Numerical Simulation of Shrinkage Cavity Formation in Spheroidal Graphite Iron Castings Based on Micro Modeling

A micro-modeling method (MM) for the quantitative prediction of the shrinkage cavity formation in SGiron castings is proposed. The mathematical models describing the volume changes during the solidification ofspheroidal graphite cast iron are established based on the models of solidification kinetics. The shrinkage cavityformation of T-shaped SG iron castings is calculated with MM method. The calculated results are compared with theexperimental results. It is shown that the predicted size, shape and distribution of shrinkage cavity by MM methodare in good agreement with the measured results.

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.

Some paradoxical observations about spheroidal graphite degeneracy

Differential thermal analysis experiments have been performed on samples machined from Y2-blocks cast with different high-silicon spheroidal graphite irons. Depending on magnesium, silicon, cerium and antimony content, the as-cast microstructure showed various levels of chunky graphite in the central part of the blocks. In contrast, the microstructure of the materials after remelting and resolidification during differential thermal analysis consisted of lamellar or compacted graphite. The formation of chunky graphite in the as-cast microstructure is rationalized using an index or silicon equivalent that has been recently suggested. The differences in the microstructures after differential thermal analysis are discussed in terms of available free magnesium. Emphasis is finally put on the striking differences in characteristic size of the microstructures made of compacted graphite as compared to lamellar graphite and chunky graphite. This leads to tentative conclusions about growth of compacted and chunky graphite which would be worthy of further experimental investigations.

Influence of boron on ferrite formation in copper-added spheroidal graphite cast iron

This paper reviews the original work of the authors published recently,describing the influence of B on the matrix of the Cuadded spheroidal graphite cast iron.The effect of Cu has been corrected as a ferrite formation promoter in the matrix of the grey cast iron by the usage of high-purity material.Also,this paper focuses on the ferrite formation and the observation of the Cu distribution in the B-added and B-free Cu-containing spheroidal graphite cast iron.The Cu film on the spheroidal graphite can be successfully observed in the B-free sample using a special etching method.However,in the B-added sample,no Cu film could be found,while the secondary graphite was formed on the surface of the spheroidal graphite.The interaction between B and Cu is stressed as a peculiar phenomenon by the employment of a contrast experiment of B and Mn.The heat treatment could make Cu precipitate more significantly in the eutectic cells and in the matrix in the form of large Cu particles because of the limited solubility of Cu.

Shrinkage Behaviour of Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron in Green and Dry Sand Molds for the Benchmarking of Solidification Simulation

The effects of metallurgical and processing parameters on the formation of shrinkage cavities and porosities in spheroidal graphite cast iron have been studied, considering the parameters of carbon equivalent, inoculation, casting modulus, mold type (green or dry) and pouring temperature within specific ranges of these variables. Based on the orthogonal experiments, the metallurgical and processing parameters of the minimum casting shrinkage and the maximum casting shrinkage were obtained, and the effects of metallurgical and processing parameters on the formation of shrinkage cavities and porosities in spheroids graphite cast iron castings were discussed. Finally, two regression equations relating these variables to the formation of shrinkage porosity were derived based upon the orthogonal experiments conducted.

FORMATION OF AUSTENITE SHELL AROUND SPHEROIDAL GRAPHITE AND ITS EFFECT ON DETERIORATION OF GRAPHITE

To study the growth of austenitic shells around the spheroidal graphite,color metallography has been employed.It is found that the shell is not a continuous layer of austenite,but a clus- ter of wedge-shaped crystals.Three types of shells have been observed.That may strongly af- fect the deterioration of the spheroidal graphite.The mechanism of the formation of the austenitic shells has also been discussed.

Cerium Distribution in Spheroidal Graphite of Cast Iron

Six thin sections of spheroidal graphites in cast iron have been investigated by TEM and SEM.The spheroidal graphites consist of two or three layers and have nuclei which are composed of Ce_2O_2S and Ce_2O_3. Cerium is existed ont only in nuclei,but also in central layer and middle layer of graphite.

