Gray Cast Iron With Directional Graphite Flakes Produced by Cylinder Covered Compression Process

A new plastic deformation process for gray cast iron named cylinder covered compression （CCC） was developed. By CCC process, gray cast iron （GCI） specimens, which are embedded in steel cylinders, were hot compressed up to 80% reduction in height without the cracking problem. It was clearly observed that the uniform distribution of directional graphite flakes appeared after more than 45 % reduction hot compression. The strength, ductility, and microhardness of GCI after 80% reduction deformation were significantly enhanced： the tensile strength varied from 117 MPa to 249 MPa, while the total elongation varied from 0 to 5.2%, and the microhardness varied from 153 HV to 217 HV. It was shown that the tensile fracture surface presented ductility characters after more than 45% reduction hot deformation.

Effect of inoculating addition on machinability of gray cast iron

Gray cast irons were inoculated with FeSi75＋RE and FeSi75＋Sr inoculants. The changes of apex angle of the drills before and after being used were used to evaluate machinability of gray cast irons. Effect of FeSi75＋RE and FeSi75＋Sr inoculants on mechanical properties, machinability and sensibility of gray cast iron used in cylinder block were investigated. Experimental results showed that gray cast iron treated with 60%FeSi75＋40% RE inoculants exhibited tensile strength consistently at about 295 MPa along with good hardness and improved metallurgical quality. While gray cast iron inoculated with 20%FeSi75＋80% Sr inoculants exhibited the best machinability, the lowest cross-section sensibility and the least microhardness difference. The tool flank wear of the drill increased correspondingly with the increase of the microhardness difference of the matrix, indicating the great effect of homogeneity of the matrix on the machinability of gray cast iron.

Effect of Power Ultrasonic on Solidification Structure of HT150 Gray Cast Iron

Power ultrasonic treatment is an efficient way to improve the solidification structure and mechanical properties of metals. The effect of 600 W power ultrasonic treatment on the solidification process and structure of HT150 gray cast iron has been studied, and the fining mechanism of power ultrasonic has been analyzed.

Different thermal fatigue behaviors between gray cast iron and vermicular graphite cast iron

The initiation and propagation of thermal fatigue cracks in gray cast iron and vemicular graphite cast iron were investigated by Uddeholm method to reveal the complex thermal fatigue behaviors of cast iron.Differences of thermal fatigue behaviors of gray cast iron and vemicular graphite cast iron were observed and analyzed.It is found that the observed differences are related to the combination of graphite morphology and the oxidization of matrix.More oxidized matrix is observed in gray cast iron due to its large specific surface area.The brittle oxidized matrix facilitates the propagation of microcracks along the oxidization layer.By contrast,the radial microcracks are formed in vermicular graphite at the edge of graphite due to fewer oxidization layers.It indicates that the thermal fatigue resistance of gray cast iron is dominated by graphite content and morphology while that of vermicular graphite cast iron strongly relates to the strength of the matrix.

Analysis of Graphite Morphology of Gray Cast Iron in Pulse Magnetic Field

By self-made pulse electrical source and strong magnetic field solidification tester, the effect of strong pulse magnetic field on graphite morphology and solidification structure of gray cast iron was studied. The results show that the structure is remarkably refined after treated by pulse magnetic field, and the width of graphite flakes is decreased while the length is increased after a slight decrease. The solidification temperature and eutectic temperature are increased and the undercooling degree of eutectic transformation is decreased by magnetic field.

SOLUBILITY OF NITROGEN IN MOLTEN GRAY CAST IRON

The expressions of the dependence of nitrogen solubility in molten gray cast iron on the temperature and composition of the melt were proposed under the condition of foundry practice. Three gray cast iron specimens with different compositions were examined in good agreement with the derived expression.

Microstructure and high-temperature wear properties of in situ TiC composite coatings by plasma transferred arc surface alloying on gray cast iron

In this work, an in situ synthesized TiC-reinforced metal matrix composite （MMC） coating of approximately 350-400μm thickness was fabricated on a gray cast iron （GCI） substrate by plasma transferred arc （PTA） surface alloying of Ti-Fe alloy powder. Microhard- ness tests showed that the surface hardness increased approximately four-fold after the alloying treatment. The microstructure of the MMC coating was mainly composed of residual austenite, acicular martensite, and eutectic ledeburite. Scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and X-ray diffraction analyzes revealed that the in situ TiC particles, which were formed by direct reaction of Ti with carbon originally contained in the GCI, was uniformly distributed at the boundary of residual anstenite in the alloying zone. Pin-on-disc high-temperature wear tests were performed on samples both with and without the MMC coating at room temperature and at elevated temperatures （473 K and 623 K）, and the wear behavior and mechanism were investigated. The results showed that, after the PTA alloying treatment, the wear resistance of the sam- ples improved significantly. On the basis of our analysis of the composite coatings by optical microscopy, SEM with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and microhardness measurements, we attributed this improvement of wear resistance to the transformation of the microstruc- ture and to the presence of TiC particles.

