Study of the solidification structure of compacted graphite cast iron

Abstract

This investigation focuses on the study of the solidification mechanism of compacted graphite cast iron (CGI). The solidification macrostructure was revealed in cast samples using a special technique known as direct austempering after solidification (DAAS). The microstructure was revealed by colour etching.The results were compared with earlier investigations of the solidification of spheroidal (SGI) and lamellar (LGI) graphite irons, and show that, similarly to other free graphite cast irons, the solidification of CGI is dominated by the presence of relatively large grains of austenite that can be observed with bareeyes. The CGI cast samples show a typical ingot structure, containing columnar and equiaxed grains, with a narrow columnar to equiaxed transition. The microstructure analysis showed that a dendritic substructure and a large number of eutectic colonies form the grains. Microsegregation is located inside the grains, mostly between secondary dendrite arms. The results indicate that the growth mechanism during solidification of CGI resembles that of LGI, but not the mechanism of SGI.