Numerical Simulation of Microstructure Formation and Forecast of Mechanical Properties for Spheroidal Graphite Iron

The numerical simulation can overcome the hardship of mathematical analysis and experimental research, explicate the mechanism of microstructure shaping, predict mechanical properties and operating life of castings and then optimize technology and control microstructure formation to obtain the qualified castings. The finite difference method (FDM) is applied to the simulation of temperature field based on all kinds of nucleation and growth models on all stages of solidification of spheroidal graphite cast iron. Visual C++ is used to program the numerical simulation software, QTstructure-1 to simulate the solidification process of spheroidal graphite cast iron and the formation of all phases in solidification process. Finally, the result of simulation is well agreed with the experimental result.

Numerical simulation of microstructure evolution on near eutectic spheroidal graphite cast iron

A multiphase cellular automaton model was developed to simulate microstructure evolution of near eutectic spheroidal graphite cast iron(SGI) during its solidification process, and both dendritic austenite and spheroidal graphite growth models were adopted. To deduce the mesh anisotropy of cellular automaton method, the composition averaging and geometrical parameter were introduced to simulate the spheroidal graphite growth. Solute balance method and decentered square algorithms were employed to simulate austenite dendrites growth with different crystallographic orientations. The simulated results indicate that the graphite nodule grows in a spherical morphology when the surrounding environment of a single graphite nodule is same. However, for two adjacent graphite nodules, the environment is different. The higher the carbon concentration, the faster the growth of graphite. By comparison with experimental results, it is found that the microstructure evolution of near eutectic spheroidal graphite cast iron during solidification process can be reproduced quantitatively by numerical simulation with this model.

Thermomechanical Testing of GGG 40 Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron Alloy

Spheroidal graphite cast iron GGG 40 was thermo-mechanically tested using thermo-mechanical simulator Gleeble-3500. Three deformation steps were successively applied on test-specimen at temperatures namely;900°C, 850°C and 750°C within the austenitic zone, at the same strain rate of 0.1 s-1. No cracks were observed, up to 50% deformation, after successive deformation steps. Stress-strain relationship obtained is correlated with previous work on SGCI with a different carbon equivalent. It was found that by decreasing the deformation temperature;for the same CE, young’s modulus, yield strength and strain hardening exponent increase. Microstructure of the deformed zone, for a specimen quenched after the final deformation step, reveals fine elongated ferrite and pearlite, as well as elongated graphite. While microstructure of the non-deformed zone subjected to the same treatment, includes coarser ferrite and pearlite with graphite spheres embedded in the matrix.

Impact Properties of Austempered Spheroidal Graphite Cast Irons

This study aims to clarify the influence of external notch on impact characteristics of high toughness ductile cast irons prepared by austempering heat treatment. We produced ductile cast irons samples with various matrix microstructure tested by Charpy impact within five kinds of external notches whose stress concentration factors (α), with values taken from 1.0 (Un-notched) to 4.8. In addition, to clarify the initiation process of impact characteristics, we observed the evolution of microstructure surface during bending tests with a slow loading speed for the un-notched and the notched impact samples. The results showed that the impact fracture energy decreases strongly in the range of α from 1 to 2.3 but decreases slightly for α larger than 3. Moreover, the impact value of samples with austempered microstructure is sensitive to the external notch shape. The impact transition temperature increases with increasing the stress concentration factor. The fracture energy is decreasing with the external notch from the impact test since the crack initiation energy is directly affected by this later. This work contributes to get a better understanding in the basic theories of external notch effect on impact characteristics of austempered spheroidal graphite cast irons (ADI).

The forty years of vermicular graphite cast iron development in China (Part Ⅰ)

