An Investigation on the Effect of S and Al on the Austenite Growth Morphology in Gray Cast Iron, Using Thermal Analysis and Etching Technique

Abstract

The austenite nucleation and growth morphology was investigated through experiments by inoculation with pure Al in a controlled environment using DTA furnace and H.F furnace. The austenite volume fraction and the dendrite growth orientations were affected by the addition of Al to the melt. Thermal analyses were performed to study the effect of sulfur content on austenite volume fraction and growth morphology using DSC. The possibility of austenite nucleation by MnS particles was analyzed. Different sulfur contents in the alloys were resulting in change in the latent heat of solidification and the rate of austenite formation. Austenite volume fraction was measured with four methods, colour etching, DSC thermal analysis, lever rule, and using LH calculated by Thermo-Calc data base, and a comparison was made among them.