Benefits of Using Ductile Iron Pipes and Fittings

Ductile Iron which is also known by the name of the Spheroidal graphite iron or Nodular Cast Iron was invented in 1949. This material retains the corrosion resistance of cast iron but has more than double tensile strength, i.e, Cast Iron -180 MPa (min), Ductile Iron — 420 MPa (min). The essential distinguishing characteristics between the Cast Iron and Ductile Iron lie in the shape of the graphite in the microstructure of the metal. In the case of Cast iron, the graphite is present in plate-like flakes, which makes Cast Iron brittle but for Ductile Iron, the shape of the graphite becomes a spheroidal nodule, which increases the tensile strength and makes Ductile Iron sturdy and shock-proof.

Considered as the most preferred pipe material for water supply and pressure sewerage application, ductile iron pipe and fittings are used all over the world. They offer higher tensile strength and diametral stiffness than Mild Steel and retain the inherent corrosion resistance of cast iron. Substantial benefits can be obtained from Ductile Iron Pipes in terms of pressure bearing ability, impact resistance and capacity to sustain external static/dynamic loading. Modern DI Pipes are made to last over 100 years, and is an environmentally preferable product due to its recycled content, energy savings, while in service, its durability, its own recyclability and because of the commitment of the pipe industry.

Benefits of using Ductile Iron Pipes:

· It requires very little maintenance and once installed is designed to last around 100 years.

· According to reports, the projected service life for modern ductile iron pipe fittings is at least 105 years and due to its longevity, there is more iron pipe in service today than any other pipe material.

· Made up of around 98% recycled content, they are themselves a 100% recyclable material.

· Significant energy savings are obtained during the pipe’s lifetime in service due to lower costs from increased flow capacity.

· These pipes are extremely strong and can easily withstand the most severe conditions ranging from high-pressure applications to heavy earth and traffic loads, to unstable soil conditions.

· They are resistant to corrosion in most soils.

· Ductile Iron Pipes and Fittings is the pipe of choice to protect against surges and increased pressure loadings because of its strength, durability, and conservative design.

· The installation is very much easy and safe for workers as they can cut and tap these pipes on site.

· It is rugged and resists damage during handling and installation.

· Due to its metallic nature, these pipes can be easily located underground with conventional pipe locators.

Black iron pipe is another commonly used piping material but is it better than Ductile Iron pipes? Let’s find out.

Ductile Iron pipes normally possess thicker pipe walls and are generally stiffer than steel pipes. As such, it relies less on side fill soils to support external loads so it is necessary to achieve highly-compacted soils for ductile iron pipes for sustaining external loads.

For black iron pipes, owing to less stiffness associated with thinner pipe walls, it relies heavily on the stiffness of backfill soils in resisting external loads. So to enhance the external load carrying capacity of steel pipes, the most convenient methods are to improve the quality of backfill materials and to increase the level of soil compaction.

So it can be concluded that, for various piping projects, ductile iron is the most beneficial choice which may offer high performance for a long time and can also help to save on other additional costs.