In China, the research and development of vermicular graphite cast iron (VGCI) as a new type of engineering material, were started in the same period as in other developed countries; however, its actual industrial application was even earlier. In China, the deep and intensive studies on VGCI began as early as the 1960s. According to the incomplete statistics to date, more than 600 papers on VGCI have been published by Chinese researchers and scholars at national and international conferences, and in technical journals. More than ten types of production methods and more than thirty types of treatment alloy have been studied. Formulae for calculating the critical addition of treatment alloy required to produce VGCI have been put forward, and mechanisms for explaining the formation of dross during treatment were brought forward. The casting properties, metallographic structure, mechanical and physical properties and machining performance of VGCI, as well as the relationships between them, have all been studied in detail. The Chinese Standards for VGCI and VGCI metallographic structure have been issued. In China, the primary crystallization of VGCI has been studied by many researchers and scholars. The properties of VGCI can be improved by heat treatment and addition of alloying elements enabling its applications to be further expanded. Hundreds of kinds of VGCI castings have been produced and used in vehicles, engines, mining equipment, metallurgical products serviced under alternating thermal load, machinery, hydraulic components, textile machine parts and military applications. The heaviest VGCI casting produced is 38 tons and the lightest is only 1 kg. Currently, the annual production of the VGCI in China is about 200 000 tons. The majority of castings are made from cupola iron without pre-treatment, however, they are also produced from electric furnaces and by duplex melting from cupola-electric furnaces or blast furnace-electric furnace. Examples of typical applications for VGCI castings are introduced in this paper. In China, the technologies such as rapid testing of the molten metal and non-destructive testing of casting microstructure still need to be improved. Several proposals are put forward in this paper in order to improve the production of VGCI. Generally speaking, in China, the research, production, and application of vermicular graphite cast iron are at the same level as in other developed countries and in some fields China even takes lead. (332 references and 5 Tables)

Quantitative models for microstructure and thermal conductivity of vermicular graphite cast iron cylinder block based on cooling rate

The relationships of cooling rate with microstructure and thermal conductivity of vermicular graphite cast iron(VGI) cylinder block were studied, which are important for design and optimization of the casting process of VGI cylinder blocks. Cooling rates at different positions in the cylinder block were calculated based on the cooling curves recorded with a solidification simulation software. The metallographic structure and thermal conductivity were observed and measured using optical microscopy(OM), scanning electrical microscopy(SEM) and laser flash diffusivity apparatus, respectively. The effects of the cooling rate on the vermicularity, total and average areas of all graphite particles, and the pearlite fraction in the VGI cylinder block were investigated. It is found that the vermicularity changes in parabola trend with the increase of cooling rate. The total area of graphite particles and the cooling rate at eutectoid stage can be used to predict pearlite fraction well. Moreover, it is found that the thermal conductivity at room temperature is determined by the average area of graphite particles and pearlite fraction when the range of vermicularity is from 80% to 93%. Finally, the quantitative models are established to calculate the vermicularity, pearlite fraction, and thermal conductivity of the VGI cylinder block.

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.

MICROSTRUCTURE OF VERMICULAR GRAPHITE IN CAST IRON

An observation under TEM was carried out of the hetero-particles and stripes inside of the vermicular graphite in cast iron specimens which were prepared by isothermally quenching in ice-salt-water.The hetero-particles and stripes,composed of almost pure Fe and a little Si, were found in the regions of the growth direction changing of the vermicular graphite.Many twins and dislocations were also observed to contribute to changing the growth direction and to providing the growth steps of the graphite respectively.

Effects of cooling rate on vermicular graphite percentage in a brake drum produced by onestep cored wire injection

In this research, a vermicular graphite cast iron brake drum was produced by cored wire injection in a one-step method. Silica sand and low-density alumina-silicate ceramic were used as molding materials in order to investigate the effect of cooling rate on percentage of vermicular graphite and mechanical properties of the brake drum casting. Several thermocouples were inserted into the casting in the desired positions to measure the temperature change. By means of one-step cored wire injection, the two residual concentrations of Mg and RE were effectively controlled in the ranges of 0.013%-0.017% and 0.019%-0.025%, respectively, which are crucial for the production of vermicular graphite cast iron and the formation of vermicular graphite. In addition, the cooling rate had a significant effect on the vermicular graphite percentage. In the case of the silica mold brake drum casting, there was an obvious difference in the cooling rate with the wall change, leading to a change in vermicular graphite percentage from 70.8% to 90%. In the low-density alumina-silicate ceramic mold casting, no obvious change in temperature was detected by the thermocouples and the percentage of the vermicular graphite was stable at 85%. Therefore, the vermicular graphite cast iron brake drum with a better combination of mechanical properties could be obtained.