EFFECT OF NITROGEN ON MATRIX STRUCTURE OF GRAY CAST IRON

Effect of nitrogen on matrix structure of 3 different varieties of gray cast iron,i.e., sub-eutectic Fe-C-Si,near-eutectic Fe-C-Si and Fe-C-Si-Mn,has been investigated. The eutectie colony structure of gray cast iron may be refined,the pearlite content increased and the micro-hardness of pearlite and ferrite raised with an addition of nitrogen.The influ- ence of nitrogen on the transformation temperature of the equilibrium and non-equilibrium phases,as well as,the solution of nitrogen in ferrite and cementite seem to be the major rea- sons to strengthening the matrix structure of gray cast iron.

Effect of V and Sn on microstructure and mechanical properties of gray cast iron

The cylinder liner is one of the important parts of a diesel engine.Gray cast iron is the main material for manufacturing cylinder liners due to its good casting performance,convenient processing performance,good wear resistance and low cost.In the present work,the effects of vanadium(V)and tin(Sn)on the microstructure and properties of gray cast iron were studied.Results show that increasing the contents of V and Sn can not only refine the graphite,but also reduce the pearlite lamellar space.The graphite size and lamellar spacing of pearlite are firstly reduced and then increased.Pearlite quantity reaches over 98%after adding V and Sn.Adding V and Sn can promote the precipitation and solid solution strengthening of gray cast iron,so as to improve the mechanical properties.The Brinell hardness reaches the peak of 424 HB at the contents of 0.21wt.%V and 0.06wt.%Sn,and the sample containing 0.11wt.%V and 0.08wt.%Sn shows the highest compressive strength and tensile strength of 1,699 MPa and 515 MPa,respectively.The main strengthening mechanism comes from the solid solution strengthening and fine grain strengthening of V and Sn.

Effect of Rolling Process on Microstructure and Wear Properties of High Carbon Equivalent Gray Cast Iron

Rolling process based on the plastic deformation as a surface strengthening treatment was employed,aiming to improve the wear resistance ability and functional performance of the high carbon equivalent gray cast iron(HCEGCI).The microstructures and tribological performance of the untreated and rolled samples were characterized.In addition,the wear mechanism of HCEGCI samples was also studied via pin-on-disc tests.The experimental results show that the as-rolled samples possess the structure-refined layer of 15μm and work-hardened layer of 0.13 mm.In comparison with the surface hardness of untreated samples,the surface hardness of as-rolled samples increases by 84.6%(from 240HV0.1 to 443HV0.1)and the residual compressive stresses existed within the range of 0.2 mm.The wear rates of as-rolled samples were decreased by 38.4%,37.5%,and 44.4%under different loads of 5 N,10 N,and 15 N,respectively.The wear characteristics of the untreated samples mainly exhibit the peeling wear coupled with partial adhesive and abrasive wear.However,as for the as-rolled samples,the adhesive wear was limited by the structure-refined layer and the micro-crack propagation was controlled by the work-hardened layer.Therefore,the wear resistance of as-rolled samples can be improved significantly due to the low wearing degree of the friction contact zone.

EFFECT OF LASER MELTING PROCESSING ON MICROSTRUCTURE OF GRAY CAST IRON

The microstructure of the laser hardened layer on the HT20-40 gray cast iron after laser melting processing'was examined by optical microscopy,transmission electron microscopy (TEM)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).Experimental results showed that a struc- ture with dendritic(M+A')and interdendriticly laminal transformed ledeburite (M+A'+Fe_3C)was produced after laser melting processing.The martensite is a mixture of dis- location martensite and twin martensite.Dislocation pile-ups and twins were found in the residual austenite.Microsegregation of composition and heterogeneity of microstructure were also apparent after laser melting processing.

EFFECT OF NITROGEN ON GRAPHITE MORPHOLOGY IN GRAY CAST IRON

The distribution of N and morphology of graphite in gray cast iron containing N were studicd by adopting the man-made specimens of Fe-C-Si-Mn alloys with some N added. The N adsorbed along the interfaces between graphite and matrix together with solid- solutioned in graphite is believed to be the principal cause of morpholongical variation of graphite.

Calculating the effective thermal conductivity of gray cast iron by using an interconnected graphite model

A new theoretical model of gray cast iron taking into account a locally interconnected structure of flake graphite was designed,and the corresponding effective thermal conductivity was calculated using the thermal resistance network method.The calculated results are obviously higher than that of the effective medium approximation assuming that graphite is distributed in isolation.It is suggested that the interconnected structure significantly enhances the overall thermal conductivity.Moreover,it is shown that high anisotropy of graphite thermal conductivity,high volume fraction of graphite,and small aspect ratio of flake graphite will cause the connectivity effects of graphite to more obviously improve the overall thermal conductivity.Higher graphite volume fraction,lower aspect ratio and higher matrix thermal conductivity are beneficial to obtain a high thermal conductivity gray cast iron.This work can provide guidance and reference for the development of high thermal conductivity gray cast iron and the design of high thermal conductivity composites with similar locally interconnected structures.

Effects of RE-Sb on Gray Cast Iron

A suitable amount of RE and Sb adding into gray cast iron can refine graphite and matrix of the structure.increase the amount and stability of pearlite,improve tensile strength (increased by 75% at atmospheric temperature,46% at 700℃) and growth resistance as well as thermal fatigue resistance.

