Carbidic Austempered Ductile Iron (CADI) Casting

With the addition of dispersed carbides throughout its microstructure, carbidic austempered ductile iron (CADI) offers more strength and wear resistance than typical austempered ductile iron (ADI). Although machineability should be considered, CADI is still a popular alternative to Ni-Hard and high-chrome white irons in a number of applications, including manufacturing high-performance automotive components and construction equipment.

Except for the promotion of additional carbides CADI is practically identical to ADI in terms of its composition. Like ADI, CADI undergoes the austempering process, which gives it added strength and durability. When challenged with a casting application that calls for both ductility and wear resistance, CADI is a perfect balance to achieve both needs.

Hiler Industries has the expertise and experience to provide CADI castings that deliver exceptional performance in numerous heavy-duty use cases. We use the shell mold casting technique to provide the closest tolerances and best overall results for our customers no matter what industry they serve.

How Austempering Works

In use since the 1930s, austempering is a heat treatment that is often used on ferrous metals to strengthen them and give them greater toughness. Austempering is unique because it involves holding the metal at the quenching temperature for longer than normal. Once the metal is heated beyond 1500 degrees Fahrenheit, it is quenched in a molten salt bath kept between 400 and 750 degrees Fahrenheit. By keeping the part in the bath, its microstructure is changed from austenite to bainite, giving it greater durability, wear resistance, and fatigue strength compared to as-cast ductile iron components.

Industrial Applications of CADI

Thanks to its high durability and resistance to wear, CADI is commonly used to manufacture components that are frequently subjected to extreme conditions and heavy use. Among the many applications of CADI include:

Construction cutters, guards, and digger teeth
Railroad wear plates and suspension elements
Agricultural plow points

Why Choose Hiler Industries?

We’ve been providing high-quality castings for a variety of markets since 1946. We were among the first foundries to use the shell mold casting technique, which uses extremely fine resin-coated sand to create highly accurate moldings of components. This means parts cast in these molds are far more accurate to the original design than those made with other methods.

Clients know they can count on us to deliver the highest-quality components and customer service. If you’d like to learn more about how we can provide you with the CADI castings you need for your project, reach out and speak with one of our representatives today to get a quote.

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