductile iron alloys. Knowing them will help you decide which may be the best choice for your application. Let’s take a look at how they stack up against each other:

• Ductility: Ductile iron has greater strength and ductility than gray iron
• Thermal conductivity: Gray iron has a higher thermal conductivity than ductile iron.
• Vibration dampening: Gray iron more effectively dampens vibrations than ductile iron.
• Tensile strength: Gray iron has a range of 20,000 psi to 60,000 psi and ductile iron has a minimum of 40,000 psi.
• Yield strength: Gray iron does not have a yield strength, but ductile iron has a range of 20,000 psi to 60,000 psi.
• Impact: Ductile iron has greater resistance on impact.