Alloy Casting: Making The Best Choice

Table below features a few of the more popular casting alloys we pour for customers out of our 250+ total.
  • Alloy Table 2
  • Alloy Table 3
  • Alloy Table 4
Martensitic Stainless Steels (Hardenable) Austentic Stainless Steels (Non-Hardenable) Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel Duplex Stainless Steels
Representative Alloys CA15, CA6NM CF8, CF8M, CN7M CB7Cu-1 and CB7Cu-2 ILLIUM® P, ILLIUM® PD, CD4MCu, CD3MN (2205)
Applications For good wear and corrosion Most widely used corrosion resistant Alloys; useful at temperatures from cryogenic to 1000 F (500 C), depending on the grade For high-strength requirements (to 175 KSI); a superior combination of strength, toughness and weldability with moderately good corrosion resistance Where higher strength is advantageous; resisting erosion and corrosion
Limitations CA15 is prone to cracking in heavy sections; special procedures improve stress corrosion cracking resistance Special grades available for applications requiring higher strength, low magnetic permeability, etc. Should be used in an aged condition Some grades difficult to produce in heavy sections
Typical Uses Aerospace, gas turbines, marine, petro-chemical, pulp and paper, food processing Chemical processing, marine, power plant, pulp and paper, fertilizer, food and dairy Structural parts requiring at least moderate corrosion resistance Pump parts, mixers
Machinability Fair to good, based on grade & conditions Fair Good when in condition A (solutioned) Good
Weldability Requires post-weld stress relief Generally very good; fully austenitic grades may require special procedures Should be welded in soft condition, then re-solutioned and re-aged Good to fair. Post-weld heat treatment required
Corrosion Resistance Good in mildly corrosive environments; good erosion resistance, some grades have very good resistance to cavitations Though some grades are used as-cast, heat treatment maximizes corrosion resistance Moderate to good Subject to stress corrosion cracking in some media
Nickel Based Alloys Cobalt Based Alloys Heat Resistant Stainless Steels Carbon and Low Alloy Steels
Representative Alloys Monel®, Inconel®, Hastelloy®, ILLIUM® G, ILLIUM® 98 ILLIUM® 6, ILLIUM® 21, (STELLITE®) HK40, HT 8620, 4130, WCB, LC3, C5
Applications Where maintenance or product purity is important. Well-suited to high temperature conditions Hot or corrosive atmosphere where lubrication is difficult; for resistance to wear, galling, impact, and thermal shock For high strength and corrosion resistance at temperatures above 1200 F Machine parts, structural components
Limitations Difficult for the inexperienced foundry to produce Low ductility in many grades Exposure to service conditions may degrade room temperature ductility and weldability; cannot be hardened Low corrosion resistance.
Typical Uses Fluid handling systems, chemical processing, fresh and salt water applications Bushings, sleeves, knives, pump components, valves Petrochemical refining, heat treatment furnaces Knives, cutter blades, die casting dies
Machinability Good to fair. Lower feeds and speeds generally Fair Fair. Slow feeds and deep cuts recommended Fair to good, depending on grade and condition
Weldability Generally good Good to poor, depending on grade Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) produces good results Fair to excellent, depending on grade and condition.
Corrosion Resistance Good resistance to stress corrosion cracking. Some grades especially resistant to attack from hydrochloric acid; others to hydrofluoric acid Excellent Superior resistance to air, combustion gases, flue gases (reducing and oxidizing) and steam Low
Speciality Super Austenitic Copper Based Ni-Resist Ductile Ni-Resist
Representative Alloys ILLIUM 8 CN3MN, CK3MCuN C96400, C96200 Type 2, Type 3 D-2, D-5B
Applications Where galling resistance is required Where good resistance to chloride pitting corrosion and stress corrosion cracking Seawater applications Where a combination of corrosion resistance and wear/erosion resistance is needed Where a combination of toughness, corrosion resistance and wear/erosion resistance is needed; with certain alloy additons, these alloys also do well in higher temperature applications
Limitations Non-weldable Lower strength, prone to hot-shortness Lower mechanical properties Non-weldable, brittle alloy Very difficult to weld
Typical Uses Rotors Desalination applications miltary pump/valve applications Slurry pumping applications, Cylinder liners, pistons, bearings, glands Slurry pumping applications, Cylinder liners, pistons, bearings, glands
Machinability Good Fair Good Good Fair to good
Weldability Non-weldable Fair, special precautions are necessary along with post-weld heat treatment Good Non-weldable Very difficlut to weld and requires customer consent to weld
Corrosion Resistance Good Very good Good good in mild acids/alkalies, sea water but fair less than stainless steels good in mild acids/alkalies, sea water but fair less than stainless steels
Hi Cr White Iron Cast Iron Tool Steels Ferritic
Representative Alloys HC250 Ductile and Gray D2, A2 CB30
Applications Where wear resistance (or high hardness) and minimal corrosion resistance is requires Gray Iron is low cost material with good wear, galling, and dampening properties. Ductile Iron is alow cost material with properties simliar to steels Where high hardness and rigidity are needed Where some corrosion and/or oxidation resistance is required
Limitations Very crack prone and non-weldable Both: non-weldable Gray is a brittle material Non-weldable Lower ductility
Typical Uses Wear components Gray: cylinder liners, bearings Ductle: piping, automotive components Tooling fixtures Decorative trim, Automotive-especially exhaust applications
Machinability Fair Good Difficult depending on the heat treat condition Good
Weldability Non-weldable Non-weldable Non-weldable Fair
Corrosion Resistance Low to fair None None Good