Microstructure Evolution of Heavy Section Ductile Iron

Abstract

Ductile iron, Heavy section, Cooling curve, Microstructure, Cooling rate. Abstract. Two 250×250×250 mm cubic ductile iron castings solidified in sand and insulation mould were fabricated. The effect of cooling rate on graphite and matrix microstructure of heavy section ductile iron together with their cooling curves were evaluated. Results show that increasing the cooling rate leads to fine graphitization and favors spheroidal graphite formation. The matrix structure is fully ferrite structure at the edge of both castings, while pearlite can be seen near the eutectic cell boundaries at the center of two castings. Furthermore, the amount of pearlite increases with increasing solidification time. Cooling curves confirm that cooling rate affects solidification time of the eutectic transformation and characteristic temperature points on the cooling curves remain unchanged. Low cooling rate appears to significantly increase the eutectic plateau length. Besides, cooling curves show that eutectic temperature remains constant (about 1160°C), which allows for spheroidal graphite formation. Undercooling and inoculation fading during the long time eutectic solidification lead to pearlite formation in the center of cubic ductile iron castings.