Precipitation and evolution of nodular graphite during solidification process of ductile iron

The quantity and morphology of spheroidal graphite have an important effect on the properties of ductile iron,and the characteristics of spheroidal graphite are determined by the solidification process.The aim of this work is to explore the precipitation and evolution of graphite nodules in hypoeutectic,eutectic,and hypereutectic ductile irons by thermal analysis,liquid quenching and metallographic technique.Results show that hypoeutectic ductile iron has the longest solidification time and the lowest eutectic temperature;eutectic ductile iron has the shortest solidification time;hypereutectic ductile iron has the highest eutectic temperature.After solidification is completed,hypoeutectic ductile iron has the lowest nodule count,nodularity and graphite fraction;eutectic ductile iron has the highest nodule count,nodularity and the smallest nodule diameter;hypereutectic has the highest nodule diameter and graphite fraction.The nucleation and growth of graphite nodules in hypereutectic ductile iron starts before bulk eutectic crystallization stage,however,the precipitation and evolution of graphite nodules of hypoeutectic and eutectic ductile irons mainly occur in the eutectic crystallization stage.The graphite precipitated in eutectic crystallization of hypoeutectic,eutectic,and hypereutectic ductile irons,are 61%,68% and 43% of total graphite volume fraction,respectively.Simultaneously,there are plenty of austenite dendrites in hypoeutectic and hypereutectic ductile irons,which are prone to shrinkage defects.Therefore,the eutectic ductile iron has the smallest shrinkage tendency.     

Inoculated Slightly Hypereutectic Gray Cast Irons

The current experimental investigation in this article was designed to characterize the structure of mold (M) and ladle (L) inoculated, low-S (0.025 wt.% S), low-Al (0.003 wt.% Al), slightly hypereutectic (CE = 4.4-4.5 wt.%) electric melted gray irons, typical for high performance thin-wall castings. It describes the effect of a Ca, Al, Zr-FeSi inoculant addition of 0-0.25 wt.% on structure characteristics, and compares to similar treatments with hypoeutectic irons (3.5-3.6 wt.% CE, 0.025 wt.% S, and 0.003 wt.% Al). A complex structure including primary graphite, austenite dendrites, and eutectic cells is obtained in hypereutectic irons, as the result of nonequilibrium solidification following the concept of a coexisting region. Dendrites appear to be distributed between eutectic cells at higher eutectic undercooling, while in inoculated irons and for lower undercooling, the eutectic cells are “reinforced” by eutectic austenite dendrites. A Zr, Ca, Al-FeSi alloy appears to be an effective inoculant in low S, low Al, gray cast irons, especially for a late inoculation technique, with beneficial effects on both graphite and austenite phases. First, inoculation influenced the nucleation of graphite/eutectic cell, and then their characteristics. A further role of these active elements directly contributed to form nucleation sites for austenite, as complex (Mn,X)S particles.     

Shrinkage evaluation in ductile iron as influenced by mould media and inoculant type

Abstract

The present work was undertaken in hypereutectic ductile irons, to simultaneously study cooling curves, specimen contraction curves, microstructures and shrinkage tendencies as a function of inoculant selection and mould rigidity. Specific equipment was developed for simultaneous recording of cooling and contraction curves. The highest level of both concentrated and total shrinkage was recorded on the green sand mould system, where a much higher level of the initial eutectic expansion was observed, as compared to furan resin moulds. It was found that the Ca,Ce,S,O–FeSi inoculation gives the highest nodule count and a unique wide distribution of nodules sizes (large and small size nodules, in a peculiar ratio), as well as lower tendency to shrinkage formation. Also, the strongest graphitising effect before the start of eutectic solidification and more prolonged graphitising throughout the end of eutectic freezing characterise were observed with this complex inoculant system in addition to its peculiar action on minimising the shrinkage tendency of ductile irons.     

