The Effect of Vertical Step Block Casting to Microstructure and Mechanical Properties in Producing Thin Wall Ductile Iron

Abstract

Thin wall ductile iron (TWDI) is introduced to fulfill the needs of lighter material in automotive parts that will reduce fuel consumption. Problem occurs during the production of TWDI due to the casting thickness. TWDI casting thickness classified to below 5 mm. Many designs have been made to answer the problem in producing thin wall ductile iron. Soedarsono et al established vertical step block casting design. This design based on Y-block principle that allows direct pouring of liquid metal to the mold without passing any gating system. This design will increase casting yield. The parameter of this research is pouring basin placement to study the effect of plate arrangement to filling and solidification. This research is conducted to see the effect of pouring basin placement to microstructure and mechanical properties of TWDI. The Design is made to produce 5 plates with different thickness that is 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm. All of the plates arranged parallel in line. Pouring basin located in 2 ways. The first type located pouring basin above the plate of 5 mm thickness while the second one located it above the plate with 1 mm thickness. The first type coded as T4 while the second coded as T5. The moulds made from furan sand. The result shows although cold shut occurred in both pouring basin placements due to pouring discontinuity but shrinkage only formed in T5 on its plate with 1 mm thickness. Microstructure of all the plates presented nodule graphite in pearlite matrix. Carbide and skin effects also detected. Average nodularity is above 80% while the nodule count is between 614 to 1269 nodule/mm2. Most of the Brinell hardness number exceeded maximum limit given by JIS G5502 but the UTS is below the minimum limit except for 3 mm plate thickness of T5. All elongation values below the minimum standard. The results confirm that pouring basin location is important in casting design following Y-Block principle.