Microstructure, tensile, impact, hardness, fractography and wear characteristics were investigated for: (1) Austempered ductile iron (ADI); and (2) low alloyed ductile iron. Comparison has been made between the properties of these two types and that of conventional ductile iron. Detailed analysis, of the fracture mode for the 3 types of ductile iron, which failed under tensile and impact testing, were presented using the SEM. The wear properties were determined using pin-on-ring machine, under dry sliding conditions. The variation of mass loss and coefficient of friction with sliding distance, at different loads and speeds were presented and discussed. The wear mechanisms were investigated by means of subsurface observations. Microhardness test was used to study the change in the matrix strength with distance from the worn surface due to plastic deformation. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.