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Designation: A897/A897M − 22
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A04 on Iron contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Castings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A04.02 on Malleable and Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Ductile Iron Castings. the ASTM website.
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Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2022. Published October 2022. Originally Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, DODSSP, Bldg. 4,
approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as A897/A897M – 16. Section D, 700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5098, http://
DOI: 10.1520/A0897_A0897M-22. dodssp.daps.dla.mil.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
TABLE 2 Mechanical Property Requirements of Mixed 5.2 The matrix microstructure shall substantially consist of
Microstructure Grades ausferrite (acicular ferrite and high carbon, stable austenite) for
Grade Grades 1 through 5 ADI in Table 1. Proeutectoid ferrite will
Inch-pound units
110/70/11
Tensile strength, min, ksi 110
also be present in Grade 110/70/11 [750/500/11] in Table 2.
Yield strength, min, ksi 70 5.3 The cooling rate within some sections may not be
Elongation in 2 in., min, % 11
Typical hardness, HBW, kg/mm2A 241–302 sufficient to avoid the formation of pearlite or other high-
A
Hardness is not mandatory and is shown for information only.
temperature transformation products. In some cases, the maxi-
mum acceptable quantities of these microconstituents and the
location(s) within the casting may be established by agreement
Grade
between the manufacturer, heat treater, and the purchaser.
SI units
750/500/11 5.4 Martensite may be present in minor amounts in the
Tensile Strength, min, MPa 750
Yield strength, min, MPa 500
microstructures of Grades 200/155/02 [1400/1100/02] and
Elongation in 50 mm, min, % 11 230/185/01 [1600/1300/01]. Acceptable quantities of marten-
Typical hardness, HBW, kg/mm2A 241–302 site may be established by agreement between the
A
Hardness is not mandatory and is shown for information only. manufacturer, heat treater, and the purchaser.
5.5 The microstructure shall be substantially free of unde-
sirable microconstituents, the details of which shall be agreed
3.1.9 Certification, if required (see Section 14). upon by the manufacturer, heat treater, and the purchaser.
3.1.10 Special preparation for delivery, if required (see 5.6 The manufacturer, heat treater, and the purchaser may
Section 15). agree upon special chemical compositions or processing re-
quirements to limit the microconstituents described in 5.3 –
4. Chemical Composition 5.5.
4.1 Although this specification has no specific chemical 6. Mechanical Properties
requirements, such requirements may be agreed upon between
the manufacturer, heat treater, and the purchaser. 6.1 Tensile property requirements include tensile strength,
yield strength, and elongation and apply only after austemper-
4.2 Castings that are of sufficient quality (5.1 and Appendix ing heat treatment.
X1) and properly alloyed (have sufficient hardenability) for the
austempering process can be heat treated to meet the minimum 6.2 The iron represented by the test specimens shall con-
properties for any of the five grades of ADI listed in Table 1 by form to the requirements as presented in Table 1 or Table 2.
proper selection of heat treatment temperatures and times, but 6.3 The yield strength shall be determined by the 0.2 %
may not be properly alloyed to produce castings meeting the offset method (see Test Methods E8/E8M).
minimum properties listed in Table 2. Alloy requirements for 6.4 Tensile strength and elongation may degrade with sec-
the mixed microstructure grades of ADI (Table 2) will be tion thicknesses in excess of 1.2 in. [30 mm]. Any deviations to
different than those for the five grades of ADI listed in Table 1. the minimum properties in Tables 1 and 2 must be agreed upon
between the manufacturer, heat treater, and purchaser and
5. Microstructure specified in the order for materials purchased to this specifi-
5.1 The graphite component of the microstructure shall cation (see Section 3). Guidance for how properties may
consist of a minimum 80 % spheroidal graphite conforming to degrade with increasing section thickness is provided in Table
Types I and II per Test Method A247. X1.4.
FIG. 5 Standard Round Tension Test Specimen with 2 in. [50 mm] Gage Length
APPENDIXES
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1.1 In order to achieve the required mechanical properties X1.2.1 The castings should be free of non-metallic
in castings or test coupons, the iron must have a chemical inclusions, carbides, shrink, and dross. Proper purchasing,
composition that provides sufficient hardenability to fully storage, and use of charge materials will minimize the occur-
respond in the austempering heat treatment cycle. The response rence of carbides and gas defects. Proper molding control will
to heat treatment is affected by the effective section size, minimize surface defects and other subsurface discontinuities.
graphite nodule count, and chemical composition. It also The castings should be properly gated and poured using
depends on the capabilities of the specific heat treater’s consistent and effective treatment and inoculation techniques to
equipment. The heavier the effective section size and the more yield shrink-free castings. Any of the aforementioned noncon-
massive the casting, the slower the cooling or quenching rate in forming conditions will reduce the toughness of an ADI
the austempering cycle will be. This quenching rate must component, even if adequate for conventional ductile iron. The
exceed some critical value to attain the correct microstructure following should be met as a minimum: Nodule Count 100/
(ausferrite or ausferrite and proeutectoid ferrite). mm2 and Nodularity 80 %.
X1.2 Published literature and commercial heat treaters as X1.2.2 The carbon equivalent (CE) can be approximated by
well as many foundries can provide information on required the relationship: CE = %C + 1/3 (%Si). It should be controlled
alloy additions needed for specific parts, casting section sizes, as follows in Table X1.1.
or masses. Austempered ductile iron can be successfully
produced from ductile iron castings with a wide range of X1.3 Alloying elements such as molybdenum, copper,
chemical compositions and configurations. There is no opti- nickel, and additional manganese above the base metal level
mum recipe; however, those produced to the following param- should be added only when additional hardenability is required
eters have been shown to yield excellent results. for heavy sections. Increased hardenability is only required to
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.
TABLE X1.4 Minimum Values for Tensile Strength, Yield Strength, and Elongation with Increasing Section Thickness
Inch-Pound Units
Designation Wall Thickness, t, in. Tensile Strength, min, ksi Yield Strength, min, ksi Elongation in 2 in., min, %
110-70-11 t # 1.2 110 70 11
1.2 < t # 2.4 100 70 7
2.4 < t # 8.0 95 70 6
X3.1 Reference minimum values for unnotched Charpy which test specimens are machined should be cut only from
impact testing of ADI are listed in Tables X3.1 and X3.2. These Position A or B in Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b) or Position “A,” “B,”
values are provided for informative purposes only and not “C,” or “D” in Fig. 4(c).
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
impact test specimens should be finish ground to required will decrease the volume of metal subject to distortion during
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.
to dimensions in Fig. 3 of Test Methods E23. Blanks from
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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