Academic literature on the topic 'Nodular graphite cast iron'

Les travaux de cette thèse ont été initiés par la volonté industrielle de lever le verrou technologique du démasselotage à chaud de bielles en fonte GS. Ces bielles sont obtenues par un procédé de fabrication hybride innovant mêlant forgeage et fonderie en moule métallique. Ce procédé exige que le démasselotage soit effectué dans la « chaude de coulée » lorsque la fonte GS est en phase austénitique. La découpe de la fonte dans ces conditions de température fait apparaître des défauts majeurs sur les surfaces découpées préjudiciables à la suite du process. Pour pouvoir répondre à cette problématique, une étude est menée sur la caractérisation du comportement et de l’endommagement de la fonte GS dans les conditions de température du process. Une attention particulière est portée sur l’influence de la microstructure nodulaire sur les mécanismes de la rupture. Afin de se doter d’outils de simulation pour mettre au point le processus de démasselotage à chaud, les paramètres du modèle de comportement et d’endommagement de Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman appliqués à la fonte GS sont identifiés par méthode inverse. Enfin, un plan d’expérience est déployé sur un démonstrateur de découpe instrumenté afin d’obtenir la configuration optimale des paramètres process pour une découpe sans défaut. Cette dernière étude met en avant la présence d’une transition d’un mode de rupture ductile à fragile lors de l’apparition des défauts de démasselotage<br>This work was initiated by the technological problematic of hot trimming of nodular cast iron connecting rods. These connecting rods are obtained by an innovative hybrid process that combines forging and metal mold casting. This process requires the trimming to be conducted at high temperatures in the is the austenitic phase of the cast iron. Hot trimming of cast iron brings up major defects on the cut surfaces which are detrimental to the continuing process. To address this problem, a study is conducted on the characterization of the mechanical behavior of nodular cast iron in the process temperature conditions. A particular attention is paid to the influence of the nodular microstructure on the failure mechanisms. To develop simulation tools for nodular cast iron hot trimming, the parameters of Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman model are identified by inverse method for our material. Finally, a design of experiment is deployed using an instrumented demonstrator to obtain the optimum parameters configuration for a maximized cut surface quality. This latest study highlights the presence of a transition from ductile to brittle mode of failure leading to the hot trimming defects

The thesis is concerned with relationships between progressive technological processes of spheroidal graphite cast iron’s production and their structural properties. The aim of the work is to explain causal relationship between parameters of the proposed manufacturing technology of the iron type given (involving selected variants of modification and inoculation of melt and the parameters of melt crystallization, solidification and cooling down in a mould), their structure and even chemical heterogeneity of elements in this structure. For close specification of presented relationships three-dimensional model of spheroidal graphite growth was used, which was developed at the Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Its usability in praxis has been verified on the basisis of the application of this model on experimentally acquired data. The U GRAFIT 20 model of the authors Stránský and Million counting segregation in the frame of eutectic cell has not still been used for prediction of segregation in real condition in greater extent. On the basis of the above mentioned model microsegregation within “on average” of the cell has been discovered during experimental melts. Microsegregation has been described by segregation and heterogeneity indexes. Calculated values of segregation and heterogeneity indexes have been compared with experimentally verified values. On the basis of comparison of calculated and measured values the possibility of further usage of the mentioned model in praxis has been explored.

