Steel A897 Grade 1
ASTM A897 Grade 1 · EN EN-GJS-800-8 · GB QTA-800-8 · ISO 17804 JS/800-8
ASTM A897 Grade 1 is an austempered ductile iron (QTA-800-8, EN-GJS-800-8) in which a ductile iron casting is austempered to an ausferrite matrix rather than pearlite or ferrite.
Reference datasheet — A897 Grade 1 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 900-650-09 condition
A897 Grade 1 tempers and conditions
A897 Grade 1 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. 900-650-09 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
austempered, highest-ductility grade | Highest austempering temperature (~385 °C): pick when impact toughness and machinability matter more than strength. | 550 | 800 | 13 | 26 HRC | — |
austempered | Tough general-purpose ADI class matching ISO 800-10 / EN-JS1100; good for suspension and agricultural parts needing high elongation. | 600 | 900 | 12 | 30 HRC | — |
900-650-09Default A897 Grade 1, austempered ~370 °C | The standard stocked ADI grade: best balance of ~900 MPa strength, 9–12 % elongation and high impact energy. | 700 | 950 | 11 | 32 HRC | — |
austempered | Intermediate strength/ductility class used where European ISO 1000-6 equivalence is required. | 760 | 1,100 | 8 | 35 HRC | — |
A897 Grade 2, austempered ~340 °C | Choose for gears and crankshafts needing higher strength than Grade 1 while keeping ~7 % elongation. | 820 | 1,120 | 8 | 36 HRC | — |
A897 Grade 3, austempered ~315 °C | High-strength gear/wear grade; strength and contact fatigue prioritised over impact toughness. | 920 | 1,280 | 5 | 41 HRC | — |
A897 Grade 4, austempered ~290 °C | Very high strength, low ductility — for heavily loaded gears, cams and abrasion-dominated parts. | 1,150 | 1,450 | 2.5 | 45 HRC | — |
A897 Grade 5, austempered ~260 °C | Maximum-hardness ADI for wear parts and ground engaging tools; essentially machined before heat treatment only. | 1,350 | 1,650 | 1.5 | 48 HRC | — |
What is A897 Grade 1?
ASTM A897 Grade 1 is an austempered ductile iron (QTA-800-8, EN-GJS-800-8) in which a ductile iron casting is austempered to an ausferrite matrix rather than pearlite or ferrite. It reaches 950 MPa tensile, 700 MPa yield, 11 % elongation and 300 HB (32 HRC), giving a strength-to-weight ratio approaching steel with good toughness and wear resistance in near-net-shape castings. The limits are a 300 °C maximum service temperature, a machinability score of 35 after heat treatment, no practical weldability and dependence on foundries with austempering capability. Where heat treatment capacity or weldability governs, pearlitic 100-70-03 is the nearest alternative. A897 Grade 1 has a density of 7.1 g/cm³ (0.257 lb/in³), lighter than 99% of steel grades. It melts at 1,150°C (2,102 °F). A897 Grade 1 has a yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 165 GPa (23.9 Msi).
What is A897 Grade 1 used for?
- gears
- crankshafts
- suspension components
- mining wear parts
- tillage equipment
Advantages
- High strength — 700 MPa (102 ksi), better than 81% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.2 % IACS, worse than 98% of steel grades
- Low stiffness — 165 GPa (23.9 Msi), worse than 97% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 93% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 91% of steel grades
A897 Grade 1 properties
Typical room-temperature values for A897 Grade 1-900-650-09; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
A897 Grade 1 has a density of 7.1 g/cm³ (0.257 lb/in³), lighter than 99% of steel grades. It melts at 1,150°C (2,102 °F).
Mechanical15
A897 Grade 1 has a yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 165 GPa (23.9 Msi).
Thermal6
A897 Grade 1 is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °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
A897 Grade 1 conducts electricity at 2.2 % IACS, worse than 98% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (18/100), better than 83% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of A897 Grade 1 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 85%.
