Papers by Keyword: Austempered Ductile Iron

Abstract: This study focused on tensile strength properties inclusive of ultimate tensile strength and elongation values of niobium alloyed ductile iron in as cast and austempered conditions. The tensile specimens were machined according to TS 138 EN 10002-1 standard. Austempering heat treatment was conducted by first undergoing austenitizing process at 900°C before rapidly quenched in salt bath furnace and held at 350°C for 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours subsequently. The findings indicated that austempering the samples for 1 hour had resulted in improvement of almost twice of the tensile strength in niobium alloyed ductile iron. Improvement of elongations values were also noted after 1 hour austempering times. Increasing the austempering holding times to 2 hour and 3 hours had resulted in decrement in both tensile strength and elongations values.

Abstract: In this research wear mechanism of ADI under different intensity of loading with different hardness have been investigated. To study of wear behavior, a series of austempered specimens with optimum mechanical properties were used for wear tests. Dry sliding wear tests were carried out in pin-on-ring wear tester machine at speed of 0.5 ms-1 and loaded with normal loads of 100,200,300 and 400 N. Scanning electron microscopy for microstructure and wear surface analysis was used. To determine the austenite volume fraction and the percentage of carbon content in austenite, X-ray diffraction analysis was used. Results show that the role of retained austenite at wear properties of ADI is dependent on loading intensity and austenite carbon content.

Abstract: The effect of different austempering holding times on the hardness and impact toughness of 0.254% niobium alloyed austempered ductile iron was investigated in this study. Molten ductile iron was prepared in an induction furnace with capacity of 60kg. Samples with dimension of 300m x Ø25mm in form of Y block double cylinder was constituted and solidified samples were then machined in accordance to ASTM E23 for impact test specimens. Samples were ground and polished before Rockwell hardness test was conducted. Austempering heat treatment process with austenitizing temperature of 900°C for 1 hour and austempering temperature of 350°C for 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hour holding times were then carried out. The results from this research indicated that austempering the sample for 1 hour resulted in significant improvement of the impact toughness values but increasing the austempering holding time deficiently reduced the values. On the contrary, the hardness of niobium alloyed austempered ductile iron continues to increase with respect to longer austempering holding times.

Abstract: This research penetrated on the transformation of phases in the microstructures of austempered ductile iron with respect to different austempering holding times. Ductile iron samples were constituted in form of Y block double cylinder with dimension of 300m x Ø25mm through CO2 sand casting process in 60 kg capacity furnace. Austempering process were conducted by first austenitizing the samples at temperature of 900°C for 1 hour. The process continues by rapidly quenched the samples inside salt bath furnace at 350°C for three different holding times of 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hour. Samples were then taken out and cooled at room temperature. Samples were then prepared in accordance to standard metallographic process and observed using Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) model Hitachi TM3000. Phases were then verified through X-Ray Diffraction analysis (XRD) test by Rigaku diffractometer. The phase structures of as cast ductile iron mainly consisted of graphite nodules embedded in ferrite and pearlite phases Austempering the samples for 1 hour holding time promoted the structures of ferrite platelets and bainitic structures surrounding the graphite. Longer austempering holding times resulted in coarsening of the ferrite platelets structures and transformation from lower bainite to upper bainite structures.

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to investigate the mechanical and corrosion characteristics of Ni-Cu alloyed Austempered Ductile Iron before and after austempering process. Specimens of ductile iron and 0.5% Cu-Ni ductile iron were produced through conventional CO2 sand casting method. The specimens were then austenitized at 9000C before austempered at 3500C at three different holding times which were 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours subsequently. The corrosion characteristics of newly developed material were obtained by means of polarization test and the mechanical testing involved tensile test (TS 138 EN1002-1), Rockwell hardness test and Charpy Impact test (ASTM E23). Density test as well as microstructure and SEM observations were also done to ductile iron and Cu-Ni alloyed ductile iron samples. All the testing was done to both as cast and austempered specimens. Addition of copper and Nickel was found to slightly increased the mechanical properties due to solid strengthening effect of Copper and Nickel. The results also indicated that austempering process at 1 hour gives the optimum mechanical properties in term of tensile strength and impact properties compared to other specimens. Increasing the austempering holding times to 2 hours and 3 hours, in contrast had resulted in decrement of the mechanical properties. There are however only slight improvement in hardness properties and no significant effect on density properties of the specimens.

