Ductile iron (nodular iron, SG iron) SG iron (ASTM A536, EN-GJS)
Fe balance
Also known as EN 0.7040, EN name EN-GJS-400-15, EN name EN-JS1072, SAE J434B, JIS G5502, DIN 1693 · 9 more
Ductile iron, also called nodular iron or spheroidal graphite iron, is a cast iron whose graphite is substantially spheroidal in shape (ASTM A536 summary; West Yorkshire Steel calls it SG iron).
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Strength, 60-40-18 and 65-45-12
60000 psi
Strength, 120-90-02
60000 psi
Stiffness
169 GPa
Hardness
135 to 180 HB
Recipe, share of the weight
- Fe balance (West Yorkshire Steel typical analysis)Iron
- C 3.55 to 3.65%Carbon
- Si 2.3 to 2.7%Silicon
- Mn 0.40 max in 60-40-18 and 65-45-12; 0.40 to 0.60 in the other gradesManganese
- Mg 0.03 to 0.045%Magnesium
- S 0.008 to 0.015%Sulfur
- P max 0.050Phosphorus
- Cu below 0.30 in 60-40-18 and 65-45-12; 0.40 to 0.60 in 70-50-07, 80-55-06 and 80-60-03; 0.60 to 0.80 in 100-70-03 and 120-90-02Copper
- Ni 0.04 to 1.0 from 80-55-06 upward; not specified belowNickel
- Sn 0.02 to 0.05 in 100-70-03 and 120-90-02Tin
Best for
Castings that need the ASTM A536 strengths of 60,000 to 120,000 psi, such as high-strength gears and rollers and pressure-containing valve and pump bodies (Goldens; Daycounter)
Weakest at
Elongation falls as the grade rises, from 18 percent at 60-40-18 to 2 percent at 120-90-02 (Goldens). Properties also depend on the heat treatment that each grade requires (ASTM A536 summary)
Risk at a glance
- People Low. PubChem hazards are for the elements
- If it fails Moderate. Grade and heat treatment do not match
- Corrosion No data. No corrosion data recorded
Quick facts: SG iron (ASTM A536, EN-GJS)
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Yield strength | 276 to 621 MPa | 7 sourced values across conditions |
| Tensile strength | 350 to 827 MPa | 9 sourced values across conditions |
| Young's modulus | 169 GPa | 1 sourced value |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 120 to 180 HB | 2 sourced values across conditions |
What is the yield strength of Ductile iron?
Ductile iron has a yield strength of 276 to 621 MPa. The range covers 7 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the tensile strength of Ductile iron?
Ductile iron has a tensile strength of 350 to 827 MPa. The range covers 9 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the Young's modulus of Ductile iron?
Ductile iron has a Young's modulus of 169 GPa. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the hardness of Ductile iron?
Ductile iron has a Brinell hardness of 120 to 180 HB. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What are the other names and codes for Ductile iron?
Ductile iron is also written as EN 0.7040, EN name EN-GJS-400-15, EN name EN-JS1072, SAE J434B, JIS G5502, DIN 1693. Each code is printed in the source listed beside it in the designations table.
What is Ductile iron used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Gears and rollers (100-70-03 and 120-90-02 grades); Pressure-containing valve and pump bodies (60-40-18 grade); Dies, pistons, valves and moulds (EN GJS 400-15 SG iron).
Why it exists
Ductile iron is a cast iron with spheroidal graphite. Goldens prints tensile strengths of 60,000 to 120,000 psi for the ASTM A536 grades, against 22,000 to 52,500 psi for the ASTM A48 grey iron classes on the same page. West Yorkshire Steel says the SG iron suits applications where electrical conductivity, impact, fatigue and magnetic permeability features are required. The cost of the higher grades is elongation, which falls from 18 percent to 2 percent (Goldens).
Where it's used
Gears and rollers
Daycounter lists high strength gears, automotive and machine components for 100-70-03, and pinions, gears, rollers and slides for 120-90-02.
Pressure-containing valve and pump bodies
Daycounter lists pressure-containing castings such as valve and pump bodies for 60-40-18.
Dies, pistons, valves and moulds
West Yorkshire Steel lists dies, pistons, valves and moulds as typical applications of EN GJS 400-15 SG iron.
Recipe
Fe balance; 3.55 to 3.65 C, 2.30 to 2.70 Si, 0.030 to 0.045 Mg, 0.008 to 0.015 S, max 0.050 P (wt%, all grades); Mn 0.40 max or 0.40 to 0.60, Cu below 0.30 to 0.80, Ni 0.04 to 1.0 and Sn 0.02 to 0.05, by grade
Ductile iron is iron with 3.55 to 3.65 percent carbon and 2.30 to 2.70 percent silicon, with magnesium at 0.030 to 0.045 percent and sulfur at 0.008 to 0.015 percent (Goldens grade table). Goldens says the grade is set by adding specific alloys and controlling the carbon content of each ladle.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Fe | balance (West Yorkshire Steel typical analysis) | The matrix of the cast iron, and the rest of the composition |
| Carbon C | 3.55 to 3.65% | Controlled in each ladle to set the grade (Goldens) |
| Silicon Si | 2.3 to 2.7% | A graphite-forming element (Wikipedia, Composition) |
| Manganese Mn | 0.40 max in 60-40-18 and 65-45-12; 0.40 to 0.60 in the other grades | Limit set for each grade (Goldens) |
| Magnesium Mg | 0.03 to 0.045% | Printed limit; the US patent on a cast ferrous alloy for ductile iron names magnesium (Wikipedia, lead) |
| Sulfur S | 0.008 to 0.015% | Impurity held within a printed limit (Goldens) |
| Phosphorus P | max 0.050 | Impurity held to a maximum limit (Goldens) |
| Copper Cu | below 0.30 in 60-40-18 and 65-45-12; 0.40 to 0.60 in 70-50-07, 80-55-06 and 80-60-03; 0.60 to 0.80 in 100-70-03 and 120-90-02 | Can raise tensile and yield strength while reducing ductility (Wikipedia, Composition) |
| Nickel Ni | 0.04 to 1.0 from 80-55-06 upward; not specified below | Alloying element printed per grade (Goldens) |
| Tin Sn | 0.02 to 0.05 in 100-70-03 and 120-90-02 | Alloying element printed for the two highest grades (Goldens) |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Strength, 60-40-18 and 65-45-12
60000 psi
measured
Goldens prints 60,000 psi and 65,000 psi tensile strength, with 40,000 psi and 45,000 psi yield strength and 18 and 12 percent elongation.
Strength, 120-90-02
60000 psi
measured
Goldens prints 120,000 psi tensile and 90,000 psi yield for the highest grade, with 2 percent elongation.
Stiffness
169 GPa
measured
Total Materia prints a modulus of elasticity of 169 GPa for EN-GJS-400-15.