过共晶球铁凝固过程中奥氏体的生长方式与形貌特征

采用着色腐蚀技术显示出过共晶球铁中的高温凝固组织，观察分析过共晶球铁凝固过程中奥氏体的生长方式与形持征。结果表明：在非平衡凝固条件下，过共晶球铁凝固时通常会析出初生枝晶和晕圈枝晶，其形成条件主要与冷却速率和熔体的过冷有关。随铸件模数Mc增大，枝晶数量减少，二次臂间距显著增大，形态趋于不发达，由初生枝晶向晕圈枝晶过渡。当Mc≤0.3cm时，二次臂间距的实测值与理论预测值基本吻合。初生石墨球周围往往形成环状封闭奥氏体壳；共晶前期石墨球周围形成封闭或不封闭的框架奥氏体壳；共晶后期石墨球往往被周边生长着的共晶奥氏体所包覆，最终成为共晶奥氏体的一部分。     

Eutectic solidification mode of spheroidal graphite cast iron and graphitization

The shrinkage and chilling tendency of spheroidal graphite (abbreviated SG) cast iron is much greater than that of the flake graphite cast iron in spite of its higher amount of C and Si contents. Why? The main reason should be the difference in their graphitization during the eutectic solidification. In this paper, we discuss the difference in the solidification mechanism of both cast irons for solving these problems using unidirectional solidification and the cooling curves of the spheroidal graphite cast iron. The eutectic solidification rate of the SG cast iron is controlled by the diffusion of carbon through the austenite shell, and the final thickness is 1.4 times the radius of the SG, therefore, the reduction of the SG size, namely, the increase in the number, is the main solution of these problems.     

Inoculation and its effect on primary solidification structure of hypoeutectic grey cast iron

Abstract

The solidification of grey cast iron is controlled by the addition of inoculants. This is done in order to provide nucleation sites and hence facilitate the formation of eutectic cells and decrease the degree of undercooling. The number of eutectic cells and the graphite morphology affect the final properties of the casting. Preceding the nucleation of graphite and the eutectic cells is the nucleation of the primary austenite. It was found that the addition of inoculants also influences the primary solidification. The largest effect on the primary dendrites is obtained by inoculation using pure iron powder. It was also shown how the columnar to equiaxed transition (CET) depends on the number of equiaxed dendrites per unit volume. In addition, the primary structure was found to influence the eutectic solidification. The relationship between the secondary dendrite arm spacing and the eutectic cell size was found to correlate well with the work of others.     

过共晶球墨铸铁中石墨球周围奥氏体壳的形成机制

有用着色腐蚀技术，可清晰地显示出过共晶球墨铸铁中的高温凝固组织，观察分析了石墨球周围奥氏体壳（奥氏体壳是奥氏体枝晶的一部分）的形成机制。结果表明，初生枝晶和晕圈枝晶交替生长，促成石墨球周围奥氏体壳的形成；奥氏体以石墨生长面（0001）为衬底形核、生长，在初生石墨球周围形成环状封闭奥氏体壳；共晶前期石墨球在枝晶臂间或框架中形核、生长、尔后为枝晶高次臂所包围，形成封闭或不封闭的框架奥氏体壳。共晶后期石墨球不形成奥氏体壳。     

Erosion resistance of Fe-C-Cr weld surfacing layers

Fe-C-Cr weld surfacing layers with different compositions and microstructures can be obtained by submerged arc welding with welding wire of the low carbon steel and high alloy bonded flux. With the increase of Cr and C in the layers the microstructures are changed from hypoeutectoid steel, hypereutectoid steel to hypoeutectic iron and hypereutectic iron. When the weld surfacing layers belong to the alloyed cast irons the erosion resistance can be raised with the eutectic increase and the austenite decrease. Good erosion resistance can be obtained when the proportion of the primary carbides is within 10 %. The experimental results lay a foundation to make double-metal percussive plates by surfacing wear resistant layers on the substrates of the low carbon steels.     

球墨铸铁缩松分析计算模型的建立

用系列试验铸件研究了主要工艺因素(碳当量、孕育量以及铸件模数)对球墨铸铁件缩松产生的影响规律。结果表明,在试验选择的范围内,随着碳当量增大、孕育量增加,缩松面积率减小;对亚共晶和共晶成分的球铁,模数的减小会导致缩松面积率的增大;对过共晶球铁,缩松面积率随模数增大而减小。通过对试验数据的回归分析,建立了球墨铸铁缩松面积率计算模型。为球墨铸铁缩松的预测模拟计算提供了依据。     

Graphite nucleation control in grey cast iron

Abstract

A research programme has been undertaken to achieve a more detailed understanding of graphite nucleation control in grey cast irons, at different sulphur (0˙02–0˙1%), residual aluminium (0˙001–0˙010%) and zirconium (0˙001–0˙015%) levels in iron melts. It was found that three groups of elements are important to sustain a three stage model for the nucleation of graphite in grey irons:

(i) strong deoxidising elements (Al, Zr) to promote early formed very small microinclusions, oxide based, which will act as nucleation sites for later formed complex (Mn,X)S compounds

(ii) Mn and S to sustain MnS type sulphide formation

(iii) inoculating elements (Ca, Sr, etc.) which act in the first stage or/and in the second one of graphite formation, to improve the capability of (Mn,X)S compounds to nucleate graphite.

