Steel A897 Grade 5
ASTM A897 Grade 5 · EN EN-GJS-1400-1 · GB QTA1400-1
ASTM A897 Grade 5 is the highest-strength austempered ductile iron (ADI), also designated EN-GJS-1400-1 and QTA1400-1, austempered at low temperature to a hard ausferrite matrix.
Reference datasheet — A897 Grade 5 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 AT condition
A897 Grade 5 tempers and conditions
A897 Grade 5 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. AT 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As-cast ductile iron blank prior to austempering | The pearlitic/ferritic casting as delivered from the foundry — the state in which rough machining is done before heat treatment; not a service condition for Grade 5. | 450 | 700 | 6 | 22 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
ATDefault Austempered to A897 Grade 5 | Standard as-supplied condition: austenitised ~870–900 °C then austempered near 260 °C to the maximum-hardness ausferrite; pick for extreme abrasion and contact-fatigue duty. | 1,200 | 1,500 | 1.5 | 45 HRC | — |
Austempered and shot peened | Choose when fatigue life of gear roots, fillets and springs governs; peening adds compressive residual stress and transforms surface austenite to martensite. | 1,200 | 1,500 | 1.5 | 48 HRC | 2.3 % IACS |
Austempered and fillet/roll burnished | Used on crankshaft fillets and shaft radii where deep rolled compressive stress is required beyond what peening gives. | 1,200 | 1,500 | 1.5 | 47 HRC | 2.3 % IACS |
What is A897 Grade 5?
ASTM A897 Grade 5 is the highest-strength austempered ductile iron (ADI), also designated EN-GJS-1400-1 and QTA1400-1, austempered at low temperature to a hard ausferrite matrix. It delivers 1500 MPa tensile strength, 1200 MPa yield and 440 HB (45 HRC) for severe abrasion and contact loading, typically as near-net sand castings finished by grinding. Ductility is only 1.5 %, the machinability score is 15, service is capped at 300 °C, and the grade is not weldable in the austempered condition. Grade 3 is the alternative when parts must tolerate impact or need more machining after heat treatment. A897 Grade 5 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 5 has a yield strength of 1,200 MPa (174 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) — stronger than 94% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 168 GPa (24.4 Msi).
What is A897 Grade 5 used for?
- wear plates
- cam followers
- railway components
- agricultural wear parts
Advantages
- High strength — 1,200 MPa (174 ksi), better than 94% of steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 1.5%, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 2.3 % IACS, worse than 98% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 15/100, worse than 98% of steel grades
A897 Grade 5 properties
Typical room-temperature values for A897 Grade 5-AT; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
A897 Grade 5 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 5 has a yield strength of 1,200 MPa (174 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) — stronger than 94% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 168 GPa (24.4 Msi).
Thermal6
A897 Grade 5 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 5 conducts electricity at 2.3 % IACS, worse than 98% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (20/100), better than 87% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of A897 Grade 5 takes about 22 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 99% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 75%.
Manufacturability7
A897 Grade 5's machinability is poor (15/100, worse than 98% of steel grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); 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 5 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with A897 Grade 5
Is A897 Grade 5 easy to machine?
Rough-machine in the as-cast state with 0.3–1 mm stock for growth, then finish by grinding or hard-turning with CBN/ceramic at low feed — Grade 5 at 440 HB is essentially a hard-turning job.
Can A897 Grade 5 be welded?
Not weldable in service condition; any arc heat destroys the ausferrite and forms brittle martensite/carbides — join mechanically or weld the blank before austempering and re-treat.
Can A897 Grade 5 be formed, bent or molded?
Green-sand or no-bake ductile iron casting with good nodularity (>85 %) and no carbides; alloy Cu/Ni/Mo to the section size, then austenitise 870–900 °C and austemper in salt at ~250–275 °C.
A897 Grade 5 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 fix chemistry; typical base ductile iron per A536 | 3.4 – 3.9 | 3.6 |
| Si | 2.2 – 2.8 | 2.5 |
| Mnkept low to avoid segregation at cell boundaries | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Mgresidual, for nodularisation | 0.03 – 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Cuhardenability addition | 0.4 – 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Niadded for heavier sections | 0 – 2 | 0.8 |
| Moonly for thick sections; excess causes carbides | 0 – 0.3 | 0.15 |
| Pimpurity limit | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Simpurity limit | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Fe | balance | — |
What surface finishes work on A897 Grade 5?
Paint, phosphate or black-oxide for corrosion; shot peening is the preferred functional finish; avoid high-temperature coating bakes above ~300 °C which decompose retained austenite.
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 5 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- EN-GJS-1400-1
- GB (China)
- QTA1400-1
How much does A897 Grade 5 cost?
A897 Grade 5 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 5 — frequently asked
What is A897 Grade 5 used for?
A897 Grade 5 is typically used for wear plates, cam followers, railway components and agricultural wear parts. In short: hardest ADI grade; extreme abrasion resistance; minimal ductility, grind to finish.
What is the yield strength of A897 Grade 5?
A897 Grade 5 has a typical yield strength of 1,200 MPa (174 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) — stronger than 94% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is A897 Grade 5 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (15/100, worse than 98% of steel grades). Rough-machine in the as-cast state with 0.3–1 mm stock for growth, then finish by grinding or hard-turning with CBN/ceramic at low feed — Grade 5 at 440 HB is essentially a hard-turning job.
Can A897 Grade 5 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). Not weldable in service condition; any arc heat destroys the ausferrite and forms brittle martensite/carbides — join mechanically or weld the blank before austempering and re-treat.
What surface finishes work on A897 Grade 5?
Paint, phosphate or black-oxide for corrosion; shot peening is the preferred functional finish; avoid high-temperature coating bakes above ~300 °C which decompose retained austenite.
Can A897 Grade 5 be formed, bent or molded?
Green-sand or no-bake ductile iron casting with good nodularity (>85 %) and no carbides; alloy Cu/Ni/Mo to the section size, then austenitise 870–900 °C and austemper in salt at ~250–275 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of A897 Grade 5?
A897 Grade 5 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.
What is the difference between A897 Grade 5-AT and A897 Grade 5-ASC?
AT is the default condition — standard as-supplied condition: austenitised ~870–900 °C then austempered near 260 °C to the maximum-hardness ausferrite; pick for extreme abrasion and contact-fatigue duty. ASC: the pearlitic/ferritic casting as delivered from the foundry — the state in which rough machining is done before heat treatment; not a service condition for Grade 5. Yield strength is 1,200 MPa in AT versus 450 MPa in ASC.
How much does A897 Grade 5 cost?
A897 Grade 5 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 — Standard Specification for Austempered Ductile Iron Castings — ASTM International (2016)
- EN 1564 — Founding: Ausferritic spheroidal graphite cast irons — CEN (2011)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Ductile Iron Data for Design Engineers / ADI section — Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium — Ductile Iron Society (1998)
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.