Have you ever heard of ductile iron pipes? If not, here is a short description of the iron pipes. Ductile iron is a metal made from crude iron where the iron ore is smelted in a blast furnace to obtain the product. It has high carbon content and stable chemical properties. You may think, why is it called ductile iron? The graphite in the ductile iron has round nodules which suppress the cracks and enhance its ductile property. On the other hand, steel pipes are made from steel ore and undergo a process of molding and welding to meet the requirements. These are the most utilized products by manufacturers and steel suppliers in Chennai. The tubular sections in the steel have high strength naturally, which withstand the longitudinal stress and the bending forces.

However, the ductile iron and steel pipes may look similar at first glance. But they do have differences that make the steel pipes stand out. Hence, in this post, let us see why one should choose steel pipes over ductile iron pipes.

Carbon content:

The foremost difference between ductile pipes and steel pipes is the carbon content. The carbon content can be a blessing and curse at the same time because the higher the carbon content, the more the metal has hardness and strength. But at the same time, the product is subjected to brittleness and weldability. So, in the case of ductile iron pipes, they have a carbon content of around 3.0%-3.9%, whereas the iron pipes have carbon content ranging from 0.8% to 0.60%. However, JSW steel dealers in Chennai prefer steel pipes, even though they have less carbon content, they are not brittle and weldable.

Tensile strength:

Another prime difference between ductile iron and steel pipes is tensile and yield strength. The tensile strength defines the maximum load a metal can withstand while undergoing external pressure without being fractured or cracked. The tensile strength of the ductile iron ranges from 42,000 psi to 80,000 psi. But the tensile strength of the steel pipe is around 60,000 psi to 100,000 psi. Not only pipes, but even steel SAIL TMT bar also have tensile above 100,000 psi.

Yield strength:

Thirdly, ductile iron and steel pipe differ based on yield strength. The yield strength refers to the level of stress. It means by the time the metal reaches the saturation point or a level the metal would have undergone a deformation. The yield strength of the ductile iron is lesser or equal to 350 MPa, whereas for the steel pipes, it is around 290 MPa – 550 MPa. All the steel products have good yield strength, for example, the MS chequered plate has a good yield strength of around 540MPa.

Hence, these are the major differences between ductile iron and steel pipes. Even though they look alike, it is always to choose the appropriate one depending upon your project and application. Therefore, approach Bharat Steel, the best steel suppliers in Chennai, for quality steel products.