It was confirmed that 0˙07%S level is beneficial for graphite nucleation in grey irons with a lower incidence of carbides and undercooled graphite, compared to 0˙023%S cast irons. Low residual Al level (0˙001–0˙003%) results in higher chill and more undercooled graphite and lower eutectic cell count, in inoculated irons. A 0˙007–0˙010%Al content in the melt is important to sustain type A graphite nucleation and reduced chill. Not only inoculation but also the preconditioning (Al or/and Zr) of the base iron has a strong beneficial effect on the solidification pattern of cast irons. Both Al and Zr sustain the type A graphite formation with a lower degree of undercooling and free carbides. These elements were associated in a complex alloy (FeSi based), very efficient in preconditioning of grey irons for thin wall castings, at a low addition rate.     

Iron Powder Treated Gray Irons: Critical Shape Characteristics for Graphite Nuclei

A program was conducted to research how to characterize the size and shape of micro-particles. These can act as graphite nuclei, but are altered by adding a commercial iron powder, or after a similar treatment combined with inoculation. Resin sand mold (RSM) and metal mold (MM) solidified sample structures were subjected to automatic image analysis. In general, a higher cooling rate, typical for MM solidification, favors smaller size and more compact particles, even in RSM media. Iron powder treatment led to the largest particles with unusual morphologies, better defined by complex shape factors, which employ actual perimeters, rather than the simpler median size and aspect ratio method. Conventional inoculation employed after an iron powder treatment altered the particles (smaller and more compact), which benefited their effectiveness to act as graphite nuclei, especially at slower solidification rates in RSMs. The results confirm that promoting more compact micro-inclusions, at smaller sizes, involved in graphite nucleation, reduces the sensitivity to chill and improves the eutectic cell characteristics in gray cast iron.     

灰口铸铁中石墨分布的优化

控制石墨的形态和分布是优化灰口铸铁性能的关键;石墨的形态取决于凝固过程中经过共晶温度区间时的冷却条件;通过选择合适的化学成分和金属液处理方法可以控制共晶凝固过程,获得分散的、均匀分布的A型石墨,从而得到性能优良的灰铁铸件。     

Cast Iron Inoculation Enhanced by Supplementary Oxy-sulfides Forming Elements

Inoculation is one of the most important metallurgical treatments applied to the molten cast iron immediately prior to casting, to promote solidification without excessive eutectic undercooling, which favors carbides formation usually with undesirable graphite morphologies. The paper focused on the separate addition of an inoculant enhancer alloy [S, O, oxy-sulfides forming elements] with a conventional Ca-FeSi alloy, in the production of gray and ductile cast irons. Carbides formation tendency decreased with improved graphite characteristics as an effect of the [Ca-FeSi + Enhancer] inoculation combination, when compared to other Ca/Ca, Ba/Ca, RE-FeSi alloy treatments. Adding an inoculant enhancer greatly enhances inoculation, lowers inoculant consumption up to 50% or more and avoids the need to use more costly inoculants, such as a rare earth bearing alloy. The Inoculation Specific Factor [ISF] was developed as a means to more realistically measure inoculant treatment efficiency. It compares the ratio between the improved characteristic level and total inoculant consumption for this effect. Addition of any of the commercial inoculants plus the inoculant enhancer offered outstanding inoculation power [increased ISF] even at higher solidification cooling rates, even though the total enhancer addition was at a small fraction of the amount of commercial inoculant used.     

