Steel A536 60-40-18
ASTM A536 60-40-18 · EN EN-GJS-400-15, GGG40 · JIS FCD400 · GB QT400-15
ASTM A536 60-40-18 is a fully ferritic nodular (ductile) cast iron, equivalent to QT400-15, FCD400, EN-GJS-400-15, GGG40 and 0.7040.
Reference datasheet — A536 60-40-18 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 ANN condition
A536 60-40-18 tempers and conditions
A536 60-40-18 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. ANN is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heavy Section | Use for large/thick castings where slow cooling coarsens nodules and lowers strength — design to reduced properties. | 265 | 400 | 15 | 145 HB | 2.9 % IACS |
Low-Temperature Impact Grade | Choose for wind-turbine hubs, offshore and cold-climate castings needing verified impact energy at -20/-40 °C. | 290 | 430 | 22 | 145 HB | 2.9 % IACS |
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard stocked condition: anneal removes pearlite and carbides for maximum ductility, impact toughness and machinability. | 300 | 450 | 23 | 150 HB | 3 % IACS |
Spheroidize annealed | Pick when foundry chemistry/cooling gives a ferritic matrix without heat treatment — lowest cost route to 60-40-18. | 315 | 455 | 19 | 163 HB | 2.9 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways A536 60-40-18 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CCB | Continuous Cast Bar | Supply option |
What is A536 60-40-18?
ASTM A536 60-40-18 is a fully ferritic nodular (ductile) cast iron, equivalent to QT400-15, FCD400, EN-GJS-400-15, GGG40 and 0.7040. It is chosen where a casting must absorb impact and deform rather than crack: 450 MPa tensile strength, 300 MPa yield, 23 % elongation and a soft 150 HB matrix that machines readily, supplied as sand castings, pipe fittings and continuous-cast bar. Limits are a 350 °C maximum service temperature, poor weldability (repair only, with post-weld anneal) and the lowest strength of the common A536 grades. Step up to 80-55-06 when strength matters more than ductility. A536 60-40-18 has a density of 7.1 g/cm³ (0.257 lb/in³), lighter than 99% of steel grades. It melts at 1,140°C (2,084 °F). A536 60-40-18 has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — weaker than 86% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 23% and the elastic modulus is 169 GPa (24.5 Msi).
What is A536 60-40-18 used for?
- pipe fittings
- agricultural equipment
- housings
- axle carriers
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 72/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 6/100, worse than 98% of steel grades
- Low stiffness — 169 GPa (24.5 Msi), worse than 97% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 37 MPa·√m (33.7 ksi·√in), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 3 % IACS, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Low strength — 300 MPa (43.5 ksi), worse than 86% of steel grades
A536 60-40-18 properties
Typical room-temperature values for A536 60-40-18-ANN; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
A536 60-40-18 has a density of 7.1 g/cm³ (0.257 lb/in³), lighter than 99% of steel grades. It melts at 1,140°C (2,084 °F).
Mechanical16
A536 60-40-18 has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — weaker than 86% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 23% and the elastic modulus is 169 GPa (24.5 Msi).
Thermal6
A536 60-40-18 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 36 W/m·K (20.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 73% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
A536 60-40-18 conducts electricity at 3 % IACS, worse than 91% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (18/100), better than 83% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of A536 60-40-18 takes about 21 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 99% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 80%.
Manufacturability8
A536 60-40-18's machinability is very good (72/100, better than 97% of steel grades); weldability poor (32/100); formability not recommended (6/100).
Common Calculations5
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. A536 60-40-18 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with A536 60-40-18
Is A536 60-40-18 easy to machine?
Very free-machining for a ferrous casting — graphite breaks chips; use carbide/ceramic, avoid built-up edge from the soft ferrite by keeping speeds up and coolant adequate.
Can A536 60-40-18 be welded?
Poor weldability: preheat 300–400 °C with NiFe (ENiFe-CI) electrodes, small stringer beads, peening and slow cool; post-weld ferritizing anneal restores ductility in the HAZ.
Can A536 60-40-18 be formed, bent or molded?
Green-sand, resin-bonded or shell moulds with Mg treatment and late inoculation; feed with graphite-expansion allowance, control nodularity ≥85% and avoid carbide-forming trace elements.
A536 60-40-18 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CASTM A536 specifies mechanical properties only; chemistry is foundry practice | 3.2 – 3.9 | 3.6 |
| Sihigher Si promotes as-cast ferrite but raises ductile-brittle transition | 2 – 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Mnkept low for ferritic/LT grades | 0.1 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mgresidual nodulizer | 0.03 – 0.06 | 0.05 |
| P | ≤ 0.05 | 0.03 |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Cupearlite promoter — limited in ferritic grade | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Fe | balance | — |
What surface finishes work on A536 60-40-18?
Shot blast then paint, powder coat, epoxy or phosphate; can be zinc/nickel plated or hard-chromed after careful graphite removal — no anodizing.
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 A536 60-40-18 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- EN-GJS-400-15GGG400.7040
- GB (China)
- QT400-15
- JIS
- FCD400
How much does A536 60-40-18 cost?
A536 60-40-18 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.
A536 60-40-18 — frequently asked
What is A536 60-40-18 used for?
A536 60-40-18 is typically used for pipe fittings, agricultural equipment, housings and axle carriers. In short: most ductile A536 grade; best impact toughness in family; easy-machining ferrous casting.
What is the yield strength of A536 60-40-18?
A536 60-40-18 has a typical yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — weaker than 86% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is A536 60-40-18 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (72/100, better than 97% of steel grades). Very free-machining for a ferrous casting — graphite breaks chips; use carbide/ceramic, avoid built-up edge from the soft ferrite by keeping speeds up and coolant adequate.
Can A536 60-40-18 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (32/100). Poor weldability: preheat 300–400 °C with NiFe (ENiFe-CI) electrodes, small stringer beads, peening and slow cool; post-weld ferritizing anneal restores ductility in the HAZ.
What surface finishes work on A536 60-40-18?
Shot blast then paint, powder coat, epoxy or phosphate; can be zinc/nickel plated or hard-chromed after careful graphite removal — no anodizing.
Can A536 60-40-18 be formed, bent or molded?
Green-sand, resin-bonded or shell moulds with Mg treatment and late inoculation; feed with graphite-expansion allowance, control nodularity ≥85% and avoid carbide-forming trace elements.
What is the maximum service temperature of A536 60-40-18?
A536 60-40-18 is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between A536 60-40-18-ANN and A536 60-40-18-HS?
ANN is the default condition — standard stocked condition: anneal removes pearlite and carbides for maximum ductility, impact toughness and machinability. HS: use for large/thick castings where slow cooling coarsens nodules and lowers strength — design to reduced properties. Yield strength is 300 MPa in ANN versus 265 MPa in HS.
How much does A536 60-40-18 cost?
A536 60-40-18 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 A536 Standard Specification for Ductile Iron Castings — ASTM International (2019)
- EN 1563 Founding — Spheroidal graphite cast irons — CEN (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- Ductile Iron Data for Design Engineers — Ductile Iron Society / Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium (2013)
- Continuous cast ductile iron bar 60-40-18 datasheet — Dura-Bar (2022)
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.