Why Centrifugal Castings Outperform Continuous Castings in Strength, Durability, and Quality

In the world of metal manufacturing, choosing the right casting process can make all the difference in product performance and lifespan. Two of the most common methods—centrifugal casting and continuous casting—are both used to produce high-quality cylindrical and tubular components. However, when it comes to strength, durability, and overall quality, centrifugal casting stands clearly ahead.

Let’s explore why.

1. Superior Metal Density and Strength

Centrifugal casting uses high rotational speeds to distribute molten metal against the inner wall of a mold. This intense centrifugal force (often exceeding 100 times gravity) pushes out impurities, gases, and inclusions toward the inner diameter, leaving behind a dense, fine-grained, and porosity-free structure.

By contrast, continuous casting relies on gravity and controlled cooling as the metal solidifies through a mold, which can lead to micro-porosity and segregation if not carefully managed. The result? Centrifugal castings deliver mechanically stronger components with higher yield and tensile strength, especially in pressure-bearing or high-stress applications such as pipes, bushings, and rings.

2. Enhanced Structural Integrity and Durability

Because of the way centrifugal casting solidifies from the outer surface inward, the grain structure aligns radially, eliminating shrinkage cavities and internal defects. This structure enhances fatigue resistance and impact strength, making the parts ideal for applications where performance and reliability are critical—like aerospace, power generation, and heavy industry.

Continuous casting, while efficient for producing billets and slabs, often exhibits directional solidification that can leave behind weak zones or segregation bands. These can compromise long-term durability under cyclic or thermal stress.

3. Cleaner, More Homogeneous Metallurgy

One of the hallmark advantages of centrifugal casting is its self-purifying effect. Non-metallic inclusions, oxides, and other impurities are forced to the inner bore, where they can be easily machined away. The resulting metal is exceptionally clean and homogeneous.

In continuous casting, impurities may remain trapped within the metal matrix, especially if process control or cooling rates fluctuate. This can reduce the uniformity of mechanical properties across the cross-section, affecting machining performance and in-service reliability.

4. Dimensional Accuracy and Surface Finish

Modern centrifugal casting equipment allows precise control over mold speed, temperature, and cooling rate, producing castings with tight dimensional tolerances and superior surface finishes. The absence of porosity and shrinkage means less machining is required to achieve final specifications, translating to both cost and material savings.

Continuous cast products, although consistent for long sections, may require additional finishing to remove surface scaling and internal defects. For high-performance parts where precision matters, centrifugal casting simply delivers a better starting point.

5. Flexibility and Material Range

Centrifugal casting is extremely versatile—it can be used with a wide range of alloys including carbon steels, stainless steels, bronzes, nickels, and high-temperature superalloys. Each casting can be customized in diameter, wall thickness, and length with minimal tooling changes.

Continuous casting is more restricted in geometry and typically optimized for standard shapes (billets, blooms, or slabs) rather than specialized hollow or ring-shaped products.

Final Thoughts

If your application demands maximum strength, reliability, and metallurgical integrity, centrifugal casting is the clear choice. While continuous casting is efficient for producing standard stock materials, centrifugal casting excels wherever performance and quality cannot be compromised.

For industries that depend on dependable components—from turbines and pumps to bearings and pressure vessels—centrifugal castings consistently prove their superiority in real-world service

For help with a component part project, please access our Request a Quote Form or call 262-377-9440.

Posted by Isaac Brummer
Project Engineer / Estimator
Johnson Centrifugal Technology
ibrummer@jct-usa.com