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Cast Iron•Gray Cast Iron•
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ASTM A48 Class 40 Gray Cast Iron

Primary Designation:ASTM A48 Class 40
Aliases:
Class 40 Gray IronSAE G4000 Gray Iron

Mat Grades internal verification confirms source-backed fidelity and data integrity. It does not constitute external certification or guaranteed lot conformity. Read engineering disclaimer →

Data Completeness:6 composition elements and 9 condition-specific property values cataloged.
Omitted fields represent unverified properties. "Missing is better than invented."

Key Engineering Properties

Representative source rows, qualified by their reported conditions. Inspect the tables below for all values, limits, and source notes.

Density
7.25 g/cm³TYPICAL · temperature not stated
Thermal Conductivity
44 W/(m·K)TYPICAL · temperature not stated
Specific Heat Capacity
490 J/(kg·K)TYPICAL · temperature not stated
Composition Excerpt
C 2.9–3.2 wt%Carbon (range)
Standard Elemental Basis: RANGE

Engineering Summary

ASTM A48 Class 40 is a high-strength, premium engineering gray cast iron. Featuring a minimum tensile strength of 40 ksi (276 MPa) on standard Test Bar B, it possesses a completely pearlitic microstructure with fine Type A graphite flakes. It is frequently inoculated or microalloyed with chromium, copper, or molybdenum to maintain uniform pearlite and prevent chilling in variable casting sections. Widely used for diesel engine cylinder heads, heavy gears, and hydraulic manifolds.

ASTM A48 Class 40 Gray Cast Iron Documented Applications

  • ›Heavy-duty diesel engine cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds
  • ›Precision machine tool spindles, gear blanks, and heavy frames
  • ›High-pressure hydraulic manifolds, valve bodies, and pump components
  • ›Locomotive brake shoes and industrial crushing machinery liners

Recognized Aliases

Source-backed commercial trade name and short designations cataloged in canonical data.

Class 40 Gray IronSAE G4000 Gray Iron

ASTM A48 Class 40 Gray Cast Iron Specifications & Designations

Standard Designations & Applicable Specifications — Semantically classified designations distinguishing primary standard identifiers, commercial trade names, and applicable specification references.

Direct Standard DesignationsDIRECT DESIGNATION
3 Primary Identifiers
Scroll horizontally for full designation data
SystemIdentifierStandard System NameClassification Notes & Provenance
ASTMPRIMARYA48 Class 40ASTM International—Ref: Standard Specifications for Gray and Ductile Cast Iron (ASTM A48/A48M, ASTM A536, EN 1561, EN 1563, ISO 185, ISO 1083, SAE J431, SAE J434, ASM Handbook Vol 1)
UNSF12801Unified Numbering System—Ref: Standard Specifications for Gray and Ductile Cast Iron (ASTM A48/A48M, ASTM A536, EN 1561, EN 1563, ISO 185, ISO 1083, SAE J431, SAE J434, ASM Handbook Vol 1)
SAEJ431 G4000SAE International—Ref: Standard Specifications for Gray and Ductile Cast Iron (ASTM A48/A48M, ASTM A536, EN 1561, EN 1563, ISO 185, ISO 1083, SAE J431, SAE J434, ASM Handbook Vol 1)
Recognized Commercial Aliases & Trade NamesCOMMON ALIAS
2 Listed
Scroll horizontally for full alias classifications
Recognized Name / AliasClassificationTechnical Usage & Context
Class 40 Gray IronCommercial AliasColloquial or commercial industry synonym
SAE G4000 Gray IronHistorical AliasColloquial or commercial industry synonym
Applicable Specifications & Product Form ReferencesSPECIFICATION REFERENCE
3 Applicable Standards
Scroll horizontally for full standard specifications
Standards BodySpecification CodeSpecification Title / ScopeRelationship Type
ASTMASTM A48 / A48MStandard Specification for Gray Iron CastingsSpecification Reference
SAESAE J431Automotive Gray Iron Castings (Grade G4000)Specification Reference
ISOISO 185Grey cast irons — ClassificationSpecification Reference
Engineering Notice: Applicable specifications establish manufacturing requirements, dimensional tolerances, and test criteria for specific product forms (e.g. bus bar, wire, plate, pipe). They represent applicable technical standards, not alternative or equivalent alloy grades.

ASTM A48 Class 40 Gray Cast Iron Chemical Composition

Chemical Composition (Weight %) — Elemental limits and values from the cited source. Preserves exact semantic limits (minimums, maximums, and ranges).

