ASTM A897 - Austempered Ductile Iron Castings (2017)
ASTM A897 - Austempered Ductile Iron Castings (2017)
for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: A897/A897M − 16
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TABLE 1 Mechanical Property Requirements of Grades 1–5
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5
Inch-pound units
130/90/09 150/110/07 175/125/04 200/155/02 230/185/01
Tensile strength, min, ksi 130 150 175 200 230
Yield strength, min, ksi 90 110 125 155 185
Elongation in 2 in., min, % 9 7 4 2 1
Typical hardness, HBW, kg/mm2A 269–341 302–375 341–444 388–477 402–512
A
Hardness is not mandatory and is shown for information only.
SI units Grade
750/500/11
Tensile Strength, min, MPa 750
Yield strength, min, MPa 500
Elongation in 50 mm, min, % 11
Typical hardness, HBW, kg/mm2A 241–302
A
Hardness is not mandatory and is shown for information only.
austempering process can be heat treated to meet the minimum 230/185/01 [1600/1300/01]. Acceptable quantities of marten-
properties for any of the five grades of ADI listed in Table 1 by site may be established by agreement between the
proper selection of heat treatment temperatures and times, but manufacturer, heat treater, and the purchaser.
may not be properly alloyed to produce castings meeting the 5.5 The microstructure shall be substantially free of unde-
minimum properties listed in Table 2. Alloy requirements for sirable microconstituents, the details of which shall be agreed
the mixed microstructure grades of ADI (Table 2) will be upon by the manufacturer, heat treater, and the purchaser.
different than those for the five grades of ADI listed in Table 1.
5.6 The manufacturer, heat treater, and the purchaser may
5. Microstructure agree upon special chemical compositions or processing re-
quirements to limit the microconstituents described in 5.3 –
5.1 The graphite component of the microstructure shall
5.5.
consist of a minimum 80 % spheroidal graphite conforming to
Types I and II per Test Method A247. 6. Mechanical Properties
5.2 The matrix microstructure shall substantially consist of 6.1 Tensile property requirements include tensile strength,
ausferrite (acicular ferrite and high carbon, stable austenite) for yield strength, and elongation and apply only after austemper-
Grades 1–5 ADI in Table 1. Proeutectoid ferrite will also be ing heat treatment.
present in Grade 110/70/11 [750/500/11] in Table 2.
6.2 The iron represented by the test specimens shall con-
5.3 The cooling rate within some sections may not be form to the requirements as presented in Table 1 or Table 2.
sufficient to avoid the formation of pearlite or other high
6.3 The yield strength shall be determined by the 0.2 %
temperature transformation products. In some cases, the maxi-
offset method (see Test Methods E8).
mum acceptable quantities of these microconstituents and the
location(s) within the casting may be established by agreement 7. Hardness
between the manufacturer, heat treater, and the purchaser. 7.1 The area or areas on the castings where hardness is to be
5.4 Martensite may be present in minor amounts in the checked shall be established by agreement between the manu-
microstructures of Grades 200/155/02 [1400/1100/02] and facturer and purchaser, or the manufacturer and the end user.
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7.2 Brinell hardness shall be determined according to Test 10.2 Castings shall not have chilled corners or center chill in
Method E10 after sufficient material has been removed from areas to be machined.
the casting surface to insure representative hardness readings. 10.3 Welding repair is not acceptable on austempered cast-
The 10 mm ball and 3000 kg load shall be used unless ings.
otherwise specified and agreed upon.
11. Test Coupons
8. Special Requirements
11.1 Separately cast test coupons from which the tension
8.1 When specified in the contract or purchase order, test and Charpy test specimens are machined shall be cast to
castings shall meet special requirements as to hardness, chemi- the size and shape shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2. A modified keel
cal composition, microstructure, pressure tightness, radio- block cast from the mold shown in Fig. 3 may be substituted
graphic soundness, magnetic particle inspection, dimensions, for the 1-in. [25-mm] Y-block or the 1-in. [25-mm] keel block.
and surface finish. Refer to Specification A834 for a list of The test coupons shall be cast in open molds made of suitable
common requirements for iron castings not specifically refer- core sand having a minimum wall thickness of 11⁄2 in. [38-mm]
enced elsewhere in this specification. for the 1⁄2 -in. [13-mm] and 1-in. [25-mm] sizes and 3 in.
8.2 When specified in the contract or purchase order, [76-mm] for the 3-in. [76-mm] size. The coupons shall be left
castings shall meet special requirements prior to the austem- in the mold until they have cooled to a black color (900°F
pering heat treatment operation. [480°C] or less). The size and type of coupon cast to represent
the casting shall be at the option of the purchaser. In case no
9. Heat Treatment option is expressed, the manufacturer shall make the choice.
9.1 Castings produced in accordance with this specification 11.2 When investment castings are made in accordance with
to achieve the minimum mechanical properties in Table 1 shall this specification, the manufacturer may use cast-to-size test
be heat treated by an austempering process consisting of specimens that are either incorporated in the mold with the
heating the castings to a fully austenitic, homogeneous castings or separately cast using the same type of mold and the
condition, cooling (at a rate usually sufficient to avoid the same thermal conditions that are used to produce the castings.
formation of pearlite) to a temperature above the martensite The test specimens shall be made to the dimensions shown in
start temperature, and isothermally transforming the matrix Fig. 1 of Specification A732/A732M or Fig. 5 of Test Methods
structure for a time sufficient to produce the desired properties. and Definitions A370. The exact procedure to be used for
This process shall produce a microstructure that is substantially producing test specimens shall be agreed upon by the manu-
ausferrite. facturer and the purchaser.
