Carbon cast steel is a casting material that utilizes carbon, silicon, and manganese as its primary alloying elements-along with trace amounts of chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and copper-without the addition of expensive alloying materials.
It is the most cost-effective and widely used type of cast steel.
The batch of Hanger brackets shipped on June 10th, 2026 was manufactured using carbon cast steel.
Characteristics of Carbon Cast Steel
Advantages:
1. Simple melting process and low cost: Raw material costs are significantly lower than those for alloy cast steel, high-manganese steel, or stainless steel.
2. Adjustable plasticity and toughness: Cast steels with varying carbon contents can be selected based on specific strength and toughness requirements.
3. Weldable and repairable: Lower carbon content results in better welding performance.
4. Good machinability: Moderate hardness after normalizing or annealing makes machining relatively easy.
5. Good low-temperature performance: Low-carbon cast steel resists fracturing in outdoor environments at temperatures as low as -30°C.
6. Compatible with most casting processes: Suitable for production using clay sand, resin sand, sodium silicate sand, lost foam, resin-coated sand shell molding, and investment casting.
Disadvantages:
1. Poor hardenability: Unsuitable for wear-intensive applications.
2. Low heat resistance: Unsuitable for high-temperature components.
3. Weak rust resistance: Requires protective treatments such as painting, galvanizing, or blackening to mitigate this issue.
4. Average wear resistance.
Grades Of Carbon Cast Steel
The lower the carbon content, the greater the toughness. The higher the carbon content, the greater the strength.
Listed below in order of increasing carbon content:
1. ZG200-400 (Ultra-low carbon cast steel)
International equivalents: ZG200-400 (ZG15), 200-400 / 200-400W, GS200 / 1.0449, Gr.60-30 / J02500, WCA, SC360, 15Л
Advantages: Strong toughness at sub-zero temperatures; crack-free welding.
Suitable applications: Extreme cold; extensive welded assembly; thin-walled, complex, lightweight castings.
Examples: Low-temperature equipment casings, welded composite frames, lightweight housings, magnetic-conductive structural parts.
2. ZG230-450 (Highest usage volume)
International equivalents: ZG230-450 (ZG25), 230-450 / 230-450W, GS240 / 1.0455, GS-52 / GS-CK25, WCB, Gr.65-35 / J03101, SC410, 25Л
, E23-45M
Advantages: Balanced weldability, toughness, and strength; best cost-performance ratio; widest range of applications.
Suitable applications: Moderate impact and vibration; pressure-bearing valve bodies and pump casings (ambient or low temperature); structural parts requiring frequent weld repairs.
Examples: Gate/globe valve bodies, water pump casings, agricultural machinery brackets, locomotive connecting mounts, bearing housings, etc.
3. ZG270-500 (Medium-low carbon)
International equivalents: ZG270-500 (ZG35), 270-500 / 270-500W, GS260 / 1.0460, GS-60 / GS-CK35, Gr.70-36 / J03401, SC450, 35Л
Drawbacks: Requires preheating before welding; prone to cracking if welded directly.
Suitable applications: Structural components subject to moderate loads and significant vibration, with no requirement for frequent welding.
Examples: Medium-sized gearbox housings, roller table supports, lightweight lifting bases, agricultural machinery towing lugs.
4. ZG310-570 (Medium-carbon, high-strength)
International equivalents: 340-550, GE300 / 1.0558, GS-60 / GS-CK45, Gr.80-40 / J05002, SCC5, 45Л
Drawbacks: Difficult to weld; prone to cracking during weld repair of defects; unsuitable for low-temperature conditions.
Suitable applications: Thick-walled castings subject to heavy static loads or alternating stresses, requiring little to no welding.
Examples: Small cast steel gears, lifting hooks, heavy-duty bearing housings, heavy support bases.
5. ZG340-640 (High-carbon)
International equivalents: 340-550, GE370 / 1.0605, GS-70 / GS-CK55, Gr.90-40 / UNS J06000, SCC6, 55Л
Drawbacks: Poor toughness; prone to fracture under impact; poor weldability.
Suitable applications: Thick-walled components with simple geometry subject to high static loads and mild friction; no low-temperature impact requirements. Rarely used for complex castings; not used for pressure-bearing or alternating-load parts (such as valve bodies or pump casings); used only for simple, heavy, static-load supports.
Examples: Heavy counterweights, simple thick-walled load-bearing bases.
For carbon steel components, Shata Machinery offers surface finishes approaching those of investment castings but at price points close to sand castings, delivering exceptional value. A client we supplied this week prioritized both high quality and low cost; we ultimately delivered defect-free parts, resulting in great customer satisfaction.
