ADI (Austempered Ductile Iron) Casting News & Technical Articles – SMEMACH

Austempering is used to increase strength, toughness, and reduce distortion. Parts are heated to the hardening temperature, then cooled rapidly enough to a temperature above the martensite start (Ms) temperature and held for a time sufficient to produce the desired bainite microstructure.

Shanghai Casting & Foundry Expo (CSFE), 2-4 December 2025, made one point unmistakably clear: additive manufacturing (AM) is no longer a visitor in the foundry—it is a co-worker. Below is a concise status report for overseas customers who buy iron, steel or ADI castings and wonder whether AM can, or should, replace conventional casting.

Driven by strict emission rules and high-performance vehicle demand, the automotive industry is transforming towards lightweight, durable, and cost-effective materials. Austenitic ductile iron (ADI), a heat-treated cast iron, is key in this shift due to its steel-like strength, toughness, and lightweight features. This article explores ADI's advantages, automotive applications, and future potential.

The story begins with our foundry receiving a project from a large shipyard to develop marine mooring chock liner. Marine mooring chocks are vital for guiding cables, distributing stress, and protecting hulls. But they're prone to damage due to frequent use and environmental corrosion, which impacts ship efficiency and safety. This article analyzes damage causes, maintenance issues, solutions, and prospects.

（China Foundry Association, November 10, 2025） According to the latest customs statistics, China's casting exports from January to September 2025 presented a divergent trend of "overall growth but decline to the US." The 20 HS codes classified as cast products accumulated exports of 4.763 million tons, up 4.4% year-on-year; total export value reached US$13.23 billion, up 3.7% year-on-year, achieving double growth in both volume and value. However, exports to the US market saw a notable decline, with export volume of 1.034 million tons and value of US$3.16 billion, down 11.9% and 5.4% respectively year-on-year.

As global manufacturing shifts towards lightweight and high-performance materials, austenitic tempered ductile iron (ADI), with its unique mechanical properties and cost advantages, is becoming a focal material in the automotive and construction machinery industries. Driven by both energy conservation and emission reduction policies and technological innovation, the cost structure of China's ADI casting industry chain is showing new characteristics, with its cost competitiveness per kilogram becoming a focus of industry attention.

Optimizing Alcohol-Based Coating Layers in Sand Casting: A Plant-Validated Defect-Reduction Study This study quantifies the impact of alcohol-based coating layers on surface defect reduction in sand castings. Through SMEMACH-validated field trials, optimal layering protocols were established: 2-3 coats for small/medium castings (≤1 t), 3-4 coats for heavy sections (>5 t). Implementation reduced surface defects by 62%, scrap rates from 19% to 7%, and unit costs by 15 RMB (More than 2 US dollars). The process achieves 90 s touch-cure and 3 min full hardness via self-flaming, cutting mold turnover time by 75% compared to water-based systems.

​In the field of engineering materials, austempered ductile iron (ADI) has become a preferred material across many industries due to its cost-effectiveness, lightweight design capabilities, and excellent durability. With the growing global focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and materials innovation, ADI's excellent adaptability is increasingly finding application in agriculture and forestry. This article will delve into the core performance of ADI and highlight its important role in agriculture and forestry.

To gain a deeper understanding of the performance and characteristics of Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) products, we have conducted a two-year project research starting from 2023. This project focuses on six sets of steering components for heavy-duty trucks as the research objects. Through a comparative analysis of the most authentic experimental data, it demonstrates the process of product performance enhancement, aiming to provide strong support for global ADI customers in product iteration and upgrading or new product design.

Today, let's join SMEMACH in exploring the efficiency trade-offs between welding, casting, and forging in the manufacturing process selection of mechanical parts. As the global mechanical manufacturing sector accelerates towards high-precision and high-performance development, the selection of manufacturing processes for mechanical parts has become a crucial factor influencing the overall performance, operational costs, and usage efficiency of equipment. Currently, the industry faces numerous challenges: Firstly, heavy-duty components need to strike a balance between lightweight design and high strength. Secondly, complex working conditions demand that key components possess excellent impact resistance. Thirdly, the small and medium-sized repair market urgently requires cost-effective spare part solutions.