9.2 Castings produced in accordance with this specification 11.3 When castings made in accordance with this specifi-
to achieve the minimum mechanical properties in Table 2 shall cation are produced by nodularization directly in the mold, the
be heat treated by an austempering process consisting of manufacturer may use either separately cast test coupons or test
heating the castings to an intercritical temperature to produce a specimens cut from castings. If test bars are to be cut from
fully homogeneous austenite/ferrite condition, cooling (at a castings, test bar location shall be agreed upon by the purchaser
rate usually sufficient to avoid the formation of pearlite) to a
temperature above the martensite start temperature, and iso-
thermally transforming the matrix structure for a time sufficient
to produce the desired properties. This process shall produce a
microstructure that is substantially a mixture of proeutectoid
ferrite and ausferrite.
9.3 Upon agreement between the manufacturer and the
purchaser, tension test specimens described in Section 12 may
be machined prior to the austempering heat treatment. In this
case, heat treatment shall be performed in an inert or carbon
controlled environment so as to prevent carburization,
decarburization, or scaling. Handling and fixturing must be
such as to prevent test bar distortion (see X1.4).
9.4 Re-austempering of castings or any deviation from the
established heat treating process is only permissable with the
approval of the casting purchaser.
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tory. Tension test specimens shall be machined only from
Positions A (preferred) or B in Fig. 4. The test bars may be
machined before or after heat treatment in accordance with 9.3.
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FIG. 5 Standard Round Tension Test Specimen with 2-in. [50-mm] Gage Length
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FIG. 6 Examples of Small-Size Specimens Proportional to Standard 1⁄2-in. [13-mm] Round Specimen
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APPENDIXES
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1.1 In order to achieve the required mechanical properties X1.3 Alloying elements such as Molybdenum, Copper,
in castings, or test coupons, the iron must have a chemical Nickel and additional Manganese above the base metal level
composition that provides sufficient hardenability to fully should be added only when additional hardenability is required
respond in the austempering heat treatment cycle. The response for heavy sections. Increased hardenability is only required to
to heat treatment is affected by the effective section size, avoid the formation of pearlite during quenching. The amount
graphite nodule count, and chemical composition. It also of alloying required (if any) will be a function of the alloy
depends on the capabilities of the specific heat treater’s content in the base metal, the part configuration and the
equipment. The heavier the effective section size and the more austempering process used. The proper alloy composition
massive the casting, the slower will be the cooling or quench- should be determined jointly by the foundry and the heat
ing rate in the austempering cycle. This quenching rate must treating source. Addition of alloying elements when not re-
exceed some critical value to attain the correct microstructure quired does not enchance the properties of ADI and merely
(ausferrite or ausferrite and proeutectoid ferrite). adds to the cost of the iron. Composition guidelines are
recommended in Tables X1.2 and X1.3.
X1.2 Published literature and commercial heat treaters as
well as many foundries can provide information on required X1.3.1 Other nodulizing elements like beryllium, calcium,
alloy additions needed for specific parts, casting section sizes, strontium, barium, yttrium, lanthanum and cerium should be
or masses. Austempered Ductile Iron can be successfully present only to the extent that they are used to replace Mg in
produced from ductile iron castings with a wide range of treatment. The amount of residual Mg plus the amounts of
chemical compositions and configurations. There is no opti- these elements should not exceed 0.06%. Carbide forming
mum recipe; however those produced to the following param- elements (like Cr, Ti , V) tend to be additive in effect with Mn
eters have been shown to yield excellent results. and/or Mo; thus, one should take note of this in alloy design to
avoid the formation of carbides in the casting.
X1.2.1 The castings should be free of non-metallic
inclusions, carbides, shrink and dross. Proper purchasing, X1.3.2 The preceding guidelines are intended to be useful
storage and use of charge materials will minimize the occur- parameters for production. Good ADI can, and is, being
rence of carbides and gas defects. Proper molding control will produced from ductile iron not meeting these criteria, however,
minimize surface defects and other sub-surface discontinuities. these criteria represent sound, commercial practices known to
The castings should be properly gated and poured using produce good results. They do not constitute a guarantee of
consistent and effective treatment and inoculation techniques to final properties.
yield shrink free castings. Any of the aforementioned non- X1.4 Machining of tension test specimens after austemper-
conforming conditions will reduce the toughness of an ADI ing may be difficult, particularly for the higher strength grades.