Scroll horizontally for full elemental limits
ElementSymbolAtomic No.Semantic BasisSpecified ValueUnitMetallurgical Notes & QualificationData Status
CarbonC0RANGE2.90 – 3.20wt%Ref: ASTM International, CEN, ISO & ASM International Standards Technical CommitteesVERIFIED
SiliconSi0RANGE1.60 – 2.00wt%Ref: ASTM International, CEN, ISO & ASM International Standards Technical CommitteesVERIFIED
ManganeseMn0RANGE0.70 – 1.00wt%Ref: ASTM International, CEN, ISO & ASM International Standards Technical CommitteesVERIFIED
PhosphorusP0MAXIMUM≤ 0.08wt%Ref: ASTM International, CEN, ISO & ASM International Standards Technical CommitteesVERIFIED
SulfurS0MAXIMUM≤ 0.12wt%Ref: ASTM International, CEN, ISO & ASM International Standards Technical CommitteesVERIFIED
IronFe0REMAINDERRemainderwt%Ref: ASTM International, CEN, ISO & ASM International Standards Technical CommitteesVERIFIED
* Elemental percentages are expressed in weight percent (wt%). Values represent applicable specification limits. Unspecified trace elements are not fabricated or assumed.Preserves exact semantic basis
Property Display UnitsSwitch between Canonical SI and Source / US Customary units:

ASTM A48 Class 40 Gray Cast Iron Physical Properties

Source-specific physical properties. Test temperatures are shown only where reported.

1 Parameters
Scroll horizontally for full property parameters
Property ParameterCanonical SI ValueSemantic BasisTest Temperature / Context RangeSource Raw ReferenceSource ReferenceStatus
Density7.25 g/cm³TYPICAL7.25 g/cm³ASTM International, CEN & ISO Technical CommitteesVERIFIED

ASTM A48 Class 40 Gray Cast Iron Thermal & Thermodynamic Properties

Phase change temperatures, thermal conductivity, specific heat, mean coefficients of thermal expansion across standardized temperature ranges, and recommended thermal processing windows.

3 Parameters
Scroll horizontally for full property parameters
Property ParameterCanonical SI ValueSemantic BasisTest Temperature / Context RangeSource Raw ReferenceSource ReferenceStatus
Thermal Conductivity44 W/(m·K)TYPICAL44 W/(m·K)ASTM International, CEN & ISO Technical CommitteesVERIFIED
Specific Heat Capacity490 J/(kg·K)TYPICAL490 J/(kg·K)ASTM International, CEN & ISO Technical CommitteesVERIFIED
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion10.8 µm/(m·K)TYPICAL10.8 µm/(m·K)ASTM International, CEN & ISO Technical CommitteesVERIFIED

ASTM A48 Class 40 Gray Cast Iron Electrical Properties

Electrical conductivity and resistivity in their reported units and conditions.

1 Parameters
Scroll horizontally for full property parameters
Property ParameterCanonical SI ValueSemantic BasisTest Temperature / Context RangeSource Raw ReferenceSource ReferenceStatus
Electrical Resistivity620 nΩ·mTYPICAL620 nΩ·mASTM International, CEN & ISO Technical CommitteesVERIFIED

ASTM A48 Class 40 Gray Cast Iron Mechanical Properties

Contextual Mechanical Properties & Tempers: Engineering strength, ductility, and hardness values grouped by product form, temper, and section thickness. Mechanical properties are contextual and not isotropic averages.

Elastic & Baseline Mechanical ConstantsSource-specific measurement conditions
Poisson Ratio
0.27 dimensionless
Showing 3 of 3 conditions
Scroll horizontally for all conditions & tempers
Product FormTemper / ConditionSection SizeTensile (UTS)Yield StrengthElongationShear StrengthFatigue StrengthHardness (Scales Preserved)Status
Standard Product FormAs-Cast
Source values and qualifiers
Ultimate Tensile Strength: ≥ 276 MPa (MINIMUM)Governing minimum tensile strength per ASTM A48 Class 40 (40 ksi = 276 MPa). Gray iron exhibits no distinct yield point.ASTM International, CEN, ISO & ASM International Standards Technical Committees — ASTM A48, ASTM A536, EN 1561, EN 1563, ISO 185, ISO 1083, SAE J431, SAE J434, ASM Handbook Vol 1
30.5 mm Test Bar B≥ 276 MPa—————VERIFIED
Standard Product FormAs-Cast
Source values and qualifiers
———————VERIFIED
Standard Product FormAs-Cast
Source values and qualifiers
——————
210–260 HBW
VERIFIED
Hardness Integrity Notice: Rockwell B (HRB), Rockwell F (HRF), and Superficial 30T (HR30T) scales are reported on their measured scales without cross-scale mathematical conversion.
Source: See fact-level citations

ASTM A48 Class 40 Gray Cast Iron Processing & Fabrication

Machining, joining, forming, and thermal processing ratings cataloged from the cited authoritative technical reference.

