A Process of As-Cast Ferritic Gray Cast Iron Production

Abstract

Though normal air cooling and green sand mold-casted gray iron convey an essentially pearlitic matrix, ferritic gray iron is used in some electro-mechanical applications to have better magnetic properties, ductility, and low hardness. Conventionally, to produce ferritic gray iron, foundryman initially produces pearlitic gray iron, then it is carried through a long annealing cycle process for ferritic transformation. This experiment is conducted to eliminate the long annealing cycle from the conventional process. A process is developed to produce as-cast ferritic gray cast iron by air cooling in the green sand mold. In this experiment, Si content is kept high, but Mn content is kept low based on sulfur content; a unique thermodynamic process is established for decreasing the Mn content from the melt. After a successful preconditioning and optimum foundry return charging, the melt is specially inoculated, and metal is poured into the green sand mold. An extra feeder is added for slowing down the cooling rate where casting thickness is around 15mm. Finally, hardness and metallographic images are observed for final confirmation of the ferritic matrix.