Ever since its invention in the 1940s, ductile iron has been a cornerstone of manufacturing. Two features that set it apart from traditional cast iron are its high tensile strength and high yield strength. While both relate to how a material holds up to mechanical stresses, the difference between them is important.
What is Tensile Strength?
Tensile strength is the maximum stress a material can withstand before it snaps. Tensile strength isn't a guaranteed constant: some materials lose or gain tensile strength depending on their temperature, how much they've deformed, or how old the component is.
A high tensile strength is vital for many mission-critical components, such as railcar connectors, aircraft, and buildings. Note that while they can be paired together, a high tensile strength doesn't guarantee a high yield strength—strength doesn't necessarily mean flexibility.
What is Yield Strength?
Yield strength is the maximum stress a material can withstand and still return to its original shape. After that point, the material will remain deformed, even after the stress is removed. Like tensile strength, yield strength can increase or decrease depending on the material's temperature. Impurities in the material can also weaken its yield strength.
A high yield strength is important for shock-absorbing components, such as suspension systems in heavy trucks. As stated, yield strength is not directly equal to tensile strength, although the two can go hand in hand.
Tensile Strength and Yield Strength in Ductile Iron
Ductile iron is a material widely praised for both its toughness and flexibility. The spheroidal graphite nodules dotted throughout the material act as a built-in buffer against wear, which allows ductile iron to stretch and flex without breaking or deforming permanently.
Its high tensile and yield strengths allow ductile iron to serve a variety of industries. For example, ductile iron is often used in the railroad industry to make railcar connectors. Its high tensile strength allows it to hold the cars together, while its yield strength prevents it from deforming under intense vibrations. This same flexibility makes it useful in agriculture, where it's used in heavy machinery for plowing fields. It can even be used in recreation for off-roading equipment, horseshoes, and more.
Durable Turn-Key Solutions at Urick Ductile Solutions
If you're looking for turn-key solutions that hold up under pressure, contact Urick Ductile Solutions. Our sand molds use the finest grain sand available to create a smooth finish, and our expert team will work with you each step of the way to ensure a product made to your exact specifications. Contact Urick and request a quote for your project today.