Development and Characterization of Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) from Nigerian Kankara Kaolin and Gray Cast Iron Filling

This study developed a ceramic composite material (CMC) for use as a refractory material from “Kankara” clay (kaolin) as a matrix material mixed with gray cast iron (GCI) as reinforcement. The CMCs were prepared by varying the percentage by weight of the gray cast iron using 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 wt%. Tests were conducted on the developed CMC, using standard test techniques, to determine physical and the mechanical properties of the produced composites. The results for mechanical properties showed improvement in the hardness value from 47% at 5% GCI content to 94% at 45% GCI content;the compressive strength improved from 3.11% at 5% GCI to a peak of 7.15% at 25% GCI and then descended down to 3.74% at 45% GCI content while the ultimate tensile strength improved from 0.75% at 5% GCI to a peak of 1.87% at 25% GCI down to 1.34% at 45% GCI content. Equally, there is an increase in bulk density from 1.74% for 5% GCI content to 2.09% for 45% GCI contentment. The linear shrinkage reduced from 11.57% to 1.15%;water absorption also reduced from 33.68% to 15.20%;apparent porosity too reduced from 42.2% to 16.02%. However, cold crushing strength initially increased with increase in GCI content from 3.89 to a peak of 13.32 V for 25% GCI content and progressively dropped to a value of 5.25 V at 45% GCI content. All the values obtained from the blends are within the recommended values for kiln shelves. However, the CMC developed on 25% GCI content showed the best combination of both mechanical and physical properties required of a good material for the production of kiln shelves.

Fatigue Life Prediction of Gray Cast Iron for Cylinder Head Based on Microstructure and Machine Learning

Conventional fatigue tests on complex components are difficult to sample,time-consuming and expensive.To avoid such problems,several popular machine learning(ML)algorithms were used and compared to predict fatigue life of gray cast iron(GCI)with the complex microstructures.The feature analysis shows that the fatigue life of GCI is mainly influenced by the external environment such as the stress amplitude,and the internal microstructure parameters such as the percentage of graphite,graphite length,stress concentration factor at the graphite tip,matrix microhardness and Brinell hardness.For simplicity,collected datasets with some of the above features were used to train ML models including back-propagation neural network(BPNN),random forest(RF)and eXtreme gradient boosting(XGBoost).The comparison results suggest that the three models could predict the fatigue lives of GCI,while the implemented RF algorithm is the best performing model.Moreover,the S–N curves fitted by the Basquin relation in the predicted data have a mean relative error of 15%compared to the measured data.The results have demonstrated the advantages of ML,which provides a generic way to predict the fatigue life of GCI for reducing time and cost.

Effect of Rare Earths and Nitrogen on Graphite Structure of Gray Cast Iron

By means of inoculating, the effects of rare earths, N and RE N joint inoculants on the content and surface morphology of graphite of high CE gray cast irons were studied The results indicate that RE, N, and especially RE N joint inoculants make the content of graphite decrease; N and RE N joint inoculants could make the surface of graphite rougher and the heads of graphite flake passive

Effects of RE and N on Properties of Corrosion Resistance and Oxidation Resistance of Gray Cast Iron

By means of ladle inoculating, the effects of RE and N on the properties of corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance of gray cast iron were studied. The results show that the properties of both corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance are improved by adding suitable amount of RE, while RE and N are added as a multi inoculant, the oxidation resistance of gray cast iron is remarkably increased.

Influence of varying forms of bionic units on repairing remaining quenching surface of gray cast iron

In order to repair and reuse remaining quenching surface(RQS)divided into severely worn surface(SWun-S)and mildly worn surface(MWun-S)of abandoned gray cast iron guide rail,inspired by the bionic theory,varying forms of bionic units such as spot(Sp-S),striation(St-S),and reticulation(Re-S)were fabricated on RQS of gray cast iron through laser processing technology.Firstly,the microstructure,phase composition,and microhardness of bionic units and RQS were analyzed by optical microscopy as well as X-ray diffraction instrument and scanning electron microscopy,respectively.Secondly,the oil lubrication wear experiment was performed on homemade line reciprocating wear machine.The results demonstrated that the bionic units had a significant effect on improving wear resistance of RQS of abandoned guide rail due to the microstructure and higher hardness.In addition,the weight loss ratios of MWun-S,Sp-S,St-S,and Re-S samples were decreased by 36.72%,36.78%,62.26%,and 80.39%,respectively,compared with that of SWun-S sample.The mechanism of wear resistance enhancement was also discussed.

Interaction between alloying and hardening of cast iron surface

To improve wear resistance of surface will increase the service life of gray cast iron directly. This paper presents that gray cast iron surface coated with alloy powder is locally remelted by TIG arc to increase the wear resistance. The influences of arc current and scanning rate etc on surface properties are found. Under different conditions, the microstructure, hardness and wear resistance of remelted layer are analyzed and measured. The results indicate that the gray cast iron surface can be strengthened by TIG arc local remelting treatment. Especially, surface alloying hardening effect is best and surface properties are improved remarkably.