The microsegregation of Mn, Cu, Cr, Mo, Ni and Si has been measured in cast ductile iron and in ductile iron which has been quenched when partially solidified. Effective segregation coefficients have been determined for each of the elements, and used to calculate the segregation on the basis of the Scheil equation. The calculated values agree reasonably well with the values of the solute concentration as a function of the solid fraction measured in quenched samples. The microstructure of the solid phases during the solidification of ductile iron has been observed. Solidification of eutectic ductile iron begins with the independent nucleation of austenite and graphite in the melt. Later the graphite nodules are enveloped by austenite, and further solidification takes place by the thickening of the austenite layers enveloping the graphite. Isolated pockets of interdendritic melt are the last material to solidify. On the basis of the measured segregation of the different alloying elements, the mechanisms by which the segregation affects the microstructure are considered, and an explanation for the effect of segregation on the hardenability of ductile iron is proposed. A mathematical model of the solidification of eutectic ductile iron is formulated which includes heat flow, nucleation and growth of graphite nodules, and the segregation of Si. The model uses equilibrium temperatures given by the ternary Fe-C-Si equilibrium diagram. Using the mathematical model, cooling curves, nodule count and nodular size distribution are determined as a function of position in the casting sample. The results are compared to measured temperatures, nodule count and nodule size in rod castings of 12.5, 20 and 43mm radius. There is good agreement between the calculated and measured values for the 43mm radius rod, and not quite good agreement for the rods of smaller radii. The changes in solidification predicted by the model when some solidification parameters are varied are consistent with experimental observations with the same variation in the parameters.<br>Applied Science, Faculty of<br>Materials Engineering, Department of<br>Graduate

It is an established fact that segregation during casting affects the physical properties of carbon-based ferro alloys; this motivates the study of the segregation behaviour of carbon and carbide-forming solute elements. In this context, this thesis investigates two different situations: the effects of cooling rate and turbulence on the precipitation behaviour of the graphite nodules in nodular cast iron; the nature of carbide precipitation in a bearing steel grade and the effects of subsequent soaking on these carbides. The structures of boiling water reactor inserts cast by the uphill and downhill casting of nodular cast iron were examined. The samples were taken from representative locations in the top, middle and bottom cross sections of the castings. It was observed that in uphill-cast inserts the nodules were larger but fewer in number the bottom section, whereas in downhill-cast inserts the nodules in the bottom section were smaller, but greater in number. Variation in volume fraction of the graphite nodules across the inserts was also observed. The probable cause of this variation was the difference in cooling rate in different sections of the insert. Between the steel tubes located at the central part of the casting, the fraction of graphite was lower, which could be the result of carburization of the steel tubes. To study the effects of melt stirring during the solidification of nodular cast iron, several experiments were conducted at variable cooling rates and for different stirring times. Examination of the microstructure was conducted using Light Optical Microscope (LOM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). It was observed that during stirring the melt oxidized and oxide nuclei were formed. The number of nucleation sites for the precipitation of graphite nodules increased, which raised the nodule count and the fraction of the graphite precipitated. The matrix transformed from pearlite to ferrite, which could be due to the fact that more carbon had diffused out of the matrix. The segregation behaviour in hypereutectoid bearing steel produced by ingot casting was also studied. The effects of soaking on micro and macro segregation was investigated in samples taken from as cast and soaked ingots; emphasis was laid on the bulk matrix and A-segregation channels. Samples were also taken from ingots which were soaked and then hot worked. The micro and macro examination of the microstructure was conducted using LOM and SEM. Quantitative and qualitative composition analysis was performed using Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and an electron micro probe analyzer (EMPA). It was observed that M3C, M2C and M6C had precipitated. The carbide morphology in the bulk matrix was different to that in the A-segregation channels. All the primary carbides in the bulk matrix were found to have dissolved after 4 hours of soaking at 1200oC.<br>Det är ett faktum att segringar som uppstår under gjutning påverkar materialegenskaperna hos kolbaserade järnlegeringar; detta utgör motivationen till studien av segringsuppträdandet hos kol och karbidbildande ämnen. Denna avhandling behandlar två olika aspekter inom ramen för detta ämne: påverkan av kylningshastighet och turbulens på kärnbildningen av grafitnoduler i nodulärt gjutjärn samt karbidbildning i kullagerstål och dess påverkan på den efterföljande värmebehandlingen av dessa karbider. Strukturen hos rör till vattenkokare som tillverkats av nodulärt gjutjärn som gjutits med fyllning från botten eller från toppen undersöktes. Prover togs från representativa tvärsnittspositioner från toppen, mitten och botten av de gjutna ämnena. Resultaten visade att användandet av bottenfyllda kokiller gav upphov till större men färre karbider i nedre delen av ämnet, medans användandet av toppfyllda kokiller gav upphov till mindre men fler karbider i nedre delen av ämnet. Variationer av volymfraktionen av grafitnoduler längs tvärsnitten observerades också. Den mest sannolika orsaken till denna variation var skillnaden i kylhastighet i de olika områdena av tvärsnitten. Hos rör tillverkade av det centrala delen av ämnet så var fraktionen grafit lägre, vilket kan bero på en uppkolning av rören. Ett flertal experiment utfördes med varierande kylningshastigheter och olika omrörningstider för att studera inverkan av omrörning av smältan på stelningen av nodulärt gjutjärn. Studier av mikrostrukturen genomfördes med ljusoptisk mikroskopi och svepelektronmikroskopi. Resultaten visade att smältan oxiderades under omrörningen, vilket resulterade i bildandet av oxider. Detta ledde till en ökning av kärnbildningsområden för grafitnoduler, vilket ledde till en ökning av antalet noduler samt fraktionen av grafit som fälldes ut. Strukturen omvandlades från perlit till ferrit, vilket troligen orsakades av att kol hade diffunderat ut från strukturen. Segringsbeteendet hos hypereutektoida kullagerstål tillverkade genom götgjutning undersöktes också. Effekten av värmebehandling på mikro- och makrosegringar undersöktes i prover tagna från gjutna och värmebehandlade ämnen. Fokus var på att studera strukturen i ämnena samt A-segringar. Dessutom togs prover från ämnen som först värmebehandlats och därefter varmbearbetats. Både mikro- och makroundersökningar av mikrostrukturen utfördes med ljusoptisk mikroskopi och svepelektronmikroskopi. Dessutom så genomfördes kvantitativa sammansättningsbestämningar med energidispersiv röntgenspektroskopi och elektronmikroprobsanalys. Resultaten visade att M3C, M2C och M6C karbider hade fällts ut. Karbidmorfologin i huvuddelen av strukturen skiljde sig från den som återfanns i A-segringar. Samtliga primära karbider i huvuddelen av strukturen hade lösts upp efter 4 timmars värmebehandling vid 1200oC.<br><p>QC 20180523</p>