Hardness
135 to 180 HB
measured
Total Materia prints 135 to 180 HB for EN-GJS-400-15; West Yorkshire Steel prints a typical 120 to 180 HB.
How it compares
Compared with grey iron, the ASTM ductile grades run from 60,000 to 120,000 psi tensile, against 22,000 to 52,500 psi for the grey classes in Goldens, and West Yorkshire Steel says the SG iron machines with characteristics similar to grey iron. Two sources give different figures for EN-GJS-400-15: Total Materia prints a tensile of at least 350 MPa and an elongation of at least 8 percent, while the West Yorkshire datasheet prints typical values of 400 N/mm2 and 15 percent. Both are recorded with their basis and are not reconciled here.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | SG iron (ASTM A536, EN-GJS) | Gray iron (ASTM A48, EN-GJL, GG 25) |
|---|---|---|
| Physical and electrical | ||
| Brinell hardness, EN-GJS-400-15 | 135 to 180 HB25 | no data |
| Typical hardness, EN GJS 400-15 SG iron | 120 to 180 HB28 | no data |
| Other measurements | ||
| Tensile strength, 60-40-18 | 60000 psi1 | 200 to 350 MPa |
| Yield strength, 60-40-18 | 40000 psi2 | 165 to 228 MPa |
| Elongation, 60-40-18 | 18 %3 | 0.3 to 0.8 % |
| Tensile strength, 65-45-12 | 65000 psi4 | 200 to 350 MPa |
| Yield strength, 65-45-12 | 45000 psi5 | 165 to 228 MPa |
| Elongation, 65-45-12 | 12 %6 | 0.3 to 0.8 % |
| Tensile strength, 70-50-07 | 70000 psi7 | 200 to 350 MPa |
| Yield strength, 70-50-07 | 50000 psi8 | 165 to 228 MPa |
| Elongation, 70-50-07 | 7 %9 | 0.3 to 0.8 % |
| Tensile strength, 80-55-06 | 80000 psi10 | 200 to 350 MPa |
| Yield strength, 80-55-06 | 55000 psi11 | 165 to 228 MPa |
| Elongation, 80-55-06 | 6 %12 | 0.3 to 0.8 % |
| Tensile strength, 80-60-03 | 80000 psi13 | 200 to 350 MPa |
| Yield strength, 80-60-03 | 60000 psi14 | 165 to 228 MPa |
| Elongation, 80-60-03 | 3 %15 | 0.3 to 0.8 % |
| Tensile strength, 100-70-03 | 1×10^5 psi16 | 200 to 350 MPa |
| Yield strength, 100-70-03 | 70000 psi17 | 165 to 228 MPa |
| Elongation, 100-70-03 | 3 %18 | 0.3 to 0.8 % |
| Tensile strength, 120-90-02 | 1.2×10^5 psi19 | 200 to 350 MPa |
| Yield strength, 120-90-02 | 90000 psi20 | 165 to 228 MPa |
| Elongation, 120-90-02 | 2 %21 | 0.3 to 0.8 % |
| Modulus of elasticity, EN-GJS-400-15 | 169 GPa22 | 103 to 118 GPa |
| Tensile strength, EN-GJS-400-15 (minimum) | > 350 MPa23 | 200 to 350 MPa |
| Elongation, EN-GJS-400-15 (minimum) | > 8 %24 | 0.3 to 0.8 % |
| Typical tensile strength, EN GJS 400-15 SG iron | 400 N/mm226 | 200 to 350 MPa |
| Typical elongation, EN GJS 400-15 SG iron | 15 %27 | 0.3 to 0.8 % |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- High-strength gears and rollers, typically the 100-70-03 and 120-90-02 grades (Daycounter, typical applications).
- Pressure-containing valve and pump bodies, typically the 60-40-18 grade (Daycounter, typical applications).
- Parts that need impact, fatigue and magnetic permeability features (West Yorkshire Steel).
Watch out for
- Elongation drops from 18 percent at 60-40-18 to 2 percent at 120-90-02 (Goldens), so the strongest grades are the least ductile.
- Strength is set by grade and heat treatment, and the two EN-GJS-400-15 sources disagree on tensile and elongation figures.
- No corrosion, impact or fatigue data for these grades was read, so none is given (see gaps).
Ductile iron is a cast iron whose grade sets its strength, elongation and heat treatment. The grade values are clear for the ASTM A536 grades (Goldens), but corrosion, impact and density data are missing, so check the grade and the supplier data before use.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Other names and standards
The same grade under other systems, as datasheets and standards print them. Each code was checked against the page it comes from.
| System | Codes |
|---|---|
| EN | 0.7040 |
| EN name | EN-GJS-400-15, EN-JS1072 |
| SAE | J434B |
| JIS | G5502 |
| DIN | 1693, GGG-40 |
| ASTM | A536 (ductile iron castings, printed as ASTM A536-84(2014)), 60-40-18 (grade of ASTM A536), 65-45-12 (grade of ASTM A536), 80-55-06 (grade of ASTM A536), 100-70-03 (grade of ASTM A536) |
| Trade name | SG iron, spheroidal graphite iron, nodular iron |
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tensile strength, 60-40-18 | Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import) | grade 60-40-18heat treatment full ferritizing anneal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says may be annealedtest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 60,000 psi as Min. Tensile | — |
| 2 | Yield strength, 60-40-18 | Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed | grade 60-40-18heat treatment full ferritizing anneal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says may be annealedtest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 40,000 psi as Min. Yield | — |
| 3 | Elongation, 60-40-18 | Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed | grade 60-40-18heat treatment full ferritizing anneal (ASTM A536 summary)test bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedgauge not statedbasis grade value as printed | — |
| 4 | Tensile strength, 65-45-12 | Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import) | grade 65-45-12heat treatment as-cast (ASTM A536 summary)test bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 65,000 psi as Min. Tensile | — |
| 5 | Yield strength, 65-45-12 | Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed | grade 65-45-12heat treatment as-cast (ASTM A536 summary)test bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 45,000 psi as Min. Yield | — |
| 6 | Elongation, 65-45-12 | Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed | grade 65-45-12heat treatment as-cast (ASTM A536 summary)test bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedgauge not statedbasis grade value as printed | — |
| 7 | Tensile strength, 70-50-07 | Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import) | grade 70-50-07heat treatment not stated in the fetched sourcestest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; no minimum label in the fetched sources | — |
| 8 | Yield strength, 70-50-07 | Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed | grade 70-50-07heat treatment not stated in the fetched sourcestest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; no minimum label in the fetched sources | — |
| 9 | Elongation, 70-50-07 | Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed | grade 70-50-07heat treatment not stated in the fetched sourcestest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedgauge not statedbasis grade value as printed; printed as 07 | — |
| 10 | Tensile strength, 80-55-06 | Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import) | grade 80-55-06heat treatment as-cast (ASTM A536 summary)test bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; Daycounter prints the same 80,000 psi as Min. Tensile under the label 80-50-06 | — |
| 11 | Yield strength, 80-55-06 | Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed | grade 80-55-06heat treatment as-cast (ASTM A536 summary)test bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; Daycounter prints the same 55,000 psi as Min. Yield under the label 80-50-06 | — |
| 12 | Elongation, 80-55-06 | Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed | grade 80-55-06heat treatment as-cast (ASTM A536 summary)test bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedgauge not statedbasis grade value as printed; printed as 06 | — |
| 13 | Tensile strength, 80-60-03 | Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import) | grade 80-60-03heat treatment not stated in the fetched sourcestest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; no minimum label in the fetched sources | — |
