Materials Science Forum Vol. 649

Abstract: The thermal conductivity of various grades of pearlitic cast iron has been modelled with good results by means of regression analysis. The experimental thermal conductivity data, which the modelling is based on, were obtained by the laser flash method. The microstructure was investigated by digital image analysis combined with a colour etching technique. The model developed takes the carbon content, the silicon content, the nodularity as well as the fraction of cementite into consideration. The graphite morphologies of the samples investigated were lamellar, compacted and spheroidal.

Abstract: Improved mechanical and physical properties of an Al-Si alloy as a well-known casting alloy is strongly dependent upon the morphology of silicon particles, Al grains and also type of intermetallics which are in turn a function of alloy composition, solidification rate and heat treatment. This study aims at investigating the influence of the different solidification conditions (high pressure die, gradient and sand cast) and heat treatment on the microstructure (dendrite parameters, silicon particle morphology, intermetallic compounds), mechanical properties and fracture surface appearance of Al- 9Si- 4Mn alloy. To identify the features of microstructure and fracture surface analysis, a combination of optical metallography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) have been employed. The results show that the cooling rate has a strong effect on the evolution of intermetallics, morphology of the silicon and dendrite parameters.

Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of different carbon contents and cooling rates on gray iron tensile properties as well on the formation of different microstructure features. Four heats with increasing amount of carbon were cast. Every heat constituted of three cylinders, each of them surrounded by different materials which provided a wide range of solidification rates. The casting specimens were subjected to tensile test measurements and to microstructure examination. The results indicate a clear correlation between cooling rates, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), carbon content and eutectic cell size. Microscopic analysis shows also a relation between the primary phase’s fraction and the number of the eutectic cells.

Abstract: The fracture mechanism of gray cast iron was investigated on tension loaded samples produced under different conditions. The parameters studied included the graphite morphology, the carbon content, the inoculation and the cooling condition. The observations made reveal the role of the microstructure on crack propagation. The cracks were found to always propagate parallel with the graphite flakes. The interaction between the metallic matrix precipitated as primary austenite and graphite has been interpreted by a simplified model of the austenite reinforced eutectic cell. The geometrical transcription gave a standard crack component configuration with known mathematical solution. The microstructure observed in the experiments has been analysed by means of a novel interpretation. The fictitious stress intensity at yield and the fictitious maximum stress intensity at failure are strongly related to the relative shape of the eutectic cell and the fraction primary austenite. A different slope is observed for the material cooled at high rate when the precipitation of primary carbide reduces the stress intensity. The observed relations indicate that the tensile strength of the grey cast iron is the result of the collaboration between the toughness of the metallic matrix precipitated as primary austenite and the brittleness of the graphite phase. The shape and distribution of the primary austenite and graphite can be influenced by chemical composition, by inoculation or by the cooling condition, but they will maintain equilibrium with respect to the stress intensity.

Abstract: The present work provides a review of the information available on the Al-rich corner of the Al–Fe–Si system as well as a CALPHAD type assessment making use of the COST 507 database as a starting point. The description of the intermetallic compounds has been modified to account for substitution of Al and Si in the ternary Al-Fe-Si system and to take new experimental information into account.

Abstract: Aluminum-Silicon alloys are sought in a large number of automotive and aerospace applications due to their low coefficient of thermal expansion and high wear resistance. The fine structure of Si precipitates is controlled by forced solid solution structure obtainable by rapidly solidification techniques [1, 2, 3]. Present study focuses on precipitation of silicon in Al88Si12 as a function of temperature by dilatometer analysis. Different structures out of equilibrium have been obtained after casting in sand, black-lead and steel mould and by melt spinning. The average value of the activation energy for the precipitation of Si in steel mould casting of eutectic composition was found to be 47 kJ/mol. Our dilatometer studies were complemented by metallographic microscopy and XRD measurements.

Abstract: The paper brings data about heat balance of the killed steel ingot head. The balance is obtained on basis of the temperature measurement in the system: ingot body - ingot head - ingot mould - insulating sleeves – radiation shield - ambient. The measurements were performed using model sys-tem (1:5) of the 20000 kg flat ingot. The balance shows that about 86% of the heat issued during solidification of the ingot head is transferred to the ingot mould through the insulating sleeves. In order to decrease this heat, insulating sleeves of low thermal conductivity are required, which should allow reducing dimensions of the ingot head and increasing the metal yield.