In the present thesis, fatigue behavior of nodular cast iron (NCI) is investigated using micromechanical simulations. An elastic-plastic porous material experiences an increase in a void volume fraction with each cycle of loading. This is called void ratchetting. The hypothesis of this thesis is to explain the fatigue failure of NCI using void ratchetting mechanism. The strain-life, stress-life, notch support effect, and fatigue crack growth are studied using the micromechanical simulations. In all these studies, matrix material is defined as an elastic-plastic with isotropic/kinematic hardening. No damage law is used to define material degradation. The axisymmetric cell model is developed to study strain-life and stress-life approaches for fatigue. The cell model is subjected to cyclic loading and cycle by cycle simulations are carried out until failure. The failure of the cell model is defined based on the drop in the macroscopic response of the cell model. The notch support effect is investigated using a 2D plane strain model within stress-life concept. From the simulation results, strain-life and stress-life curves are extracted, and they are in qualitative and quantitative agreement with experimental data collected from literature. The fatigue crack growth is studied using a micromechanical cell model under small scale yielding conditions. The graphite particles are considered as voids, and they are resolved discretely in fracture process zone. The region outside of the fracture process zone is considered as a homogenized medium. When positive alternating loads are applied, ligaments in the fracture process zone show ratchetting behavior, which is responsible for an effective fatigue crack growth. This mechanism is relevant for the fatigue crack growth in NCI. The 2D plane strain boundary layer model is able to predict the effect of load ratio on threshold for the fatigue crack growth and the fatigue crack growth rate. The fatigue crack growth rate curves obtained from the simulations are compared with experimental data. It is essential to note that the void ratchetting (plastic collapse of the intervoid ligaments) is a crucial mechanism in NCI and more focus should be given to this mechanism as it is simple to implement and gives satisfying simulation results.

