Influence of Charge Composition on EN-GJS-500-7 Ductile Iron Properties in Foundry Operating Conditions

Abstract

Worldwide production of ductile iron castings reached in year 2017 26,428,148 metric tons, which is 34% of the total weight of all castings made from cast iron. The most significant increase in ductile iron castings was recorded in Slovakia, up to 78.6%. Castings from ductile iron have a very huge utilization thanks their very good foundry and mechanical properties. The current economic situation in all industries forces entrepreneurs and producers to rationalize production and reduce production costs, with a worldwide trend to increase the share of steel scrap, a technology for the production of ductile cast iron. The paper describes the results of research focused on the effect of charge composition, mainly the share of scrap steel on the final properties and structure of ductile iron EN-GJS-500-7 under the operating conditions of foundry. Six melts with different charge composition were made. The samples from all melts were taken and chemical analysis, microstructure analysis and testing on mechanical properties were made on them. The mechanical properties of produced globular cast irons were according with the relevant standard. It is important to mention that there has been a significant increase in strength characteristics in melts in which the carbon content exceeded 4% (CE = 4.7 and 4.8%, respectively).