Steel Castings
Steel castings provide high strength and toughness in complex shapes, in carbon and low-alloy grades such as WCB and IS 1030, for valves, pumps, mining, earthmoving and heavy machinery. They are produced by sand, shell or investment casting.
What it is
Carbon steel castings (for example ASTM A216 WCB, IS 1030 grades) offer good weldability and strength; low-alloy grades add hardenability, wear resistance or high-temperature strength. Castings are normalised or quenched and tempered to achieve properties.
Steel casting requires higher pouring temperatures than iron, careful feeding and heat treatment, with testing to confirm soundness.
Typical applications
- Valve bodies and pressure parts
- Earthmoving and mining parts
- Crusher and wear components
- Railway and heavy engineering parts
- Gear blanks and hubs
Suitable materials
- Carbon steel (WCB, IS 1030)
- Low-alloy steel (WC6, WC9, LCB)
- Manganese steel (wear)
- Heat-resistant steel
Points to consider
- Specify grade, heat treatment and testing requirements.
- Steel castings shrink more than iron; generous feeding needs good design.
- Weld repair policy should be agreed for critical parts.
- Near-net casting reduces heavy machining.
Frequently asked questions
What is WCB steel?
WCB is a common carbon steel casting grade under ASTM A216, widely used for valve and pump bodies.
Why choose steel castings over iron?
Steel castings are stronger, tougher and weldable, suitable for pressure parts and heavy-duty components.
Are steel castings heat treated?
Yes, typically normalised or quenched and tempered to achieve the specified mechanical properties.