Microstructure and cavitation behaviour of alloyed austempered ductile irons

In this paper, the study of cavitation behaviour of austempered ductile iron (ADI) alloyed with copper, as well as copper and nickel with a fully ausferritic microstructure, is presented. The ADI materials used were austenitized at 900 °C and austempered at 350 °C having an ausferrite microstructure with 16 and 19% of austenite, respectively. The experimental investigations were conducted using the ultrasonically induced cavitation test method. The results show that the cavitation damage was initiated at graphite nodules, as well as in the interface between a graphite nodule and an ausferrite matrix. The cavitation rate revealed that the ADI material alloyed with Cu + Ni austempered at 350 °C/3 h has a higher cavitation resistance in water than ADI alloyed with Cu. An increased cavitation resistance of the ADI material alloyed with Cu and Ni is due to the matrix hardening by stress assisted phase transformation of austenite into the martensite (SATRAM) phenomenon.     

The Strain-Hardening Behavior of Partially Austenitized and the Austempered Ductile Irons with Dual Matrix Structures

In the current study, an unalloyed ductile iron containing 3.50 C wt.%, 2.63 Si wt.%, 0.318 Mn wt.%, and 0.047 Mg wt.% was intercritically austenitized (partially austenitized) in two-phase regions (α + γ) at different temperatures for 20 min and then was quenched into salt bath held at austempering temperature of 365 °C for various times to obtain different ausferrite plus proeutectoid ferrite volume fractions. Fine and coarse dual matrix structures (DMS) were obtained from two different starting conditions. Some specimens were also conventionally austempered from 900 °C for comparison. The results showed that a structure having proeutectoid ferrite plus ausferrite (bainitic ferrite + high-carbon austenite (retained or stabilized austenite)) has been developed. Both of the specimens with ∼75% ausferrite volume fraction (coarse structure) and the specimen with ∼82% ausferrite volume fraction (fine structure) exhibited the best combination of high strength and ductility compared to the pearlitic grades, but their ductility is slightly lower than the ferritic grades. These materials also satisfy the requirements for the strength of the quenched and tempered grades and their ductility is superior to this grade. The correlation between the strain-hardening rates of the various austempered ductile iron (ADI) with DMS and conventionally heat-treated ADI microstructures as a function of strain was conducted by inspection of the respective tensile curves. For this purpose, the Crussard-Jaoul (C-J) analysis was employed. The test results also indicate that strain-hardening behavior of ADI with dual matrix is influenced by the variations in the volume fractions of the phases, and their morphologies, the degree of ausferrite connectivity and the interaction intensities between the carbon atoms and the dislocations in the matrix. The ADI with DMS generally exhibited low strain-hardening rates compared to the conventionally ADI.     

Phase transformation and fatigue properties of austempered ductile irons

A series of studies were carried out regarding ausferrite transformation, the growth of ferrite from austenite, during isothermal holding. The mechanical properties associated with microstructures of alloyed and unalloyed austempered ductile irons (ADIs) were also investigated. Heat released from ausferrite transformation has been quantitatively measured in a previous study. The effect of alloying elements on the heat evolution rate and on the morphology of ausferrite has also been discussed. Mechanical property testing was carried out on specimens of ductile iron austempered at 593 K and 633 K for 2 hrs. Tensile properties and high-cycle fatigue life tests were also made. In addition, phase transformation of ADIs during ultrasonic vibration treatment was also investigated. SEM micrographs of deformed samples indicate and confirm the occurrence of stress-induced transformation of ADIs. The alloyed ADIs isothermally-held at 633 K develop an optimum tensile strength, elongation and superior impact toughness and good high-cycle fatigue strength. These properties are attributed mostly to a large amount of dispersed blocky austenite. This retained austenite may become work hardened during deformation.     