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivos promover variações microestruturais em um ferro fundido nodular ferrítico tipo ASTM A536 60-40-18, pelo do uso de resfriadores durante a solidificação do material e pela adoção de tratamentos térmicos pós-fundição, bem como avaliar a influência de tais variações microestruturais sobre as propriedades mecânicas e vida em fadiga do material. Inicialmente, amostras do material foram fundidas em areia com e sem o uso de resfriadores. Após a fundição, algumas amostras de ambas as condições de resfriamento sofreram normalização, enquanto outras foram recozidas, perfazendo seis diferentes condições microestruturais: sem resfriador bruta de fundição (SRB); sem resfriador normalizada (SRN); sem resfriador recozida (SRR); com resfriador bruta de fundição (CRB); com resfriador normalizada (CRN) e com resfriador recozida (CRR). Em seqüência, corpos de prova de todas as condições mencionadas acima foram ensaiados em tração e, posteriormente, sofreram análises metalográficas qualitativas e quantitativas. Dando continuação a etapa experimental, levantaramse as curvas tensão versus número de ciclos para a falha das condições microestruturais SRB, SRR, CRB e CRR, por meio de ensaios de fadiga em flexão rotativa. A vida em fadiga do material também foi relacionada com às características metalúrgicas de cada condição.<br>The objectives of the present work were to promote microstructural variations in an ASTM A 536 60-40-18 ferritic nodular cast iron, making use of cast coolers during and adopting heat treatments after casting, as well as to evaluate the influence of the microstructural variations on the mechanical properties and fatigue life of the material. Initially, samples of the material were cast in sand moulds with and without internal coolers. After casting, a number of samples in both cooling conditions were subjected to normalizing and annealing heat treatments and, therefore, six different microstructural conditions were obtained: as- cast without cooler (SRB), normalized without cooler (SRN), annealed without cooler (SRR), as-cast with cooler (CRB), normalized with cooler (CRN) and annealed with cooler (CRR). Tensile test were carried out on specimens representing the above mentioned conditions and their microstructures were analysed by qualitative and quantitative metallography. In the sequence of the experimental procedure, rotating bend fadigue test were performed in order to establish the stress-life curves for the SRB, SRR, CRB and CRR microstructural conditions. The fadigue life of the material was also related to the metallurgical characteristics of each condition. The metallographic analysis has indicated that the use of coolers increases the number of graphite nodules, reduces the graphite nodule size and otimizes the spherical morphology. However, these microstructural modifications seam to have no significant influence on the mechanical properties of the material. As to the effect of normalizing annealing, boht treatments not imply in significant changes in the mechanical properties of the as-cast conditions. Regarding the fadigue resistance of the material in the as-cast conditions, the CRB sample showed a longer fatigue life than the SRB samples and this performance under cyclic loading was attributed to the fact that the CRB condition is characterized by a higher number of graphite nodules of class VI. A comparison between the as-cast and annealed conditions indicated that the microstructural conditions SRR and CRR presented a lower fatigue resistance than the conditions SRB and CRB, respectively. This behaviour was associated with the microstructural features of the as-cast conditions, namely the smaller graphite nodule size, the higher microhardness of the matrix and the presence of the bull`s-eye structure. Finally, the experimental stress-life curves were modelled by means of Coffin-Manson law, which was considered efficient in the fadigue life data of ferritic nodular cast iron.

The objectives of the research project were to gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing the graphite morphology in cast iron; particularly the role of different solute elements in relation to the industrial manufacture of compacted graphite iron. A number of melt treatment processes were assessed for their abilities to produce low nodularity compacted graphite microstructures over a range of casting section thicknesses. In this respect, the magnesium-titanium method was found to be superior to treatment using cerium Mischmetall and calcium additives; and very promising results were obtained with methods using zirconium as a major constituent of the treatment alloy. Scanning electron microscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry and X-ray microanalysis were used to study the structural characteristics of different cast iron microstructures and the elemental distributions of important solutes between the phases. This information was used to clarify the role of the main solute elements in graphite morphology control and to assess current graphite growth theories.