component, even if adequate for conventional ductile iron. The For this reason, some manufacturers prefer to machine the test
following should be met as a minimum: Nodule Count 100/ bars to size or near net size (with some final grinding
mm2 and Nodularity 80%. allowances) before the austempering operation. (Warning—
X1.2.2 The carbon equivalent (CE) can be approximated Achieving the required mechanical properties and austempered
by the relationship: CE = %C + 1/3 (%Si). It should be microstructure in the smaller cross sections of a premachined
controlled as follows in Table X1.1. test bar does not ensure the correct response in the heavier
sections of actual parts, as explained in X1.1. When prema-
chined test bars are to be used, it is recommended that adequate
TABLE X1.1 Suggested Carbon Equivalent Ranges for Various austempering be verified. This can be done by sectioning a
Section Sizes casting, examining the microstructure in that section, and then
Section Size CE Range comparing the results with that of a premachined test bar that
0 to 1⁄2 in. (0 to 13 mm) 4.4 to 4.6 has been austempered in the same furnace load. When inad-
1⁄2 to 2 in. (13 to 51 mm) 4.3 to 4.6
Over 2 in. (51 mm) 4.3 to 4.5 equate austempering response is identified, increased alloying
as discussed in X1.3 may be required.)
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TABLE X1.2 Suggested Targets and Control Ranges for Intentionally Added Elements
Element Recommended Range
Carbon—Carbon should be controlled within the recommended range except when deviations are required 3.60 % ± 0.20 %
to produce a defect-free casting. If too high levels of carbon are present, carbon flotation can occur and
reduce the apparent strength levels of ADI.
Silicon—Silicon is one of the most important elements in ADI because it promotes graphite formation, 2.50 % ± 0.20 %
decreases the solubility of carbon in austenite, increases the eutectoid temperature and inhibits the
formation of bainitic carbide. Excessively high levels of Si can suppress ausferrite in localized areas by
stabilizing ferrite.
Magnesium—Magnesium is added to create the conditions for graphite nodules to form. Excessively high (% S x 0.76) + 0.025 % ± 0.005 %
levels will promote carbide formation while low levels promote nonspheroidal graphite.
Manganese—Manganese additions above that of the base metal composition are not recommended 0.35% ± 0.05 %
because Mn segregates to the last to freeze regions of the casting and will retard the formation of ausferrite
if the nodule count is not sufficiently high to break up the Mn segregated region. In section sizes up to 1⁄2 in.
or 13 mm, Mn targets as high as 0.60 % have been used due to high nodule counts. In section sizes over
1⁄2 in. (13 mm) or in the presence of Mo other carbide formers, the Mn target should be reduced to 0.35 %
or less to minimize the formation of cell boundary carbides which may negatively affect component
machinability or ductility, or both.
Copper—Copper may be added to ADI to increase hardenability in additions up to 0.80 %. Above this level, 0.80 % maximum, only as needed ± 0.05 %
Cu creates a diffusion barrier around the graphite nodules, thus inhibiting carbon mobility during
austenitizing.
Nickel—Nickel may be used to increase the hardenability of ductile iron in additions up to 2.0 %. Because of 2.0 % maximum, only as needed ± 0.10 %
the costs associated with the use of Ni, larger additions may be cost prohibitive.
Molybdenum—Molybdenum is the most potent hardenability agent in ADI and may be necessary in heavy 0.30 % maximum (only as needed) ± 0.03 %
section castings to prevent the formation of pearlite. Both tensile strength and ductility decrease as the Mo
content increases beyond that required for hardenability. This deterioration in properties is likely caused by
the segregation of Mo to cell boundaries and the formation of carbides. The level of Mo should be restricted
to not more than 0.30 % in heavy section castings.
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X3.1 Reference minimum values for unnotched Charpy to dimensions in Fig. 3 of Test Methods E23. Blanks from
impact testing of ADI are listed in Tables X3.1 and X3.2. These which test specimens are machined should be cut only from
values are provided for informative purposes only and not Positions A or B in Fig. 4.
required to meet the minimum mechanical properties for any
grade of ADI. X3.4 The minimum reference values listed in Tables X3.1
and X3.2 are only for standard size impact bars in Fig. 3 of Test
X3.2 The impact energy values in Tables X3.1 and X3.2
Methods E23. Decreasing the width or depth of an impact bar
apply only after test material has been austempered. The
will decrease the volume of metal subject to distortion during
impact test specimens should be finish ground to required
dimensions after heat treatment. testing; resulting in a decrease in the energy absorption to
break the test specimen. If reduced size bars are tested, then the
X3.3 Unnotched Charpy impact strength for comparative minimum reference values should be determined and decreased
purposes should be determined according to Test Methods E23 accordingly by agreement between the manufacturer and
with the following variations: Specimens should be unnotched purchaser.
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TABLE X3.2 Unnotched Impact Properties of Mixed
Microstructure Grades of ADI
Grade
Inch-pound units
110/70/11
Impact energy, ft-lbA 80
A
Unnotched charpy bars tested at 72 ± 7°F [22 ± 4°C]. The values in the table are
a minimum for the average of the highest three test values of the four tested
samples.
Grade
SI units
750/500/11
Impact energy, JA 110
A
Unnotched charpy bars tested at 72 ± 7°F [22 ± 4°C]. The values in the table are
a minimum for the average of the highest three test values of the four tested
samples.
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