Wear resistance properties of austempered ductile iron

A detailed review of wear resistance properties of austempered ductile iron (ADI) was undertaken to examine the potential applications of this material for wear parts, as an alternative to steels, alloyed and white irons, bronzes, and other competitive materials. Two modes of wear were studied: adhesive (frictional) dry sliding and abrasive wear. In the rotating dry sliding tests, wear behavior of the base material (a stationary block) was considered in relationship to countersurface (steel shaft) wear. In this wear mode, the wear rate of ADI was only one-fourth that of pearlitic ductile iron (DI) grade 100-70-03; the wear rates of aluminum bronze and leaded-tin bronze, respectively, were 3.7 and 3.3 times greater than that of ADI. Only quenched DI with a fully martensitic matrix slightly outperformed ADI. No significant difference was observed in the wear of steel shafts running against ADI and quenched DI. The excellent wear performance of ADI and its countersurface, combined with their relatively low friction coefficient, indicate potential for dry sliding wear applications. In the abrasive wear mode, the wear rate of ADI was comparable to that of alloyed hardened AISI 4340 steel, and approximately one-half that of hardened medium-carbon AISI 1050 steel and of white and alloyed cast irons. The excellent wear resistance of ADI may be attributed to the strain-affected transformation of high-carbon austenite to martensite that takes place in the surface layer during the wear tests.     

等温淬火球铁(ADI)的机械加工性能

等温淬火球铁(ADI)对工程界来说是一种相对较新的材料。其独特的金属基体显微组织奥铁体,即针状铁素体和充分反应的、热力学稳定的、力学上也稳定的,高碳奥氏体的混和组织,使其具有比普通球铁高得多的强度和韧性。然而,高强度、高硬度和高韧性使等淬球铁在机加工时切削刃口受到更高的应力,造成一定困难。考虑了等淬球铁特有的金属基体组织和力学性能,选择了合适的刀具,调整和优化了刀具及加工参数,等淬球铁完全可以成功地进行机加工,从而可以扩大等淬球铁的应用和进一步开拓等淬球铁的潜力。笔者论述了等淬球铁的组织特点,机加工特点,给出了机加工参考参数,并讨论了改善等淬球铁机械加工性能的方法。     

Influence of alloying elements Cu,Ni and Mo on mechanical properties and austemperability of austempered ductile iron

Abstract

Austempered ductile iron (ADI) is the most recent development in the nodular iron family. The austempering treatment produces a unique microstructure, ausferrite, which provides high mechanical strength combined with ductility, toughness, and good fatigue and wear resistance. The effect of alloying elements Cu, Ni and Mo on the mechanical properties and austemperability of ADI is reported. The mechanical strength and toughness decreased with the addition of Mo, but both wear resistance and austemperability increased with Mo content.     

Effects of austempering conditions on the microstructures and mechanical properties in Fe-0.9%C-2.3%Si-0.3%Mn steel

In this study, the effect of the microstructure and mechanical properties of austempered high-carbon (0.9 %C) high-silicon (2.3 %Si) cast steel were investigated. The specimens were austenitised for 60 min. at 900 °C, and austempered at 260 °C, 320 °C, and 380 °C for periods of time ranging from 30 min to 240 min. After receiving this heat treatment, the mechanical properties were measured using both a tensile test and hardness test. To analyze the microstructure, an optical microscope was used and an X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was carried out. In this study, high carbon high silicon cast steel without graphite and with higher tensile strength (1300 MPa to 2200 MPa) and elongation (∼25 %), when compared to austempered ductile cast iron (ADI), was developed. When the austempering temperature was at 260 °C, the microstructures were low ausferrite, but at 380 °C, an upper ausferrite structure was formed. As the austempering temperature increased from 260 to 380 °C, the ultimate tensile strength and hardness decreased, but the elongation and retained austenite volume fraction increased. In addition, the microstructures were coarser.     

Characteristics of the Transformation of Retained Austenite in Tempered Austempered Ductile Iron

Controlling the amount of retained austenite is a concern in austempered ductile iron formation. Retained austenite has a strong influence on austempered ductile iron properties, such as hardness and wear resistance. In this research, the characteristics of the transformation of retained austenite were investigated as a function of the number of tempering cycles. The hardness of the austempered ductile iron samples was measured, and the specific amount of retained austenite was analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD). Wear tests were conducted on a ball-on-flat sliding fixture. The tempering process was found to have no effect on the hardness of the austempered ductile iron samples. This may be due to retained austenite being partially converted into brittle quenched martensite during the tempering process. However, tougher tempered martensite was also formed from existing martensite. The two effects seemed to offset each other, and no significant differences occurred in overall hardness. XRD analysis showed that under the same austempering temperature and holding time, the amount of retained austenite decreased with additional tempering cycles. Also, with the same holding time and tempering cycles, less retained austenite was contained in the matrix at higher austempering temperatures. This was due to more high carbon content austenite and needle-like ferrite being present in the austempered ductile iron matrix. In addition, tempered austempered ductile iron exhibited significantly higher wear resistance as compared to traditionally treated ductile iron.     

