Basalt Cast
Grade
Cast = as cast
Choose for abrasion liners in chutes, cyclones and slurry/pneumatic conveying pipes — hardest and strongest basalt form, but brittle and impact-sensitive.
Values for the Cast condition
Other Basalt tempers and conditions
Basalt is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at Basalt.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
gas-pored volcanic stone | Pick for lightweight cladding, landscaping, filter media and rustic finishes where low weight and texture beat strength. | — | 6 | — | — | 0.8 W/m·K |
DENSEDefault Dense basalt | Standard choice for paving, curbing, cladding and heavy-duty floors where strength and abrasion resistance matter. | — | 15 | — | — | 2 W/m·K |
CastThis page As cast | Choose for abrasion liners in chutes, cyclones and slurry/pneumatic conveying pipes — hardest and strongest basalt form, but brittle and impact-sensitive. | — | 25 | — | — | 2 W/m·K |
What is Basalt Cast?
Basalt Cast is Basalt in the Cast grade — choose for abrasion liners in chutes, cyclones and slurry/pneumatic conveying pipes — hardest and strongest basalt form, but brittle and impact-sensitive. Basalt Cast has a tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi), stronger than 57% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.05% and the elastic modulus is 95 GPa (13.8 Msi). Basalt Cast has a density of 2.95 g/cm³ (0.107 lb/in³), heavier than 100% of natural material grades. It melts at 1,200°C (2,192 °F). DENSE is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Cast is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Stiff — 95 GPa (13.8 Msi), better than 102% of natural material grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 1.8 MPa·√m (1.64 ksi·√in), better than 100% of natural material grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 90/100, better than 98% of natural material grades
- High service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), better than 94% of natural material grades
- Conducts heat well — 1.6 W/m·K (0.924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 2.95 g/cm³ (0.107 lb/in³), worse than 100% of natural material grades
- Difficult to machine — 5/100, worse than 100% of natural material grades
- Limited ductility — 0.05%, worse than 94% of natural material grades
Basalt Cast properties
Typical room-temperature values for Basalt Cast; 17 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Basalt reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical3
Basalt Cast has a density of 2.95 g/cm³ (0.107 lb/in³), heavier than 100% of natural material grades. It melts at 1,200°C (2,192 °F).
Mechanical12
Basalt Cast has a tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi), stronger than 57% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.05% and the elastic modulus is 95 GPa (13.8 Msi).
Thermal5
Basalt Cast is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 1.6 W/m·K (0.924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 6.5 µm/m·K (3.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
Basalt Cast has an electrical resistivity of 10,000 Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is excellent (90/100), better than 98% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Basalt Cast takes about 8 MJ of energy and emits 0.7 kg of CO₂ — less than 74% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
Basalt Cast's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 100% of natural material grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Basalt Cast
Is Basalt easy to machine?
Diamond blades, core bits and CNC stone routers with copious water only; carbide tooling dulls almost instantly and dry cutting risks silica dust and thermal cracking.
Can Basalt be welded?
Not weldable — joints are made with mechanical anchors, epoxy/polyester stone adhesive or cement mortar setting beds; cast basalt liners are bedded in putty and steel-clamped.
Can Basalt be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped by sawing, splitting/guillotining and profiling in the block state; cast basalt is melt-poured at ~1250–1400 °C into moulds and crystallised in an annealing tunnel over 20–30 h.
What surface finishes work on Basalt?
Common finishes are sawn, honed, flamed (bush-hammered), water-jet or polished; fine grain gives a uniform dark polish, and impregnating sealers are used to cut water absorption and iron staining.
Basalt chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| SiO2range defining a basic (mafic) rock | 45 – 52 | 49 |
| Al2O3 | 13 – 17 | 15 |
| FeO+Fe2O3total iron oxide | 8 – 14 | 11 |
| CaO | 8 – 12 | 10 |
| MgO | 4 – 10 | 7 |
| Na2O | 1.5 – 4 | 2.8 |
| K2O | 0.3 – 2 | 1 |
| TiO2 | 0.8 – 2.5 | 1.5 |
| MnO | 0.1 – 0.25 | 0.15 |
| P2O5 | 0.1 – 0.5 | 0.25 |
| other oxides / LOIBalance: trace oxides and LOI; plagioclase+pyroxene±olivine+magnetite | balance | — |
Basalt Cast — frequently asked
What is Basalt Cast used for?
Basalt Cast is typically used for paving stones and curbs, building facades, countertops and fiber production (basalt fiber). In short: highest abrasion resistance in stone; hardest stone to machine; melt-castable as wear liners.
What is the tensile strength of Basalt Cast?
Basalt Cast has a typical tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi) — stronger than 57% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Basalt Cast easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 100% of natural material grades). Diamond blades, core bits and CNC stone routers with copious water only; carbide tooling dulls almost instantly and dry cutting risks silica dust and thermal cracking.
Can Basalt Cast be welded?
Not weldable — joints are made with mechanical anchors, epoxy/polyester stone adhesive or cement mortar setting beds; cast basalt liners are bedded in putty and steel-clamped.
What surface finishes work on Basalt Cast?
Common finishes are sawn, honed, flamed (bush-hammered), water-jet or polished; fine grain gives a uniform dark polish, and impregnating sealers are used to cut water absorption and iron staining.
Can Basalt Cast be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped by sawing, splitting/guillotining and profiling in the block state; cast basalt is melt-poured at ~1250–1400 °C into moulds and crystallised in an annealing tunnel over 20–30 h.
What is the maximum service temperature of Basalt Cast?
Basalt Cast is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASTM C97/C97M — Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity of Dimension Stone — ASTM (2018)
- ASTM C170/C170M — Compressive Strength of Dimension Stone — ASTM (2016)
- ASTM C99/C99M — Modulus of Rupture of Dimension Stone — ASTM (2018)
- EN 1469 — Natural stone products, slabs for cladding — CEN (2015)
- Handbook of Physical Properties of Rocks — CRC Press (1982)
- Rock Mechanics and Engineering — elastic constants and K_IC compilations (ISRM) — ISRM (2017)
- Cast basalt wear-protection liners (ABRESIST/Kalenborn-type) technical data — producer (2020)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.