The document provides an overview of cast irons, detailing their composition, properties, and classifications, including gray, white, malleable, and nodular iron. It discusses the significance of carbon forms in the microstructure and the process of graphitization, as well as the typical composition ranges for each type. Additionally, it poses questions related to the characteristics and properties of different cast iron types.
The document provides an overview of cast irons, detailing their composition, properties, and classifications, including gray, white, malleable, and nodular iron. It discusses the significance of carbon forms in the microstructure and the process of graphitization, as well as the typical composition ranges for each type. Additionally, it poses questions related to the characteristics and properties of different cast iron types.
The document provides an overview of cast irons, detailing their composition, properties, and classifications, including gray, white, malleable, and nodular iron. It discusses the significance of carbon forms in the microstructure and the process of graphitization, as well as the typical composition ranges for each type. Additionally, it poses questions related to the characteristics and properties of different cast iron types.
The document provides an overview of cast irons, detailing their composition, properties, and classifications, including gray, white, malleable, and nodular iron. It discusses the significance of carbon forms in the microstructure and the process of graphitization, as well as the typical composition ranges for each type. Additionally, it poses questions related to the characteristics and properties of different cast iron types.
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MME 214
Microstudy of Cast Irons
Cast Irons Containing 2-4% C and 0.5-3% Si. Presence of high C makes cast irons hard and brittle and limits their formability. Casting is the only way of making any product using cast irons.
Some general properties:
• low melting point • excellent fluidity • very good corrosion resistant • excellent wear resistant • excellent machinability Classification of Cast Irons Found in 4 common varieties depending on the form of carbon in the microstructure. Gray iron (Most or all the carbon is uncombined in the form of free graphite flakes) – Manhole cover, sewer pipe, machine bed White iron (all carbon is in the combined form as iron carbide compound/cementite) – extremely hard, have very little commercial uses – grinding media ball, raw material for malleable iron Malleable iron (most or all carbon is uncombined in the form of irregular round particles known as temper carbon) – produced by heat treating white iron – more malleable than grey iron – automobile components, railway, pipes fittings
Nodular iron ( by special alloy additions , the carbon is
largely uncombined in the form of compact spheroids) – “most” malleable cast iron (but, obviously, less malleable than The Process of Graphitisation
Fe3C = 3Fe + G cementite ferrite graphite
L The graphitisation process L + Cementite is aided by Austenite + L 1. Higher C and Si content Austenite + Cementite 2. Lower Mn content 3. Alloy addition (Cr, Mo, Cu, Ni, P, etc.) Pearlite + Cementite (Ferrite + Cementite) + Cementite 4. Higher time and temperature 5. Slow cooling rate Cast Iron Microstructural Development Classification of cast irons by commercial designation, microstructure, and fracture
Commercial Carbon-rich phase Fractured surface Final structure
designation resulted after Gray iron Lamellar graphite flake Gray Solidification White iron Cementite White Solidification Malleable iron Temper graphite Silver-gray Heat treatment Ductile iron Spheroidal graphite Silver-gray Solidification, or heat treatment
Range of compositions for typical unalloyed common cast irons
Composition, % Type of iron C Si Mn P S Gray iron 2.5-4.0 1.0-3.0 0.2-1.0 0.002-1.0 0.02-0.25 Ductile iron 3.0-4.0 1.8-2.8 0.1-1.0 0.01-0.10 0.01-0.03 Malleable iron 2.2-2.9 0.9-1.9 0.15-1.2 0.02-0.20 0.02-0.20 White iron 1.8-3.6 0.5-1.9 0.25-0.8 0.06-0.20 0.06-0.20 White cast iron Grey Cast Iron Malleable cast iron Nodular cast iron Answer the following questions • Why are graphite flakes visible in the unetched specimen? • What is the influence of graphite flakes on the properties of gray cast iron? • Which constituent forms the matrix in gray cast iron? Do its properties have any significance on the properties of white cast iron? • What are the phases present in the microstructure of white cast iron? How do they form? • What characteristics particularly distinguish gray cast irons? • The more randomly dispersed and smaller the carbon flakes in gray cast iron are the less the brittle the metal is, Why? • What are the particular characteristics of malleable cast iron that make it adaptable for certain engineering applications. • Both gray and malleable cast irons contain free carbon. Even then gray cast iron is brittle and malleable cast iron is ductile-explain why?