Abstract: Austempered ductile cast iron is newly developed engineering material with a favorable combination of comprehensive mechanical properties. Its properties, such as good comprehensive mechanical properties, high fatigue strength, and good fiction and wear characteristics are included. The application of ADI at home and abroad was presented as well. In order to ensure and improve mechanical properties of ADI, it should ensure high rank nodularity in terms of nodular cast iron, improve graphite nodules, reduce segregation and properly cut down the content of silicon and manganese. While in terms of heat treatment, in order to achieve ideal austenite ferrites, stable and reliable heat treatment process as well as relevant equipment is required.

Abstract: Three different cutting tools (ceramics CC6050, cubic boron nitride CB7025, carbide GC2025) were used for dry cutting of 3 groups of ADI which were heat-treated separately under different quenching temperatures. With the unified cutting parameters, the wear of tool flank of each cutter was studied and the main influencing factors of the wear were analyzed. Results showed that when the cutting parameters ap =0.2mm, f =0.16mm/r, vc =108m/min and the cutting tool was determined, the higher the quenching temperature was the lower the hardness of the test bars were and the tool flank wear was less; When the quenching temperature was determined, the more the produced BUE (build up edge) of the cutting tool was the less the tool flank wear was.

Abstract: Ductile irons with chemical compositions of Fe-3.6%C-2.6%Si-0.50%Cu-0.51%Ni were cast into standard keel blocks. Austenitizing heat treatment was carried out on test pieces at 875°C followed by austempering at 320, 365 and 400°C for times within the austempering processing window in a salt bath furnace. Rotating bending fatigue tests were performed with Roell Amsler UBM 200™ equipment at 3500 rpm at room temperature. Metallography and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to evaluate the fatigue life. Results indicate an increase of 10, 20 and 24% in fatigue life for specimens austempered at temperatures of 320, 365 and 400°C respectively, compared to that of as cast samples. According to the XRD test results; there is an increase in volume fraction of high carbon austenite by increasing the austempering temperature.

Abstract: In this paper the fatigue characterization of an austempered ductile iron (ADI) is presented. The aim of the work is to provide design engineers involved in fatigue assessments with an engineering tool suitable to deal with notches of different severity. Classically, U-notches are divided into blunt notches and sharp notches. The former are characterized by large notch tip radii such that the high cycle fatigue strength is controlled by the elastic peak stress, i.e. by the elastic stress concentration factor. The latter are characterized by reduced notch tip radii such that the effective stress which controls the high cycle fatigue strength is significantly lower than the elastic peak stress and their behaviour become similar to that of a crack having the same length. Blunt notches are assessed according to the classical Notch Mechanics principles, while sharp notches are treated with the Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics approach. After presenting the classical Frost diagram which highlights the different fatigue behaviour of sharp and blunt notches, fatigue test results generated from notches of different severity are presented as well as a synthesis in a diagram able to account for short cracks/notches, long cracks, sharp notches and blunt notches.

Abstract: Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) is a modified Spheroidal Graphite Iron (SGI) produced by applying a two-stage heat treatment cycle of austenitising and austempering. The microstructure of ADI also known as “ausferrite” consists of ferrite, austenite and graphite nodules. Machining ADI using conventional techniques is often problematic due to the microstructural phase transformation from austenite to martensite. Machining trials consisted of drilling ADI-Grades900, 1050, 1200 and 1400 using inserted (TiAlN PVD coated) type drills. The cutting parameters selected were; cutting speeds [m/min] of 30 and 40; penetration rates [mm/rev] of 0.1 and 0.2; to a constant depth of 20mm. The machining characteristics of ADI are evaluated through surface texture analysis and microhardness analysis. These results indicate that microhardness is modified during machining and surface texture is improved using a cutting fluid.