影响铸铁凝固组织的隐形因素(Ⅰ)

铁液在高于某一温度时，有利于Fe3C生成；在低于某一温度时，Fe3C不稳定，有自发分解为Fe和C的倾向。其临界温度受化学成分及其它因素的影响。铸铁的遗传性包含结构信息保留、成分遗传效应和物性特征保存。更换炉料、多种炉料搭配使用、进行针对性处理、熔液过热等是改善不良遗传性的途径。在同一温度条件下，石墨在熔液、奥氏体和铁素体中的溶解度都比渗碳体的溶解度低；奥氏体-石墨共晶和共析反应温度也都高于奥氏体-渗碳体的共晶和共析反应温度。硅有利于石墨的析出，使Fe—Fe3C介稳定系向Fe—C稳定系转变。所有石墨化元素均降低介稳定共晶温度，而提高稳定共晶温度，并使两者间距扩大。凝固相图反映铸铁在实际条件下的温度-成分-组织关系，其特征界限可依熔化工艺、熔液处理、冷却速度的改变而移动。商业铸铁实际上都在非平衡冷却条件下按共生区概念依凝固相图进行凝固。在过冷条件下，即使是共晶或过共晶成分铸铁，其组织中也可能存在亚共晶枝晶(奥氏体)。     

铁神一号净化剂对铸态球铁金相组织和力学性能的影响

采用中频感应电炉熔炼球墨铸铁,水玻璃砂造型,浇注Y型试块及热分析试样,研究了铁神一号净化剂对球墨铸铁组织和力学性能的影响。试验结果表明,加入净化剂可以获得理想的球化效果,使石墨球数增加,石墨球直径减小,改善石墨球分布状态,力学性能有所提高;可以降低磷含量,钒钛含量有所增加。净化剂对球墨铸铁的共晶过冷度和白口倾向影响不大。     

硅对蠕墨铸铁热分析特征值及蠕化率的影响

试验设计了 5种不同硅含量的蠕墨铸铁铁液,分析了硅含量对蠕墨铸铁凝固的热分析曲线特征值TEU、TER、△Tr和蠕墨铸铁蠕化率的影响.试验结果表明:(1)在本次试验的硅含量范围内,蠕墨铸铁热分析曲线的特征值TEU和TER先是随着硅的增加而上升,然后,变化不明显;(2)蠕墨铸铁共晶温度回升特征值△Tr随着硅含量的增加呈下降...     

铌在铸铁中的应用及其作用情况介绍

介绍了铌合金在灰铸铁、球墨铸铁、不完全激冷（indefinite chill）铸铁和镍抗可焊接（weldable Ni-Resist）铸铁中的应用情况;分析了铌合金在铸铁中的作用机理,认为NbC能为共晶团提供核心是加Nb细化共晶团的原因,而且NbC的弥散分布可以提高铸铁耐磨性、硬度和强度;综述了铌合金化技术原理,指出铸铁加铌合金化主要有与固体废铁料一起加入大块料和出铁时加入细颗粒两种较为经济的方法。     

Volume change during the solidification of grey cast iron: its relation with the microstructural variation,comparison between experimental and theoretical analysis

The expansion/contraction during the solidification of grey cast iron was studied using Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT). The experiments were conducted with and without melt treatment. Two types of inoculant used for melt treatment: ASSC (Si, Ca, Sr & Al) and MBZCAS (Si, Ca, Zr, Ba, Mn & Al). Microstructural investigations carried out to quantify the eutectic cells, undercooled graphite, primary austenite and secondary dendritic arm spacing (SDAS). It was found that the casting shows hardly any shrinkage during early solidification but in the eutectic region, the casting expands until the end of solidification. The measured and the calculated volume changes are close to one another, but the former shows more expansion. The addition of MBZCAS promotes more flake graphite, and ASSC does not increase eutectic cells much. In addition to that, it lowers the primary austenite fraction, promotes more eutectic growth, decreases undercooled graphite and SDAS. As a result, the volume expansion changes in the eutectic region.     

Influence of cooling rate and antimony addition content on graphite morphology and mechanical properties of a ductile iron

Cooling rate and inoculation practice can greatly affect the graphite morphology of ductile irons.In the present research,the effects of the cooling rate and antimony addition on the graphite morpholog...     

w（Si）、w（C）量及冷却速度对铸态球铁组织的影响

用热分析法研究了w（Si）、w（C）量和冷却速度对球铁中石墨和基体组织的影响。结果表明：适量增加孕育剂加入量能缩短球铁凝固过程中共晶平台的宽度,有限减少或避免石墨的畸变;在孕育剂加入量为1.38%时,能够得到66.8%的铁素体含量且球化效果良好的球墨铸铁;在w（C）量为3.94%、w（Si）量为2.23%时,由于CE达4.9%,导致与石墨漂浮相关的开花状石墨和枝晶石墨产生。