Effect of low temperatures on charpy impact toughness of austempered ductile irons

Impact properties of standard American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) grades of austempered ductile iron (ADI) were evaluated at subzero temperatures in unnotched and V-notched conditions and compared with ferritic and pearlitic grades of ductile irons (DIs). It was determined that there is a decrease in impact toughness for all ADI grades when there is a decrease in content of retained austenite and a decrease in test temperature, from room temperature (RT) to −60 °C. However, the difference in impact toughness values was not so noticeable for low retained austenite containing grade 5 ADI at both room and subzero temperatures as it was for ADI grade 1. Furthermore, the difference in impact toughness values of V-notched specimens of ADI grades 1 and 5 tested at −40 °C was minimal. The impact behaviors of ADI grade 5 and ferritic DI were found to be more stable than those of ADI grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 and pearlitic DI when the testing temperature was decreased. The impact toughness of ferritic DI was higher than that of ADI grades 1 and 2 at both −40 °C and −60 °C. The impact properties of ADI grades 4 and 5 were found to be higher than that of pearlitic DI at both −40 °C and −60 °C. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study of fracture surfaces revealed mixed ductile and quasicleavage rupture morphology types in all ADI samples tested at both −40 °C and −60 °C. With decreasing content of retained austenite and ductility, the number of quasicleavage facets increased from ADI grade 1–5. It was also found that fracture morphology of ADI did not experience significant changes when the testing temperature decreased. Evaluation of the bending angle was used to support impact-testing data. Designers and users of ADI castings may use the data developed in this research as a reference.     

The Nature of the Tensile Fracture in Austempered Ductile Iron with Dual Matrix Microstructure

The tensile fracture characteristics of austempered ductile irons with dual matrix structures and different ausferrite volume fractions have been studied for an unalloyed ductile cast iron containing (in wt.%) 3.50 C, 2.63 Si, 0.318 Mn, and 0.047 Mg. Specimens were intercritically austenitized (partially austenitized) in two phase region (α + γ) at various temperatures for 20 min and then quenched into a salt bath held at austempering temperature of 365 °C for various times and then air cooled to room temperature to obtain various ausferrite volume fractions. Conventionally austempered specimens with fully ausferritic matrix and unalloyed as-cast specimens having fully ferritic structures were also tested for comparison. In dual matrix structures, results showed that the volume fraction of proeutectoid ferrite, new (epitaxial) ferrite, and ausferrite [bainitic ferrite + high-carbon austenite (stabilized or transformed austenite)] can be controlled to influence the strength and ductility. Generally, microvoids nucleation is initiated at the interface between the graphite nodules and the surrounding ferritic structure and at the grain boundary junctions in the fully ferritic microstructure. Debonding of the graphite nodules from the surrounding matrix structure was evident. The continuity of the ausferritic structure along the intercellular boundaries plays an important role in determining the fracture behavior of austempered ductile iron with different ausferrite volume fractions. The different fracture mechanisms correspond to the different levels of ausferrite volume fractions. With increasing continuity of the ausferritic structure, fracture pattern changed from ductile to moderate ductile nature. On the other hand, in the conventionally austempered samples with a fully ausferritic structure, the fracture mode was a mixture of quasi-cleavage and a dimple pattern. Microvoid coalescence was the dominant form of fracture in all structures.     

Relationship between matrix-microstructure and mechanical properties of copper alloyed thin wall austempered gray cast iron (TWAGI)

In this investigation the characteristics of thin wall (3 mm thickness) castings of copper alloyed gray cast iron have been examined. The samples of the thin wall castings have been austempered isothermally thus the thin wall austempered gray iron (TWAGI) produced. The samples austenitizing at 927 °C (1700 °F), the samples have been austempered at 260 °C (500 °F), 285 °C (545 °F), 310 °C (590 °F), 335 °C (635 °F), 360 °C (680 °F) and 385 °C (725 °F) respectively for 1 h. As a result, these samples developed an ausferrite matrix and excellent mechanical properties. The microstructures of these samples TWAGI have been characterized through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The mechanical properties may be correlated with the volume fraction of austenite and ferrite and ferrite cell size in the ausferrite microstructure.     

