Düsseldorf, 20-08-08 

ADI

The austenitic-ferritic cast-iron grades that go by the name of ADI (austempered ductile iron) are made of cast iron with spheroidal graphite (formerly GGG, now GJS) by a special austempering process. Having emerged relatively recently, ADI is an engineering material that is renowned for its strength, which is extremely high for cast iron. So far, its only counterpart in this respect used to be steel. Moreover, its strength per unit of weight is higher than that of aluminium, which is why its weight reduction potential is considerable.  

Resembling steel, it is not only highly wear-resistant but also easier to work. Because of its high carbon content, the entire class of material is 10% lighter than steel, and besides, experts believe that its cost-saving potential may be as high as 50% when it is substituted for steel. With these features, the material is suitable for a wide range of applications which still await development. ADI is already being used to a certain extent in the motor-vehicle industry. In the US it has been established for a long time, and even in Europe its market has been growing by leaps and bounds in recent years. A special chilled variant called CADI adds expendable parts to its range of applications.

Several publications by Zentrale für Gussverwendung have addressed the heavy-duty ADI material.

The subject of this press release, ' ADI – a special cast-iron material designed for extreme endurance', has been covered in No. 1/2003, No. 3/2004, and No. 1/2007 of 'konstruieren + giessen '. For more information, please ask for the relevant sources at the address given above. (zgv@bdguss.de) 

 

The subjects dealt with in previous ZGV information brochures include

• Continuously Cast Iron: Suitable for Many Applications
• Cast Metals for Engine Components are Heavy-duty Specialists
• Bionically Designed Castings with a Great Lightweight and Strength Potential
• Precision Casting – an Economical Solution for Complex Components  
• Austenitic Cast Iron Features Properties for Extreme Applications
• Welding of Castings – an Overview
• High-tech Castings Mirror the Dynamic Development of Wind Power Generation
• Cast Iron with Lamellar Graphite – still the most Frequently Used Cast Iron Material
• Cast Cylinder Heads and Crankcases Offer Versatile Solutions for the Cars of Today and Tomorrow
• High-alloy Casting Materials for Special Applications in the Pump Industry World
• Steel Castings for Buildings all over the World
• What to know about Cast iron with spheroidal graphite