| 14 | Yield strength, 80-60-03 | Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed | grade 80-60-03heat treatment not stated in the fetched sourcestest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; no minimum label in the fetched sources | — |
| 15 | Elongation, 80-60-03 | Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed | grade 80-60-03heat treatment not stated in the fetched sourcestest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedgauge not statedbasis grade value as printed; printed as 03 | — |
| 16 | Tensile strength, 100-70-03 | Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import) | grade 100-70-03heat treatment quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says usually normalizedtest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 100,000 psi as Min. Tensile | — |
| 17 | Yield strength, 100-70-03 | Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed | grade 100-70-03heat treatment quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says usually normalizedtest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 70,000 psi as Min. Yield | — |
| 18 | Elongation, 100-70-03 | Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed | grade 100-70-03heat treatment quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says usually normalizedtest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedgauge not statedbasis grade value as printed; printed as 03 | — |
| 19 | Tensile strength, 120-90-02 | Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import) | grade 120-90-02heat treatment quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says quenched and temperedtest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 120,000 psi as Min. Tensile | — |
| 20 | Yield strength, 120-90-02 | Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed | grade 120-90-02heat treatment quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says quenched and temperedtest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedbasis grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 90,000 psi as Min. Yield | — |
| 21 | Elongation, 120-90-02 | Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed | grade 120-90-02heat treatment quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says quenched and temperedtest bar separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)temperature not statedgauge not statedbasis grade value as printed; printed as 02 | — |
| 22 | Modulus of elasticity, EN-GJS-400-15 | Physical Properties, Modulus of Elasticity value, as printed | grade EN-GJS-400-15heat treatment not stated on the pagetest bar not stated on the pagetemperature not stated beside the value; the page's first temperature column is 0 to 30 °C | — |
| 23 | Tensile strength, EN-GJS-400-15 (minimum) | Mechanical Properties, Tensile Strength printed as ≥ 350 MPa | grade EN-GJS-400-15heat treatment not stated on the pagetest bar not stated on the pagetemperature not stated beside the value; the page's first temperature column is 0 to 30 °C | — |
| 24 | Elongation, EN-GJS-400-15 (minimum) | Mechanical Properties, Elongation A printed as ≥ 8 % | grade EN-GJS-400-15heat treatment not stated on the pagetest bar not stated on the pagegauge not stated on the pagetemperature not stated beside the value; the page's first temperature column is 0 to 30 °C | — |
| 25 | Brinell hardness, EN-GJS-400-15 | Mechanical Properties, Brinell Hardness (HB) printed as 135 to 180; hardness_brinell is not in property-canon | grade EN-GJS-400-15heat treatment not stated on the pagetest bar not stated on the pagetemperature not stated beside the value; the page's first temperature column is 0 to 30 °C | — |
| 26 | Typical tensile strength, EN GJS 400-15 SG iron | Typical Properties table, Typical Tensile Strength column, printed as N/mm² (written N/mm2 here) | grade EN GJS 400-15 (SG iron)basis typical value; the datasheet says values may vary with the size and section of the gradeheat treatment not statedtest bar not stated | — |
| 27 | Typical elongation, EN GJS 400-15 SG iron | Typical Properties table, Typical Elongation column, value as printed | grade EN GJS 400-15 (SG iron)basis typical value; the datasheet says values may vary with the size and section of the gradeheat treatment not statedtest bar not statedgauge not stated | — |
| 28 | Typical hardness, EN GJS 400-15 SG iron | Typical Properties table, Typical Hardness column, printed as 120-180 HB | grade EN GJS 400-15 (SG iron)basis typical value; the datasheet says values may vary with the size and section of the gradeheat treatment not statedtest bar not stated | — |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The PubChem records cover elemental magnesium, iron and manganese, not the cast iron. No safety data sheet for ductile iron was read.
- Magnesium
- PubChem lists elemental magnesium as Danger, with H250 (catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air) and H260 (releases flammable gases in contact with water). Magnesium is the element named in the US patent on a cast ferrous alloy for ductile iron production (Wikipedia, lead).
- Iron
- PubChem lists elemental iron with H228 (15.5%) and H251 (21.2%) in some notifications, and as not meeting GHS criteria in 74.1% of reports.
- Manganese
- PubChem lists elemental manganese with H228 (11.6%) and H372 (causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure).
- Workshop
- No dust or fume limit was read for the cast alloy, so check the supplier's safety data sheet before cutting or grinding.
Fabrication and heat
The ASTM A536 summary ties heat treatment to each grade, so the treatment must be stated with every property value.
- By grade
- A full ferritizing anneal for 60-40-18; as-cast for 65-45-12 and 80-55-06; quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal treatment for 100-70-03 and 120-90-02 (ASTM A536 summary).
- Machining
- West Yorkshire Steel says EN GJS 400-15 has machining characteristics similar to grey iron.
- Supply
- Round bar and a limited size range of flat bar, in 3 metre lengths that can be sawn to length (West Yorkshire Steel).
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Grade and heat treatment do not matchmoderate severity | Castings not heat treated as the ASTM A536 summary requires for their gradeCastings are tested against the tensile, yield and elongation requirements of their grade (ASTM A536 summary), so a treatment that does not match the grade can leave those requirements unmet |
Handling and storage
- Give the heat treatment for each grade: a full ferritizing anneal for 60-40-18; as-cast for 65-45-12 and 80-55-06; quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal treatment for 100-70-03 and 120-90-02 (ASTM A536 summary).
- Daycounter also prints usual treatments: 60-40-18 may be annealed, 100-70-03 is usually normalized and 120-90-02 is quenched and tempered.
- West Yorkshire Steel says EN GJS 400-15 has machining characteristics similar to grey iron, and supplies it as bar in 3 metre lengths that can be sawn to length.
Mitigations
- Where hardness, chemical composition or other special checks matter, state them in the contract or purchase order, because the ASTM A536 summary applies them only when they are indicated there.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Iron and steel (United States)
Iron is the least expensive and most widely used metal (USGS). US raw steel production was 82 million metric tons in 2025e, and net import reliance was 13 percent of apparent consumption in 2025e. Construction took an estimated 31 percent of net shipments and automotive 15 percent (USGS).
