Effect of copper on the cyclic crack resistance and heat resistance of graphitic steels

We study the effect of copper content (0.05–3.45 mass %) on the structure of the matrix and graphitic phase of graphitic steels (GS) annealed for globular perlite. It has been established that the effect of copper content on the physicomechanical characteristics of GS is ambiguous. An increase in the copper content up to 2.3–2.9% is accompanied by an increase in the characteristics of thermal conductivity, strength, cyclic crack resistance, and heat resistance. The thermal conductivity of GS grows with increase in the copper content (if it is more than 3%), but the mechanical characteristics fall. Thus, the heat resistance of GS is mainly determined by their crack resistance.Translated from Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 109–112, May–June, 2004.