The Influence of Retained Austenite on Residual Stresses in Laser Remelted Cast Iron

The presence and amount of residual stresses is very important in dynamically loaded automotive machine parts. In this investigation, the residual stresses after laser surface remelting were measured as a function of the modified layer depth on flat specimens from nodular cast iron. The results of the measured residual stresses confirm that the stresses strongly depend on the presence and quantity of the microstructure constituents in the surface remelted layer. Residual stresses have a characteristic profile in the modified surface layer. In the surface remelted layer, tensile residual stresses were found in a range between +70 and +200 MPa. The change from tensile into compressive residual stresses takes place in the lower part of the remelted layer. Maximum compressive residual stress values were found in the middle of the hardened layer in a range between −25 and −80 MPa.