Many people may think that steel is much stronger and harder than ductile iron casting, so ductile iron cannot replace steel. But this is not the case. Ductile iron casting can indeed replace steel under certain conditions. Let's take a look at the circumstances under which ductile iron can replace steel!
Basic differences between ductile iron and steel：
Ductile iron casting, as a casting material, has high strength, excellent wear resistance, light weight and relatively low cost. Compared with steel, steel is a mixture of iron, carbon and other alloying elements, and its strength and hardness are significantly better than cast iron.
Although ductile iron and steel have different basic compositions and properties, they are both iron-based materials, so they can replace each other in certain application areas.
Areas where ductile iron can replace steel：
Automotive manufacturing: In the manufacture of automotive parts, ductile iron casting has excellent mechanical properties and low production costs, and has become the preferred material for many parts. For example, ductile iron is often used to replace steel to manufacture automobile engine blocks, steering housings, etc., which not only improves durability but also reduces costs.
Road and bridge construction: In bridge and road construction, steel is usually used as a structural material. However, due to its strength and durability, ductile iron casting can also play a role in some bridge components and transportation facilities. For example, bridge brackets or traffic signal light brackets sometimes use ductile iron instead of steel to reduce costs and improve corrosion resistance.
Large machinery and equipment: In the manufacture of large machinery and equipment, especially in the fields of machine tools and mining machinery, ductile iron has replaced steel as the preferred material for machine tool beds.
Why choose ductile iron?
Although the strength and hardness of steel are generally better than ductile iron, in some specific cases, the advantages of ductile iron are more prominent:
Cost-effectiveness: The production cost of ductile iron is usually lower than that of steel, and the processing difficulty is relatively small. Therefore, in mass production, ductile iron can often bring cost savings to enterprises.
Wear resistance and corrosion resistance: Ductile iron has excellent performance in wear resistance and corrosion resistance, especially in humid or high temperature environments, and has better stability than steel.
Strong adaptability: Ductile iron is more resilient and elastic than steel in some applications, and is particularly suitable for environments that withstand impact and vibration.
Although ductile iron and steel each have different characteristics and application areas, ductile iron can actually replace steel in certain situations. From cost-effectiveness to durability, ductile iron plays an important role in many industries. If you still think that ductile iron cannot replace steel, you may be missing a lot.