15. Innovations in ductile iron pipe systems

The ductile iron pipe systems currently in use are the fruit of a very long evolution, with important milestones such as centrifugal production, the discovery of ductile iron and the recent development of active protective coatings (zinc-aluminium alloy, cement mortar) and passive coatings (polyurethane, epoxy, polyethylene, etc.).

Today, new avenues are opening up, both in production and in the development of new applications.

With regard to pipe production, extremely precise measurement techniques for pipe thickness profiles enable us to produce pipes with fully controlled dimensions, with improved performance and reduced raw material consumption.

New types of ductile cast iron are emerging. By combining special chemical analyses (rich in silicon, for example) and innovative heat treatments, the mechanical engineering...