Manufacturability8
A897 Grade 1's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
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. A897 Grade 1 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with A897 Grade 1
Is A897 Grade 1 easy to machine?
Machine in the as-cast (pearlitic/ferritic) state whenever possible; after austempering use rigid setups, negative-rake CBN or coated carbide at low speed and heavy feed — the strain-induced martensite from retained austenite work-hardens the cut surface.
Can A897 Grade 1 be welded?
Essentially not weldable in service condition — heat destroys the ausferrite; if unavoidable, weld before austempering with Ni-based electrodes and re-austemper the whole part.
Can A897 Grade 1 be formed, bent or molded?
Produced as sand/shell/lost-foam ductile iron castings with tight nodularity (>85 %), low carbide and porosity control; section size must suit the hardenability (Cu/Ni/Mo) so ausferrite forms throughout.
A897 Grade 1 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 A897 does not specify chemistry; typical base ductile iron for ADI | 3.2 – 3.9 | 3.6 |
| Si | 2.2 – 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Mnkept low in heavy sections to avoid segregation | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.28 |
| Mgresidual, for nodularisation | 0.03 – 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Cuhardenability addition | 0 – 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Nihardenability, heavy sections | 0 – 2 | 0.5 |
| Mohardenability; excess promotes carbides | 0 – 0.3 | 0.15 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Fe | balance | — |
What surface finishes work on A897 Grade 1?
Shot peening adds large compressive stresses and can raise fatigue strength 30–50 %; protect with phosphate + paint, zinc-rich coating or electroless nickel — no anodizing (ferrous).
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 A897 Grade 1 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- A897/A897M Grade 1
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- EN-GJS-800-8
- ISO
- 17804 JS/800-8
- GB (China)
- QTA-800-8
- Also called
- ADI
How much does A897 Grade 1 cost?
A897 Grade 1 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.
A897 Grade 1 — frequently asked
What is A897 Grade 1 used for?
A897 Grade 1 is typically used for gears, crankshafts, suspension components, mining wear parts and tillage equipment. In short: steel-like strength, cast cost; ausferrite wear resistance; responds strongly to shot peening.
What is the yield strength of A897 Grade 1?
A897 Grade 1 has a typical yield strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) and a tensile strength of 950 MPa (138 ksi) — stronger than 81% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is A897 Grade 1 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 84% of steel grades). Machine in the as-cast (pearlitic/ferritic) state whenever possible; after austempering use rigid setups, negative-rake CBN or coated carbide at low speed and heavy feed — the strain-induced martensite from retained austenite work-hardens the cut surface.
Can A897 Grade 1 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Essentially not weldable in service condition — heat destroys the ausferrite; if unavoidable, weld before austempering with Ni-based electrodes and re-austemper the whole part.
What surface finishes work on A897 Grade 1?
Shot peening adds large compressive stresses and can raise fatigue strength 30–50 %; protect with phosphate + paint, zinc-rich coating or electroless nickel — no anodizing (ferrous).
Can A897 Grade 1 be formed, bent or molded?
Produced as sand/shell/lost-foam ductile iron castings with tight nodularity (>85 %), low carbide and porosity control; section size must suit the hardenability (Cu/Ni/Mo) so ausferrite forms throughout.
What is the maximum service temperature of A897 Grade 1?
A897 Grade 1 is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does A897 Grade 1 cost?
A897 Grade 1 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 A897/A897M-16 Standard Specification for Austempered Ductile Iron Castings — ASTM International (2016)
- ISO 17804 Founding — Ausferritic spheroidal graphite cast irons — Classification — ISO (2020)
- EN 1564 Founding — Ausferritic spheroidal graphite cast irons — CEN (2011)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 1: Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys (ADI section) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 15: Casting — ASM International (2008)
- Ductile Iron Data for Design Engineers (ADI chapter) — Ductile Iron Society / Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium (2013)
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.