- Recycling
- See the Iron and Steel Scrap chapter, which is not summarised in this profile (USGS).
- Substitutes
- Aluminum and plastics compete in automotive use, and aluminum, concrete and wood in construction (USGS substitutes text)
Raw steel production by country (2025e)
World raw steel production was 1,900 million metric tons in 2025e (rounded total). Shares below are computed from the printed tonnages over that total: China 980, India 160, United States 82, Japan 81 and Russia 65 million tons.
- Top producers (2025)
- China 51.6%, India 8.4%, United States 4.3%, Japan 4.3%, Russia 3.4%
Silicon (ferrosilicon and silicon metal)
Ferrosilicon and silicon metal were produced at five US facilities in 2025 (USGS). Most ferrosilicon was consumed in the ferrous foundry and steel industries (USGS). China accounted for almost 80 percent of global estimated production of silicon materials in 2025 (USGS, as printed). Silica (quartzite) is the source, and world resources are described as abundant (USGS).
- Top producers (2025)
- China 80%
- Critical mineral lists
- US: listed
- Recycling
- Insignificant (USGS).
- Substitutes
- Aluminum, silicon carbide and silicomanganese can be substituted for ferrosilicon in some applications (USGS)
Manganese
Manganese ore containing 20 percent or more manganese has not been produced in the United States since 1970 (USGS). Net import reliance was 100 percent of apparent consumption from 2021 to 2025e (USGS). South Africa holds an estimated 70 percent of world manganese resources (USGS).
- Top producers (2025)
- South Africa 38%, Gabon 25%, Australia 8%
- Recycling
- Recycled incidentally in ferrous and nonferrous scrap; scrap recovery specifically for manganese is negligible (USGS).
- Substitutes
- Manganese has no satisfactory substitute in its major applications (USGS)
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
spore: profile
id: ductile-iron
spore_version: 0.2
family: cast-irons
name: Ductile iron (nodular iron, SG iron)
abbreviation: SG iron (ASTM A536, EN-GJS)
role: spheroidal-graphite cast iron
category: metals
type: steels-and-stainless
summary: |
Ductile iron, also called nodular iron or spheroidal graphite iron, is a cast iron whose graphite is substantially spheroidal in shape (ASTM A536 summary; West Yorkshire Steel calls it SG iron). Goldens prints seven ASTM A536 grades, from 60-40-18 to 120-90-02, with tensile strengths of 60,000 to 120,000 psi and elongation from 18 percent down to 2 percent. Goldens also prints the grey iron classes at 22,000 to 52,500 psi (ASTM A48). The grade sets the heat treatment, and each grade's test bar is poured from the ladle. Total Materia gives a modulus of 169 GPa for EN-GJS-400-15.
best_for: Castings that need the ASTM A536 strengths of 60,000 to 120,000 psi, such as high-strength gears and rollers and pressure-containing valve and pump bodies (Goldens; Daycounter)
weakest_at: Elongation falls as the grade rises, from 18 percent at 60-40-18 to 2 percent at 120-90-02 (Goldens). Properties also depend on the heat treatment that each grade requires (ASTM A536 summary)
identity:
formula: Fe balance; 3.55 to 3.65 C, 2.30 to 2.70 Si, 0.030 to 0.045 Mg, 0.008 to 0.015 S, max 0.050 P (wt%, all grades); Mn 0.40 max or 0.40 to 0.60, Cu below 0.30 to 0.80, Ni 0.04 to 1.0 and Sn 0.02 to 0.05, by grade
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Composition rows of the grades table (Goldens); Fe balance from the typical analysis on the West Yorkshire Steel datasheet
designations:
- system: ASTM
code: A536
note: ductile iron castings, printed as ASTM A536-84(2014)
source: astm-a536-codehub
where: Resource title and Description
- system: ASTM
code: 60-40-18
note: grade of ASTM A536
source: astm-a536-codehub
where: Description, heat treatment list
- system: ASTM
code: 65-45-12
note: grade of ASTM A536
source: astm-a536-codehub
where: Description, heat treatment list
- system: ASTM
code: 80-55-06
note: grade of ASTM A536
source: astm-a536-codehub
where: Description, heat treatment list
- system: ASTM
code: 100-70-03
note: grade of ASTM A536
source: astm-a536-codehub
where: Description, heat treatment list
- system: SAE
code: J434B
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, column header SAE J434B
- system: JIS
code: G5502
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, column header JIS G5502
- system: DIN
code: '1693'
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, column header DIN 1693
- system: DIN
code: GGG-40
source: totalmateria-en-gjs-400-15
where: International Equivalent Materials, DIN row (Official)
- system: EN
code: '0.7040'
source: totalmateria-en-gjs-400-15
where: International Equivalent Materials, DIN row 0.7040 (Official)
- system: EN name
code: EN-GJS-400-15
source: totalmateria-en-gjs-400-15
where: Page title and Standards field
- system: EN name
code: EN-JS1072
source: totalmateria-en-gjs-400-15
where: International Equivalent Materials, EN row (Official)
- system: Trade name
code: SG iron
source: wys-en-gjs-400-15
where: Page heading, Spheroidal Graphite / SG Iron
- system: Trade name
code: spheroidal graphite iron
source: wys-en-gjs-400-15
where: Description paragraph
- system: Trade name
code: nodular iron
source: astm-a536-codehub
where: Description, also known as spheroidal or nodular iron
tags:
environments: []
stresses: []
applications:
- mechanisms
- structures
properties:
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, 60-40-18
value: 60000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 60-40-18
heat_treatment: full ferritizing anneal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says may be annealed
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 60,000 psi as Min. Tensile
method: Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import)
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 60-40-18
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, 60-40-18
value: 40000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 60-40-18
heat_treatment: full ferritizing anneal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says may be annealed
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 40,000 psi as Min. Yield
method: Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 60-40-18
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, 60-40-18
value: 18
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 60-40-18
heat_treatment: full ferritizing anneal (ASTM A536 summary)
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
gauge: not stated
basis: grade value as printed
method: Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 60-40-18
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, 65-45-12
value: 65000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 65-45-12
heat_treatment: as-cast (ASTM A536 summary)
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 65,000 psi as Min. Tensile
method: Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import)
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 65-45-12
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, 65-45-12
value: 45000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 65-45-12
heat_treatment: as-cast (ASTM A536 summary)
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 45,000 psi as Min. Yield
method: Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 65-45-12
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, 65-45-12
value: 12
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 65-45-12
heat_treatment: as-cast (ASTM A536 summary)
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
gauge: not stated
basis: grade value as printed
method: Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 65-45-12
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, 70-50-07
value: 70000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 70-50-07
heat_treatment: not stated in the fetched sources
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; no minimum label in the fetched sources
method: Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import)
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 70-50-07
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, 70-50-07
value: 50000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 70-50-07
heat_treatment: not stated in the fetched sources
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; no minimum label in the fetched sources
method: Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 70-50-07
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, 70-50-07
value: 7
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 70-50-07
heat_treatment: not stated in the fetched sources
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
gauge: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; printed as 07
method: Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 70-50-07
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, 80-55-06
value: 80000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 80-55-06
heat_treatment: as-cast (ASTM A536 summary)
