Semisolid Forging of Cast Iron Using Rapid Resistance Heating

Abstract

Feasibility of semisolid forging of cast iron using rapid resistance heating was experimentally investigated. Gray pig iron FC250 and spheroidal graphite cast iron FCD600, whose carbon equivalents are both 4.3% in mass, were used for the experiments. Since these cast irons have a narrow semisolid temperature range, an AC power supply with an input electric energy control function was used. In this study, the resistance heating characteristics of the cast irons were firstly examined, and then their semisolid forging experiments were conducted. In the forging experiments, the conditions of the forgings such as microstructures and hardness properties were examined, and the feasibility of the semisolid forging of cast iron using resistance heating was discussed. As a result, it was found that the method presented here is highly feasible.