Calculation of thermophysical properties of iron casting alloys

Abstract

A simple and easy calculation tool to determine thermophysical properties, such as density, heat capacity, liquidus and solidus temperature, thermal conductivity, latent heat, and volume contraction, of iron casting alloys based on equilibrium phase diagrams is introduced. It is well known that accurate thermophysical properties of iron casting alloys are necessary for a valid simulation of the casting process. While there are a number of thermophysical calculation programs, a specific knowledge of thermodynamics is required to operate them. The calculation method proposed in the present study does not require any special knowledge of thermodynamics, only information regarding the composition of the alloy. The proposed calculation tool is based on the CALPHAD approach for the modelling of multicomponent alloys using experimental published data. Comparison of calculated thermophysical properties for several conventional iron casting alloys with experimental results showed good agreement.