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; Daycounter prints the same 80,000 psi as Min. Tensile under the label 80-50-06
method: Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import)
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 80-55-06
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, 80-55-06
value: 55000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 80-55-06
heat_treatment: as-cast (ASTM A536 summary)
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; Daycounter prints the same 55,000 psi as Min. Yield under the label 80-50-06
method: Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 80-55-06
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, 80-55-06
value: 6
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 80-55-06
heat_treatment: as-cast (ASTM A536 summary)
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
gauge: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; printed as 06
method: Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 80-55-06
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, 80-60-03
value: 80000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 80-60-03
heat_treatment: not stated in the fetched sources
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; no minimum label in the fetched sources
method: Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import)
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 80-60-03
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, 80-60-03
value: 60000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 80-60-03
heat_treatment: not stated in the fetched sources
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; no minimum label in the fetched sources
method: Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 80-60-03
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, 80-60-03
value: 3
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 80-60-03
heat_treatment: not stated in the fetched sources
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
gauge: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; printed as 03
method: Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 80-60-03
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, 100-70-03
value: 100000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 100-70-03
heat_treatment: quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says usually normalized
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 100,000 psi as Min. Tensile
method: Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import)
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 100-70-03
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, 100-70-03
value: 70000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 100-70-03
heat_treatment: quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says usually normalized
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 70,000 psi as Min. Yield
method: Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 100-70-03
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, 100-70-03
value: 3
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 100-70-03
heat_treatment: quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says usually normalized
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
gauge: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; printed as 03
method: Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 100-70-03
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, 120-90-02
value: 120000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 120-90-02
heat_treatment: quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says quenched and tempered
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 120,000 psi as Min. Tensile
method: Grades table, Tensile Strength psi column, value as printed (psi is converted on import)
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 120-90-02
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength, 120-90-02
value: 90000
unit: psi
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 120-90-02
heat_treatment: quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says quenched and tempered
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; Daycounter's ASTM A536-80 summary prints the same 90,000 psi as Min. Yield
method: Grades table, Yield Strength psi column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 120-90-02
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, 120-90-02
value: 2
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: 120-90-02
heat_treatment: quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal (ASTM A536 summary); Daycounter says quenched and tempered
test_bar: separate test bar poured from the ladle and pulled to failure (Goldens text)
temperature: not stated
gauge: not stated
basis: grade value as printed; printed as 02
method: Grades table, % Elongation column, value as printed
status: ground
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, row 120-90-02
- benchmark: elastic_modulus
label: Modulus of elasticity, EN-GJS-400-15
value: 169
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
grade: EN-GJS-400-15
heat_treatment: not stated on the page
test_bar: not stated on the page
temperature: not stated beside the value; the page's first temperature column is 0 to 30 °C
method: Physical Properties, Modulus of Elasticity value, as printed
status: ground
source: totalmateria-en-gjs-400-15
where: EN EN-GJS-400-15 Physical Properties, Modulus of Elasticity row
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, EN-GJS-400-15 (minimum)
value: 350
bound: lower
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
grade: EN-GJS-400-15
heat_treatment: not stated on the page
test_bar: not stated on the page
temperature: not stated beside the value; the page's first temperature column is 0 to 30 °C
method: Mechanical Properties, Tensile Strength printed as ≥ 350 MPa
status: ground
source: totalmateria-en-gjs-400-15
where: EN EN-GJS-400-15 Mechanical Properties, Tensile Strength row
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, EN-GJS-400-15 (minimum)
value: 8
bound: lower
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: EN-GJS-400-15
heat_treatment: not stated on the page
test_bar: not stated on the page
gauge: not stated on the page
temperature: not stated beside the value; the page's first temperature column is 0 to 30 °C
method: Mechanical Properties, Elongation A printed as ≥ 8 %
status: ground
source: totalmateria-en-gjs-400-15
where: EN EN-GJS-400-15 Mechanical Properties, Elongation A row
- benchmark: hardness_brinell
label: Brinell hardness, EN-GJS-400-15
value: 135
value_high: 180
bound: range
unit: HB
scope: material
conditions:
grade: EN-GJS-400-15
heat_treatment: not stated on the page
test_bar: not stated on the page
temperature: not stated beside the value; the page's first temperature column is 0 to 30 °C
method: Mechanical Properties, Brinell Hardness (HB) printed as 135 to 180; hardness_brinell is not in property-canon
status: ground
source: totalmateria-en-gjs-400-15
where: EN EN-GJS-400-15 Mechanical Properties, Brinell Hardness row
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Typical tensile strength, EN GJS 400-15 SG iron
value: 400
unit: N/mm2
scope: material
conditions:
grade: EN GJS 400-15 (SG iron)
basis: typical value; the datasheet says values may vary with the size and section of the grade
heat_treatment: not stated
test_bar: not stated
method: Typical Properties table, Typical Tensile Strength column, printed as N/mm² (written N/mm2 here)
status: ground
source: wys-en-gjs-400-15
where: Typical Properties table, Typical Tensile Strength column
- benchmark: elongation
label: Typical elongation, EN GJS 400-15 SG iron
value: 15
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: EN GJS 400-15 (SG iron)
basis: typical value; the datasheet says values may vary with the size and section of the grade
heat_treatment: not stated
test_bar: not stated
gauge: not stated
method: Typical Properties table, Typical Elongation column, value as printed
status: ground
source: wys-en-gjs-400-15
where: Typical Properties table, Typical Elongation column
- benchmark: hardness_brinell
label: Typical hardness, EN GJS 400-15 SG iron
value: 120
value_high: 180
bound: range
unit: HB
scope: material
conditions:
grade: EN GJS 400-15 (SG iron)
basis: typical value; the datasheet says values may vary with the size and section of the grade
heat_treatment: not stated
test_bar: not stated
method: Typical Properties table, Typical Hardness column, printed as 120-180 HB
status: ground
source: wys-en-gjs-400-15
where: Typical Properties table, Typical Hardness column
corrosion: []
risks:
hazards:
- text: 'PubChem GHS for elemental magnesium: signal word Danger; H250 (catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air) and H260 (releases flammable gases in contact with water); H228 (44.9%) and H252 (18%) also appear. The record says 18.4% (405 of 2205) of reports do not meet GHS criteria. It covers the metal, not the cast iron.'
