In Versailles, France, you can find the oldest operating cast iron water main installed in 1664. In North America alone, you can find more than 500 municipalities with cast iron pipes that have been around for close to 100 years. Cast iron, because of its high durability and longevity, has withstood hundreds of years of above-ground and underground service.

Ductile Iron found its way into the commercial market in the 1960s. The only thing that can differentiate ductile iron from cast iron is its ability to break without breaking, which is an advantage of Ductile Iron. Ductile Iron is no different from cast iron in terms of ingredients. Again, the difference lies not only in the quantity of carbon molecules but in their configuration. In the case of cast iron, the configuration of carbon is in flake form, whereas in ductile iron, it is in nodular form.

Cast Iron has stood the test of time when it comes to strength and corrosion resistance for about four centuries. For every conceivable situation where strength and corrosion resistance are the full monty, ductile iron has delivered well: sewer pipes, manhole covers, water pipes, buildings, bridges to fire hydrants, and whatnot

Ductile iron is produced by the addition of magnesium alloy to a molten iron of low sulphur and low phosphorus content. The addition of magnesium alloy brings about a significant change in the microstructure, with the carbon in the iron taking up a nodular or spheroidal shape, in comparison to the flake form of graphite found in Grey Cast Iron, while at the same time producing a finely grained iron matrix in the ferrite structure surrounding it. The change in the molecular structure makes ductile iron tougher, stronger and ductile.

Ductile iron is characterised by good corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. It can be machined, formed and heat-treated such that it finds itself in a range of structural applications. Its service range and performance cannot be matched by any other material. The aforementioned reasons make ductile iron the most preferred material for utility poles in the future.