The resistance and durability of grey cast iron - a material used before the arrival of ductile cast iron - have been widely accepted.

In 1664, King Louis XIV ordered the construction of a network of pipes made from grey cast iron, designed to carry water from the pumping station of Marly-sur-Seine to the fountains and town of Versailles. These pipes remained in use for over 330 years.

Microscopic analysis of grey cast iron has shown that the carbon crystallises as long, narrow graphite flakes.

They favour the concentration of stresses, potential sources of incipient cracks when the material is subject to tractive forces.

1943 witnessed a major discovery: if a small amount of magnesium is added to the grey cast iron, the carbon no longer crystallises as flakes but as graphite spheres.

A new material is born: ductile cast iron

Spheroidal graphite gives the cast iron exceptional mechanical properties.

In addition to excellent yield strength, it offers excellent tensile strength and impact strength.

These qualities are an essential feature of potable water and sewerage networks.

A bar of twisted ductile cast iron displaying outstanding properties was imported from the United States in 1949 by Jean Cavallier, a member of the family which founded the Pont-à-Mousson company.

The ductilisation of cast iron reached the industrial stage in 1960.

For over 40 years, SAINT-GOBAIN CANALISATION ductile cast iron pipelines have enjoyed a world-wide reputation for their strength, durability and reliability.