ghs:
- H250
- H260
- H228
- H252
source: pubchem-mg
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification
- text: 'PubChem GHS for elemental iron: H228 (15.5%) flammable solid and H251 (21.2%) self-heating appear in some notifications; the record says 74.1% (4458 of 6013) of reports do not meet GHS criteria. It covers the metal, not the cast iron.'
ghs:
- H228
- H251
source: pubchem-fe
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification
- text: 'PubChem GHS for elemental manganese: signal word Danger; H228 (11.6%) flammable solid and H372 (causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure) appear in some notifications; the record says 46.1% (1429 of 3101) of reports do not meet GHS criteria. It covers the metal, not the cast iron.'
ghs:
- H228
- H372
source: pubchem-mn
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification
failure_risks:
- mode: Grade and heat treatment do not match
trigger: Castings not heat treated as the ASTM A536 summary requires for their grade
consequence: Castings are tested against the tensile, yield and elongation requirements of their grade (ASTM A536 summary), so a treatment that does not match the grade can leave those requirements unmet
severity: moderate
source: astm-a536-codehub
where: Description
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: 'Give the heat treatment for each grade: a full ferritizing anneal for 60-40-18; as-cast for 65-45-12 and 80-55-06; quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal treatment for 100-70-03 and 120-90-02 (ASTM A536 summary).'
source: astm-a536-codehub
where: Description
- text: 'Daycounter also prints usual treatments: 60-40-18 may be annealed, 100-70-03 is usually normalized and 120-90-02 is quenched and tempered.'
source: daycounter-ductile-iron
where: Short Summary of Ductile Iron Specifications, Heat Treatment column
- text: West Yorkshire Steel says EN GJS 400-15 has machining characteristics similar to grey iron, and supplies it as bar in 3 metre lengths that can be sawn to length.
source: wys-en-gjs-400-15
where: Description and Form of Supply
mitigations:
- text: Where hardness, chemical composition or other special checks matter, state them in the contract or purchase order, because the ASTM A536 summary applies them only when they are indicated there.
source: astm-a536-codehub
where: Description
uses:
- application: mechanisms
device: Gears and rollers (100-70-03 and 120-90-02 grades)
example: Daycounter lists high strength gears, automotive and machine components for 100-70-03, and pinions, gears, rollers and slides for 120-90-02.
source: daycounter-ductile-iron
where: Short Summary of Ductile Iron Specifications, Typical Applications column
- application: structures
device: Pressure-containing valve and pump bodies (60-40-18 grade)
example: Daycounter lists pressure-containing castings such as valve and pump bodies for 60-40-18, and says the grade suits maximum shock resistance at sub-zero temperatures.
source: daycounter-ductile-iron
where: Short Summary of Ductile Iron Specifications, Typical Applications column
- application: mechanisms
device: Dies, pistons, valves and moulds (EN GJS 400-15 SG iron)
example: West Yorkshire Steel lists dies, pistons, valves and moulds as typical applications of EN GJS 400-15 SG iron.
source: wys-en-gjs-400-15
where: Applications section
supply:
- subject: Iron and steel (United States)
abundance: Iron is the least expensive and most widely used metal (USGS). US raw steel production was 82 million metric tons in 2025e, and net import reliance was 13 percent of apparent consumption in 2025e. Construction took an estimated 31 percent of net shipments and automotive 15 percent (USGS).
producers: []
critical_lists: []
recycling: See the Iron and Steel Scrap chapter, which is not summarised in this profile (USGS).
substitutes:
- Aluminum and plastics compete in automotive use, and aluminum, concrete and wood in construction (USGS substitutes text)
source: usgs-iron-steel-2026
where: Domestic Production and Use; Salient Statistics; Substitutes
- subject: Raw steel production by country (2025e)
abundance: 'World raw steel production was 1,900 million metric tons in 2025e (rounded total). Shares below are computed from the printed tonnages over that total: China 980, India 160, United States 82, Japan 81 and Russia 65 million tons.'
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 51.6
year: 2025
- country: India
share_percent: 8.4
year: 2025
- country: United States
share_percent: 4.3
year: 2025
- country: Japan
share_percent: 4.3
year: 2025
- country: Russia
share_percent: 3.4
year: 2025
critical_lists: []
recycling: ''
substitutes: []
source: usgs-iron-steel-2026
where: World Production table, Raw steel 2025e
- subject: Silicon (ferrosilicon and silicon metal)
abundance: Ferrosilicon and silicon metal were produced at five US facilities in 2025 (USGS). Most ferrosilicon was consumed in the ferrous foundry and steel industries (USGS). China accounted for almost 80 percent of global estimated production of silicon materials in 2025 (USGS, as printed). Silica (quartzite) is the source, and world resources are described as abundant (USGS).
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 80
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: U.S. Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals (silicon added, published 7 November 2025, per USGS)
listed: true
recycling: Insignificant (USGS).
substitutes:
- Aluminum, silicon carbide and silicomanganese can be substituted for ferrosilicon in some applications (USGS)
source: usgs-silicon-2026
where: Domestic Production and Use; Events, Trends, and Issues; World Production; World Resources; Substitutes
- subject: Manganese
abundance: Manganese ore containing 20 percent or more manganese has not been produced in the United States since 1970 (USGS). Net import reliance was 100 percent of apparent consumption from 2021 to 2025e (USGS). South Africa holds an estimated 70 percent of world manganese resources (USGS).
producers:
- country: South Africa
share_percent: 38
year: 2025
- country: Gabon
share_percent: 25
year: 2025
- country: Australia
share_percent: 8
year: 2025
critical_lists: []
recycling: Recycled incidentally in ferrous and nonferrous scrap; scrap recovery specifically for manganese is negligible (USGS).
substitutes:
- Manganese has no satisfactory substitute in its major applications (USGS)
source: usgs-manganese-2026
where: Domestic Production and Use; Salient Statistics; World Mine Production (manganese content, 2025e, shares computed from the 20,000 thousand t total); World Resources; Substitutes
media: []
documents:
- title: Goldens' Guide to Ductile Iron Grades (PDF, revised 9/2/14)
type: datasheet
url: https://gfmco.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Goldens-Guide-3-Ductile-Iron-Grades.pdf
year: 2014
- title: ASTM A536-84(2014) Standard Specification for Ductile Iron Castings (NZ Building Code Hub summary)
type: standard
url: https://codehub.building.govt.nz/resources/astm-a536-842014
year: 2014
- title: 'Total Materia: EN EN-GJS-400-15 Cast irons (free view)'
type: database
url: https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/1055031
year: 2021
- title: 'West Yorkshire Steel datasheet: EN GJS 400-15 SG iron'
type: datasheet
url: https://www.westyorkssteel.com/wp-content/uploads/../../files/en-gjs-400-15-sg-iron.pdf
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Iron and Steel'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-iron-steel.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Silicon'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-silicon.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-manganese.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'PubChem: Iron (CID 23925), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23925/JSON
- title: 'PubChem: Manganese (CID 23930), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23930/JSON
- title: 'PubChem: Magnesium (CID 5462224), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/5462224/JSON
gaps:
- The Ductile Iron Society 'Ductile Iron Data for Design Engineers' PDF (243 pages) is a scan with no text layer, so its tables were not read and it is not used.
