Market Report
UP TO THE CHALLENGE
STEPPING
Ductile iron pipe is able to withstand the test of time while being a viable choice for environmental and effi ciency reasons.
BRIAN SANDALOW, ASSOCIATE EDITOR W
hat comes to mind when you think of ductile iron pipe? Maybe it’s toughness and how it
can withstand the most challenging conditions and thrive. Maybe it’s the durability and how it can last gen- erations. Or maybe it’s innovation, with new and interesting additions
coming frequently to improve the value of the product. In fact, all of those would be true. “It is tough in any service condition,” said Maury Gaston, manager, market-
ing services, AMERICAN Ductile Iron Pipe (Birmingham, Alabama). “It can withstand all installation environments, rocky trenches, soft trenches, aggressive handling. While we may not recommend aggressive handling, underground utility construction is a demanding environment and ductile iron has the toughness to withstand that.” Manufactured via centrifugal casting, ductile iron pipe was introduced to the
marketplace in the 1950s as a replacement and improvement of older gray iron. Ductile iron contains a magnesium additive that makes it stronger and more fl ex- ible, which enables it to withstand even greater stresses and loads. In addition, modern ductile iron pipe is cement lined, which eliminates tuberculation, a process that might restrict the fl ow in older, unlined pipe.
20 | METAL CASTING DESIGN & PURCHASING | Nov/Dec 2016
“T e older gray cast iron pipe that ductile iron replaced was fi rst installed in the early 1800s, and thousands of miles of gray iron pipe continues to serve reliably after more than 100 years of service,” said Jeff Otterstedt, executive vice president, McWane Ductile. “Modern, cement- lined ductile iron can be expected to last even longer, even in corrosive soils when protected by polywrap. T at’s a proven track record that no other material can match.” In 1958, LaFourche Parrish (Loui- siana) was the fi rst municipality to install ductile iron pipe with a poly- ethylene encasement. It’s an 8-mm loose polyethylene fi ll that’s wrapped around the pipe. And it’s thriving 58 years later. “We looked at it last in 2013 after 55 years of service. We go back at that
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