Steel A532 Class I Type A
ASTM A532 Class I Type A
ASTM A532 Class I Type A (Ni-Hard 1) is a martensitic nickel-chromium white cast iron with a continuous carbide network, covered by ASTM A532 and EN 12513.
Reference datasheet — A532 Class I Type A is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the AC condition
A532 Class I Type A tempers and conditions
A532 Class I Type A is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. AC is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hardened and tempered | Specify when maximum abrasion resistance is required; austenitising plus temper transforms retained austenite to give ≥600 HB, at the cost of a further loss of already minimal toughness and a higher risk of quench cracks. | — | 380 | 0 | 58 HRC | — |
ACDefault Spheroidize annealed | Standard commercial supply for mill liners and pump parts; martensite plus retained austenite formed on cooling in mould, no separate hardening cycle. | — | 400 | 0 | 55 HRC | 2 % IACS |
Stress relieved | Pick for thick or complex castings where residual casting stress causes cracking; hardness is essentially unchanged but toughness and dimensional stability improve slightly. | — | 420 | 0 | 54 HRC | 2 % IACS |
What is A532 Class I Type A?
ASTM A532 Class I Type A (Ni-Hard 1) is a martensitic nickel-chromium white cast iron with a continuous carbide network, covered by ASTM A532 and EN 12513. As-cast it reaches 575 HB (55 HRC) with 400 MPa tensile strength and zero elongation, so it is bought purely for abrasive wear life in cast-to-shape liners, grinding media and slurry impellers. The material is brittle, effectively unmachinable (machinability score 3) and limited to about 250 °C service; A532 Class III Type A high-chromium iron is the alternative for hotter or corrosive slurries. A532 Class I Type A has a density of 7.65 g/cm³ (0.276 lb/in³), lighter than 97% of steel grades. It melts at 1,150°C (2,102 °F). A532 Class I Type A has a tensile strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi), weaker than 94% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 175 GPa (25.4 Msi).
What is A532 Class I Type A used for?
- pump liners
- grinding balls
- crusher wear plates
- slurry impellers
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 22/100, better than 90% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 0%, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 3/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 0/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 2 % IACS, worse than 99% of steel grades
A532 Class I Type A properties
Typical room-temperature values for A532 Class I Type A-AC; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
A532 Class I Type A has a density of 7.65 g/cm³ (0.276 lb/in³), lighter than 97% of steel grades. It melts at 1,150°C (2,102 °F).
Mechanical14
A532 Class I Type A has a tensile strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi), weaker than 94% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 175 GPa (25.4 Msi).
Thermal6
A532 Class I Type A is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 93% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.5 µm/m·K (6.94 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
A532 Class I Type A conducts electricity at 2 % IACS, worse than 99% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (22/100), better than 90% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of A532 Class I Type A takes about 26 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 64% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 75%.
Manufacturability7
A532 Class I Type A's machinability is not recommended (3/100, worse than 100% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); formability not recommended (0/100).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. A532 Class I Type A is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with A532 Class I Type A
Is A532 Class I Type A easy to machine?
Not machinable with carbide tooling — finish by wet grinding, CBN wheels or EDM; cast all holes and profiles to near net shape.
Can A532 Class I Type A be welded?
Effectively unweldable structurally; only local repair with high-Ni or austenitic stainless electrodes at 300–400 °C preheat with slow cooling.
Can A532 Class I Type A be formed, bent or molded?
Sand or chill-mould casting only; use generous fillets, chills for section control and very slow shakeout to avoid hot tears and quench cracks.
A532 Class I Type A 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ctotal carbon | 2.8 – 3.6 | 3.2 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 0.6 |
| Si | ≤ 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Nisuppresses pearlite, promotes martensite | 3.3 – 5 | 4 |
| Cr | 1.4 – 4 | 2 |
| Mooptional, for heavy sections | ≤ 1 | 0.3 |
| P | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Fe | balance | — |
What surface finishes work on A532 Class I Type A?
Normally supplied as-cast and shot-blasted; ground faces where sealing is required, no plating or anodizing — protect idle parts with oil or paint against rusting.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel A532 Class I Type A in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Ni-Hard I
- Similar grades
- 12513
How much does A532 Class I Type A cost?
A532 Class I Type A is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
A532 Class I Type A — frequently asked
What is A532 Class I Type A used for?
A532 Class I Type A is typically used for pump liners, grinding balls, crusher wear plates and slurry impellers. In short: extreme abrasion resistance; 55 HRC as-cast; cast to net shape only.
What is the tensile strength of A532 Class I Type A?
A532 Class I Type A has a typical tensile strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) — weaker than 94% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is A532 Class I Type A easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (3/100, worse than 100% of steel grades). Not machinable with carbide tooling — finish by wet grinding, CBN wheels or EDM; cast all holes and profiles to near net shape.
Can A532 Class I Type A be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). Effectively unweldable structurally; only local repair with high-Ni or austenitic stainless electrodes at 300–400 °C preheat with slow cooling.
What surface finishes work on A532 Class I Type A?
Normally supplied as-cast and shot-blasted; ground faces where sealing is required, no plating or anodizing — protect idle parts with oil or paint against rusting.
Can A532 Class I Type A be formed, bent or molded?
Sand or chill-mould casting only; use generous fillets, chills for section control and very slow shakeout to avoid hot tears and quench cracks.
What is the maximum service temperature of A532 Class I Type A?
A532 Class I Type A is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does A532 Class I Type A cost?
A532 Class I Type A is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM A532/A532M — Abrasion-Resistant Cast Irons — ASTM International (2021)
- EN 12513 — Founding: Abrasion resistant cast irons — CEN (2011)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys (Abrasion-Resistant Cast Irons) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 15 — Casting — ASM International (2008)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.