Source: ASTM International, CEN, ISO & ASM International Standards Technical Committees

Machinability

Good machinability (~70% relative to C36000 baseline). Fully pearlitic matrix requires rigid machine tool setups, coated carbide tooling, and positive rake geometries.

Weldability & Joining

Extremely difficult to weld. Fusion welding creates high susceptibility to cracking due to high carbon equivalent. Recommended strictly for casting salvage using qualified hot-box procedures (350°C–400°C preheat).

Heat Treatment & Working Ranges

Stress relief at 565°C–620°C for 2 hours. Induction surface hardening achieves 54–58 HRC for heavy wear surfaces.

Forming & Cold Working

Non-deformable. Cannot be rolled or cold formed.

ASTM A48 Class 40 Gray Cast Iron Equivalent & Comparable Grades

Comparable Grades & Cross-References: Carefully classified cross-reference relationships for ASTM A48 Class 40 Gray Cast Iron. Comparable does not mean equivalent.

Scroll horizontally for relationship classifications & comparisons
Related MaterialFamilyRelationship ClassificationMetallurgical Notes & DifferencesStatusAction
ASTM A48 Class 30 Gray Cast IronCast IronCommonly ComparedClass 40 provides 33% higher minimum tensile strength (276 vs 207 MPa) and greater wear resistance, but Class 30 is easier to cast without chilled edges and offers higher thermal conductivity (48 vs 44 W/(m·K)).Materials serve different design priorities (e.g. higher strength vs superior corrosion resistance or cost).VERIFIEDSide-by-Side Compare →
EN-GJL-250 Gray Cast IronCast IronApproximate EquivalentEN-GJL-250 (min 250 MPa tensile on 15–30 mm wall) provides similar structural duty to ASTM A48 Class 40 (min 276 MPa on 30.5 mm Test Bar B), but differing standard test specimen dimensions require careful engineering comparison.Engineering substitution review required. Design calculations must verify temper, formability, and corrosion limits before specifying as a direct replacement.VERIFIEDSide-by-Side Compare →

Related Engineering & Metallurgy Guides

Contextual technical guides explaining degradation mechanisms, testing methodologies, and selection criteria relevant to ASTM A48 Class 40 Gray Cast Iron.

Corrosion & Surface Engineering15 min read

How to Remove Rust From Cast Iron: Methods, Science & Prevention

Cast iron is an indispensable alloy family renowned for superior vibration damping and castability, but its iron matrix and carbon microstructure make it susceptible to atmospheric rust. Restoring rusted cast iron requires understanding how mechanical and chemical methods interact with the underlying metal.

Author: MatGrades Materials Engineering GroupRead Guide →

Sources

Sources & Provenance Trail: Authoritative reference publications, standards specifications, and data registers cited across this material record.

ASTM International, CEN & ISO Technical CommitteesStandard Specifications for Gray and Ductile Cast Iron (ASTM A48/A48M, ASTM A536, EN 1561, EN 1563, ISO 185, ISO 1083, SAE J431, SAE J434, ASM Handbook Vol 1)
STANDARDS ORG

Authoritative foundry data harmonized across ASTM A48, ASTM A536, EN 1561, EN 1563, ISO 185, ISO 1083, SAE J431, SAE J434, and ASM International Handbook Volume 1 (Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys).

Issuing Body: ASTM International, CEN, ISO & ASM International Standards Technical CommitteesRevision: ASTM A48/A48M-22 / ASTM A536-84(2024) / EN 1561:2020 / EN 1563:2018 / ISO 185:2020 / ISO 1083:2018View Source Record ↗
Intellectual Property & Provenance Notice: Mat Grades cites technical literature from recognized industry associations and standards organizations. Underlying technical standards and publication data remain the intellectual property of their respective issuing organizations.