Effect of Cu content on microstructures and mechanical properties of ADI treated by twostep austempering process

The effect of Cu content on the microstructures and mechanical properties(yield strength,ultimate tensile strength,impact energy,fracture toughness) of austempering ductile iron(ADI) treated by two-step austempering process were investigated. High Cu content in nodular cast irons leads to a significant volume fraction of retained austenite in the iron after austempering treatment,but the carbon content of austenite decreases with the increasing of Cu content. Moreover,austenitic stability reaches its maximum when the Cu content is 1.4% and then drops rapidly with further increase of Cu. The ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of the ADI firstly increases and then decreases with increasing the Cu content. The elongation keeps constant at 6.5% as the Cu content increases from 0.2% to 1.4%,and then increases rapidly to 10.0% with further increase Cu content to 2.0%. Impact toughness is enhanced with Cu increasing at first,and reaches a maximum 122.9 J at 1.4% Cu,then decreases with the further increase of Cu. The fracture toughness of ADI shows a constant increase with the increase of Cu content. The influencing mechanism of Cu on austempered ductile iron(ADI) can be classified into two aspects. On the one hand,Cu dissolves into the matrix and functions as solid solution strengthening. On the other hand,Cu reduces solubility of C in austenite and contributes more stable retained austenite.     

Electrical-discharge wire cutting of ADI and its effect on impact energies

This study built up a set of machining data for electrical-discharge wire cutting (EDWC) of austempered ductile iron (ADI). The treated ADIs with the optimum toughness and the superior strength and hardness were very difficult to machine by the traditional technique. The EDWC process was used to cut the specimens of ADI and the remelted layer and the heat affected zone of the cut surfaces were measured and observed. Optimum cutting conditions were suggested for ADIs with different nodular counts and/or with varying matrix structures. Experimental results showed that if ADIs are cut by EDWC, then the formation of microvoids due to the decarburization and vaporization of graphite nodules at the remelted layer greatly deteriorate the quality of the machined surface. A severe bubbling was observed during cutting. This bubbling in the pool of dielectric fluid markedly lowered the cutting feedrate of EDWC. A model was proposed to correlate the cutting feedrate with the thickness of the workpiece, the time of the discharge spark, the feedrate override of the table, nodule counts of irons and the per cent retained austenite of ADIs.     

Tensile properties of copper alloyed austempered ductile iron: Effect of austempering parameters

A ductile iron containing 0.6% copper as the main alloying element was austenitized at 850 °C for 120 min and was subsequently austempered for 60 min at austempering temperatures of 270, 330, and 380 °C. The samples were also austempered at 330 °C for austempering times of 30–150 min. The structural parameters for the austempered alloy austenite (X _γ ), average carbon content (C _γ ), the product X _γ C _γ , and the size of the bainitic ferrite needle (d _α ) were determined using x-ray diffraction. The effect of austempering temperature and time has been studied with respect to tensile properties such as 0.2% proof stress, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), percentage of elongation, and quality index. These properties have been correlated with the structural parameters of the austempered ductile iron microstructure. Fracture studies have been carried out on the tensile fracture surfaces of the austempered ductile iron (ADI).     

Properties of ausformed austempered ductile iron (AADI) containing Ni

Abstract

The abrasion wear behaviours of Ausformed Austempered Ductile Iron (AADI) and conventional Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) were investigated. The effects of both Ni content and rolling reduction during the ausforming process on the wear resistance of AADI and ADI were studied. The ausforming process created a finer and more homogeneous ausferrite structure that had a direct influence on the mechanical properties of AADI. Maximum hardness and tensile strength were obtained with 35% rolling reduction. On the other hand, ductility and impact strength were reduced with increasing rolling reduction during the ausforming process. AADI showed superior abrasion wear resistance because of its finer and harder structure.     

The influence of cast structure on the austempering of ductile iron. Part 3. The role of nodule count on the kinetics,microstructure and mechanical properties of austempered Mn alloyed ductile iron

Austempering kinetic measurements and mechanical property measurements are reported for irons with different Mn contents and different nodule counts after austenitising at 870 °C and austempering at 375 °C. It is shown that increasing nodule count, which reduces segregation and changes the size and distribution of intercellular boundaries, increases the interphase boundary area between graphite and matrix and decreases the continuity of the unreacted austenite in the intercellular boundary. This accelerates the stage I reaction which broadens the heat treatment window and moves it to earlier austempering times. A high nodule count can be used to counter the delay of the stage I reaction caused by Mn additions used to increase the hardenability of the iron. A high nodule count produces a finer, more uniform ausferrite structure that increases the strength, ductility and impact energy of the austempered iron.     