Formation Mechanism of Chunky Graphite and Its Preventive Measures

The formation mechanism of chunky graphite has been reviewed and studied. The study consisted of a unidirectional solidification method, a small droplet method and a furnace cooling method. Four kinds of iron samples were prepared, namely, the pure Fe-C, Fe-C-S, Fe-C-Ce and Fe-C-Si-Ce alloys, and three kinds of nickel samples, namely the Ni-C, Ni-C-S and Ni-C-Mg alloys. The results of the unidirectional solidification of the Ni-C alloys showed that spheroidal graphite is not observed in the continuous solidified region, in which only flake-like graphite is observed, while spheroidal graphite is usually observed in the quenched liquid region. The existence of spheroidal graphite in the solidified phase is recognized only in the discontinuous growth mode of the Ni-C-Mg alloy solidified at 150 mm/h. This means that the spheroidal graphite is directly crystallized from the melt and entrapped by the flake-like chunky graphite that is formed by the continuous growth mode. In the small droplet method, a small piece of the Fe-C or Fe-C-Ce sample was melted on a pure graphite plate then cooled at a different cooling rate in a He-3%H2 atmosphere. The graphite in the Fe-C-Ce alloy is usually spherical. Nevertheless, the graphite morphology of the final solidified area changed from spherical to chunky and chunky to ledeburite with an increase in the cooling rate. This means that the chunky graphite is formed in the residual liquid region by the solidification into Fe-graphite system. The sample was cooled in a furnace, and the graphite morphology changes from spherical to chunky and chunky to ledeburite with the decrease in the Si content. These phenomena can be confirmed by the cooling curves of these samples.

Mixed graphite cast iron for automotive exhaust component applications

Both spheroidal graphite iron and compacted graphite iron are used in the automotive industry. A recently proposed mixed graphite iron exhibits a microstructure between the conventional spheroidal graphite iron and compacted graphite iron. Evaluation results clearly indicate the suitability and benefits of mixed graphite iron for exhaust component applications with respect to casting, machining, mechanical, thermophysical, oxidation, and thermal fatigue properties. A new ASTM standard specification(A1095) has been created for compacted, mixed, and spheroidal graphite silicon-molybdenum iron castings. This paper attempts to outline the latest progress in mixed graphite iron published.

Influence of Si,Ce,Sb and Sn on chunky graphite formation

The thirteen mother alloys,C%+1/3Si%=4.45%,differing in their Si,Ce,Sb and Sn contents,were prepared.Seventy grams of these alloys was remelted in a high purity alumina crucible at 1,450oC under an Ar atmosphere,and then cooled at 30 K/min for obtaining their cooling curves.Their graphite morphologies were observed using an optical microscope and an SEM.Their three-dimensional graphite shapes were observed by the SEM using the samples whose matrices were etched off with an acid-aqua solution,to confirm the chunky graphite.For discussing the influence of the Si and Ce contents on the chunky graphite formation,two experiments were carried out.In the first one,the Si contents were changed from 0 to 4% in the 0.15%Ce alloys,and for the second one,the 3.5%Si and 4%Si samples that differed in the Ce contents of 0.1 and 0.2% were used.In the third experiment,the influence of Sb and Sn on the chunky graphite formation was investigated by using the 4%Si and 0.1%Ce samples.The results showed that with the increase of the Si content,the volume fraction of the chunky graphite increases,while the volume fraction of the ledeburite decreases,and the chunky graphite volume fraction in the 0.2%Ce samples is higher than that of the 0.1%Ce samples.The effect of the Sb and Sn additions on the prevention of chunky graphite formation cannot be confirmed due to their high Si contents.Therefore,further studies will be needed in this field.

Wear Behavior and Mechanism of Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron

Wear behavior and mechanism of spheroidal graphite cast iron were studied on a pin on-disk elevated tem- perature wear tester. The phase and morphology of worn surfaces were examined by X ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Results show that with an increase of load, wear rate of spheroidal graphite cast iron gradually increases under low loads, rapidly increases or potentially increases under high loads; wear rate increases with in- creasing ambient temperature. At 25 200 ℃, adhesive wear prevails; oxidative wear and adhesive wear coexist at 400 ℃. As load surpasses 150 N at 400 ℃, extrusive wear appears. The elevated-temperature wear of spheroidal graphite cast iron is a physical and chemical process including the following reactions： xFe＋y/2O2-FexOy , 2C＋ O2- 2CO and Fex Oy ＋yCO-xFe＋yCO2. Hence, at 400 ℃, the amount of graphite and tribo oxides are substan- tially reduced because of reductive function of graphite. It can be suggested that wear reduced effect of graphite and tribo-oxides is impaired.