- No yield strength, density or Poisson value for EN-GJS-400-15 was readable. Total Materia shows these as placeholders behind a free registration.
- No density or thermal conductivity is recorded for any grade. Daycounter prints a specific gravity of 0.25 with the unit 'lb/in' (the exponent is missing), conductivity in Cal/cmsec C and modulus in psi x 10 to the 6th; none of these units is in scripts/units.mjs, so they are left out.
- No impact energy (Charpy) or fatigue value for ductile iron was found. The Daycounter impact table is for austempered ductile iron (ASTM A897), so it is not used.
- 'EN-GJS-500-7, 600-3 and 700-2 have no property values: they appear only in the approximate column of the Goldens table and in the West Yorkshire list of supplied grades.'
- ASTM A395 is not printed on any page fetched in this run, so no A395 designation is listed. No UNS number was printed on a fetched page (MakeItFrom returned an empty page).
- GGG-50 is printed only as an approximate equivalent of 70-50-07 (Goldens), so it is not listed as a designation. 'Nodular cast iron' and 'ductile cast iron' appear only on Wikipedia, which the brief limits to composition and history, so they are not listed.
- Heat treatment for 70-50-07 and 80-60-03 is not stated in any fetched source; the ASTM A536 summary does not list them.
- 'Goldens does not say whether its grade values are minimums or typicals; Daycounter''s ASTM A536-80 summary labels the same figures as minimums. The two EN-GJS-400-15 sources disagree: Total Materia gives at least 350 MPa and 8 percent, West Yorkshire gives typical 400 N/mm2 and 15 percent. Both are recorded with their basis.'
- No corrosion, ageing or environment result for ductile iron was found. The only corrosion statement (alloying for corrosion resistance) is on Wikipedia, which the brief limits to composition and history. Kipp's grade pages returned no content.
- No failure-mode or low-temperature test value for the grades was read; the failure risk recorded is the grade and heat-treatment mismatch.
- Hazard records are PubChem entries for elemental iron, manganese and magnesium, not for the cast alloy. No ductile iron safety data sheet was read, and no dust or fume limit was found.
- The USGS magnesium chapter URL returned a 404, so magnesium supply is not recorded. Producer shares for raw steel, silicon and manganese are computed from printed tonnages or taken from the printed silicon statement.
- hardness_brinell is not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so it is used as a snake_case name for the Brinell rows.
- The web search budget for this turn ran out after five searches, so MatWeb, DIPRA, Kipp, MatMatch and open papers could not be searched for or read.
sources:
goldens-ductile-grades:
title: Goldens' Guide to Ductile Iron Grades (grade table with ASTM, SAE, JIS and DIN columns; composition table; grey iron classes)
url: https://gfmco.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Goldens-Guide-3-Ductile-Iron-Grades.pdf
kind: datasheet
year: 2014
license: cited, not reproduced
astm-a536-codehub:
title: ASTM A536-84(2014) Standard Specification for Ductile Iron Castings (NZ Building Code Hub summary)
id: ASTM A536-84(2014)
url: https://codehub.building.govt.nz/resources/astm-a536-842014
kind: standard
year: 2014
license: cited, not reproduced
totalmateria-en-gjs-400-15:
title: 'Total Materia: EN EN-GJS-400-15 Cast irons (free view, latest update 2021-10)'
url: https://www.totalmateria.com/en-us/material/1055031
kind: database
license: cited, not reproduced
wys-en-gjs-400-15:
title: 'West Yorkshire Steel: EN GJS 400-15 SG iron datasheet'
url: https://www.westyorkssteel.com/wp-content/uploads/../../files/en-gjs-400-15-sg-iron.pdf
kind: datasheet
license: cited, not reproduced
daycounter-ductile-iron:
title: 'Daycounter: Physical Properties of Ductile Iron and Alternative Materials (ASTM A536-80 summary and typical applications)'
url: https://daycounter.com/LabBook/Physical-Properties-Ductile-Iron
kind: web
license: cited, not reproduced
usgs-iron-steel-2026:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Iron and Steel'
id: mcs2026-iron-steel
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-iron-steel.pdf
kind: report
year: 2026
license: public domain
usgs-silicon-2026:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Silicon'
id: mcs2026-silicon
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-silicon.pdf
kind: report
year: 2026
license: public domain
usgs-manganese-2026:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese'
id: mcs2026-manganese
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-manganese.pdf
kind: report
year: 2026
license: public domain
pubchem-fe:
title: 'PubChem: Iron (CID 23925), Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (REST record)'
id: CID 23925
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23925/JSON
kind: database
license: PubChem terms (public)
pubchem-mn:
title: 'PubChem: Manganese (CID 23930), Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (REST record)'
id: CID 23930
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/23930/JSON
kind: database
license: PubChem terms (public)
pubchem-mg:
title: 'PubChem: Magnesium (CID 5462224), Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification (REST record)'
id: CID 5462224
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/5462224/JSON
kind: database
license: PubChem terms (public)
wiki-ductile-iron:
title: 'Wikipedia: Ductile iron (lead paragraph, composition and history only)'
id: Ductile iron
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ductile_iron
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (cited, not reproduced)
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-24'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 28
unreachable: 5
caveats: 3
note: Read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-24 from pages fetched in that run. Grade values come from the Goldens table in psi, and the heat-treatment conditions from the ASTM A536 summary. EN-GJS-400-15 values come from Total Materia (minimums) and West Yorkshire Steel (typicals), which disagree. The Ductile Iron Society PDF is image-only; Kipp, MatMatch and MakeItFrom returned no content.
story:
recipe:
line: Ductile iron is iron with 3.55 to 3.65 percent carbon and 2.30 to 2.70 percent silicon, with magnesium at 0.030 to 0.045 percent and sulfur at 0.008 to 0.015 percent (Goldens grade table). Goldens says the grade is set by adding specific alloys and controlling the carbon content of each ladle.