等温淬火球墨铸铁的滑动磨损

研究了奥贝球铁、下贝球铁及与其基体组织相同的钢的滑动磨损性能。实验结果表明 :在一定条件下 ,石墨对等温淬火球铁耐磨性无补而有损。由于奥贝球铁的转折载荷随摩擦速度的提高而增大 ,当转速为 980r/min ,载荷 >6 8 6N时 ,等温淬火球铁的耐磨性优于钢     

Impact Properties of Copper-Alloyed and Nickel-Copper Alloyed ADI

The influence of austenitization and austempering parameters on the impact properties of copper-alloyed and nickel-copper-alloyed austempered ductile irons (ADIs) has been studied. The austenitization temperature of 850 and 900 °C have been used in the present study for which austempering time periods of 120 and 60 min were optimized in an earlier work. The austempering process was carried out for 60 min for three austempering temperatures of 270, 330, and 380 °C to study the effect of austempering temperature. The influence of the austempering time on impact properties has been studied for austempering temperature of 330 °C for time periods of 30-150 min. The variation in impact strength with the austenitization and austempering parameters has been correlated to the morphology, size and amount of austenite and bainitic ferrite in the austempered structure. The fracture surface of ADI failed under impact has been studied using SEM.     

Effect of Retained Austenite on Properties of Austempered Ductile Iron

Austempered ductile iron (ADI) exhibits a favourable combination of strength and toughness, and has been used as a substitute for quench-tempered or carburise-quenched steel. A characteristic feature of bainite transformation of cast iron, as opposed to carbon steel, is that precipitation of carbide is suppressed by the high concentration of silicon. Thus, a favourable structure, consisting of bainitic ferrite and retained austenite without carbide, can be provided by the optimum austempering treatment. Such microstructure and the mechanical properties of the iron are significantly affected by the conditions of the austempering treatment and the chemical composition. In this study, several grades of ductile iron were austempered under various conditions. The relationship between the impact strength, the quantity of retained austenite and the isothermal transformation curve was investigated. The stability of the retained austenite is considered important, because ADI contains a large amount of retained austenite which contributes to the improvement of ductility and toughness and which may transform to martensite when held at low temperature or subjected to stress. In this study, the stability of the retained austenite at low temperatures was examined by holding or stressing to establish the relations between transformation and temperature, stress and strain.

When the austempering time is short, the untransformed austenite partially transforms to martensite during air cooling, due to the lower carbon content, resulting in lower impact strength. As the austempering time increases, the untransformed austenite is stabilised by carbon-enrichment and there is little transformation to martensite, resulting in a large amount of retained austenite and higher impact strength. When the austempering time becomes much longer, the carbon-enriched austenite decomposes, presumably to bainitic ferrite and carbide, decreasing impact strength. In increasing the silicon content, precipitation of carbide in bainite is suppressed and both the maximum impact value and the content of retained austenite increase. The decreasing rates after the maxima through an additional isothermal holding becomes smaller.

By holding at temperatures down to –40°C, the decrease in retained austenite and the increase in hardness are both small. The retained austenite is stable under stress lower than that required to cause plastic deformation. Compressive stress hinders the martensitic transformation, because the transformation is accompanied by volume expansion.     

Effect of austempering process on microstructure and wear behavior of ductile iron containing Mn-Ni-Cu-Mo

In this work, the effects of austempering time and temperature on the microstructure and sliding wear behavior of a Mn-Ni-Cu-Mo alloyed ductile iron were investigated. Ductile iron samples with the desired chemical composition were cast according to ASTM A897M-1990 Y-block. Wear test samples austenitized at 900 °C for 90 min, were austempered at 260, 290 and 320 °C for 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. The wear tests on samples were conducted by Block-on-Ring testing machine according to ASTM G77-98 standard, at the applied load of 75N and the displacement speed of 3.27 m/s. The results showed that the sample austempered at 260 °C for 90 min exhibited the maximum relative wear resistance in comparison with the as-cast sample. The X-ray diffraction patterns of wear debris and the SEM observations of worn surfaces and crosssection of worn surfaces together with wear debris showed that delamination associated with oxidation is the dominant wear mechanism in the samples.