parts:
- name: Iron
symbol: Fe
share_note: balance (West Yorkshire Steel typical analysis)
role: The matrix of the cast iron, and the rest of the composition
source: wys-en-gjs-400-15
where: Typical Analysis
- name: Carbon
symbol: C
share_percent: 3.55
share_high: 3.65
role: Controlled in each ladle to set the grade (Goldens)
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, C% row
- name: Silicon
symbol: Si
share_percent: 2.3
share_high: 2.7
role: A graphite-forming element (Wikipedia, Composition)
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, Si% row
- name: Manganese
symbol: Mn
share_percent: 0.4
share_high: 0.6
share_note: 0.40 max in 60-40-18 and 65-45-12; 0.40 to 0.60 in the other grades
role: Limit set for each grade (Goldens)
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, Mn% row
- name: Magnesium
symbol: Mg
share_percent: 0.03
share_high: 0.045
role: Printed limit; the US patent on a cast ferrous alloy for ductile iron names magnesium (Wikipedia, lead)
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, Mg% row
- name: Sulfur
symbol: S
share_percent: 0.008
share_high: 0.015
role: Impurity held within a printed limit (Goldens)
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, S% row
- name: Phosphorus
symbol: P
share_note: max 0.050
role: Impurity held to a maximum limit (Goldens)
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, P% row
- name: Copper
symbol: Cu
share_note: below 0.30 in 60-40-18 and 65-45-12; 0.40 to 0.60 in 70-50-07, 80-55-06 and 80-60-03; 0.60 to 0.80 in 100-70-03 and 120-90-02
role: Can raise tensile and yield strength while reducing ductility (Wikipedia, Composition)
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, Cu% row
- name: Nickel
symbol: Ni
share_note: 0.04 to 1.0 from 80-55-06 upward; not specified below
role: Alloying element printed per grade (Goldens)
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, Ni% row
- name: Tin
symbol: Sn
share_note: 0.02 to 0.05 in 100-70-03 and 120-90-02
role: Alloying element printed for the two highest grades (Goldens)
source: goldens-ductile-grades
where: Grades table, Sn% row
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 1
verdict: PubChem hazards are for the elements
lead: The PubChem records cover elemental magnesium, iron and manganese, not the cast iron. No safety data sheet for ductile iron was read.
points:
- label: Magnesium
line: PubChem lists elemental magnesium as Danger, with H250 (catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air) and H260 (releases flammable gases in contact with water). Magnesium is the element named in the US patent on a cast ferrous alloy for ductile iron production (Wikipedia, lead).
- label: Iron
line: PubChem lists elemental iron with H228 (15.5%) and H251 (21.2%) in some notifications, and as not meeting GHS criteria in 74.1% of reports.
- label: Manganese
line: PubChem lists elemental manganese with H228 (11.6%) and H372 (causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure).
- label: Workshop
line: No dust or fume limit was read for the cast alloy, so check the supplier's safety data sheet before cutting or grinding.
- title: Fabrication and heat
level: 1
verdict: Heat treatment must match the grade
lead: The ASTM A536 summary ties heat treatment to each grade, so the treatment must be stated with every property value.
points:
- label: By grade
line: A full ferritizing anneal for 60-40-18; as-cast for 65-45-12 and 80-55-06; quench and temper, normalize and temper, or isothermal treatment for 100-70-03 and 120-90-02 (ASTM A536 summary).
- label: Machining
line: West Yorkshire Steel says EN GJS 400-15 has machining characteristics similar to grey iron.
- label: Supply
line: Round bar and a limited size range of flat bar, in 3 metre lengths that can be sawn to length (West Yorkshire Steel).
why: Ductile iron is a cast iron with spheroidal graphite. Goldens prints tensile strengths of 60,000 to 120,000 psi for the ASTM A536 grades, against 22,000 to 52,500 psi for the ASTM A48 grey iron classes on the same page. West Yorkshire Steel says the SG iron suits applications where electrical conductivity, impact, fatigue and magnetic permeability features are required. The cost of the higher grades is elongation, which falls from 18 percent to 2 percent (Goldens).
uses:
- where: Gears and rollers
line: Daycounter lists high strength gears, automotive and machine components for 100-70-03, and pinions, gears, rollers and slides for 120-90-02.
- where: Pressure-containing valve and pump bodies
line: Daycounter lists pressure-containing castings such as valve and pump bodies for 60-40-18.
- where: Dies, pistons, valves and moulds
line: West Yorkshire Steel lists dies, pistons, valves and moulds as typical applications of EN GJS 400-15 SG iron.
can_do:
- label: Strength, 60-40-18 and 65-45-12
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
line: Goldens prints 60,000 psi and 65,000 psi tensile strength, with 40,000 psi and 45,000 psi yield strength and 18 and 12 percent elongation.
- label: Strength, 120-90-02
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
line: Goldens prints 120,000 psi tensile and 90,000 psi yield for the highest grade, with 2 percent elongation.
- label: Stiffness
benchmark: elastic_modulus
value: 169 GPa
line: Total Materia prints a modulus of elasticity of 169 GPa for EN-GJS-400-15.
- label: Hardness
benchmark: hardness_brinell
value: 135 to 180 HB
line: Total Materia prints 135 to 180 HB for EN-GJS-400-15; West Yorkshire Steel prints a typical 120 to 180 HB.
compare: 'Compared with grey iron, the ASTM ductile grades run from 60,000 to 120,000 psi tensile, against 22,000 to 52,500 psi for the grey classes in Goldens, and West Yorkshire Steel says the SG iron machines with characteristics similar to grey iron. Two sources give different figures for EN-GJS-400-15: Total Materia prints a tensile of at least 350 MPa and an elongation of at least 8 percent, while the West Yorkshire datasheet prints typical values of 400 N/mm2 and 15 percent. Both are recorded with their basis and are not reconciled here.'
compare_rows:
- label: Tensile strength, 60-40-18 to 120-90-02
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
scope: material
- label: Yield strength, 60-40-18 to 120-90-02
benchmark: yield_strength
scope: material
- label: Stiffness, EN-GJS-400-15
benchmark: elastic_modulus
scope: material
handling:
- Give the grade and its heat treatment with every strength value, since the ASTM A536 summary ties the treatment to each grade.
- Ask for hardness or chemistry checks in the purchase order when they matter; the ASTM A536 summary applies them only when the order says so.
- Machine it much as grey iron, as West Yorkshire Steel describes. The bar is supplied in 3 metre lengths that can be sawn to length.
- PubChem lists elemental magnesium as catching fire in air and releasing flammable gas in water (H250, H260), so the magnesium addition needs the supplier's safety data sheet.
good_for:
- High-strength gears and rollers, typically the 100-70-03 and 120-90-02 grades (Daycounter, typical applications).
- Pressure-containing valve and pump bodies, typically the 60-40-18 grade (Daycounter, typical applications).
- Parts that need impact, fatigue and magnetic permeability features (West Yorkshire Steel).
watch_out:
- Elongation drops from 18 percent at 60-40-18 to 2 percent at 120-90-02 (Goldens), so the strongest grades are the least ductile.
- Strength is set by grade and heat treatment, and the two EN-GJS-400-15 sources disagree on tensile and elongation figures.
- No corrosion, impact or fatigue data for these grades was read, so none is given (see gaps).
verdict: Ductile iron is a cast iron whose grade sets its strength, elongation and heat treatment. The grade values are clear for the ASTM A536 grades (Goldens), but corrosion, impact and density data are missing, so check the grade and the supplier data before use.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.