Influence of steel scrap in the charge on the properties of gray cast iron

Abstract

In metallurgy, there are many factors influencing the quality of gray iron. These are especially the charge material, chemical composition (content of C, Si, Mn, P, S), metallurgical treatment until the final casting process. Charge materials, in particular the steel scrap ratio exerts notable effect on the quality of gray cast iron, which is increasingly being used for economic reasons, especially in the melting of cast iron in electric furnaces. The use of majority amounts of steel scrap in the charge, instead of pig iron necessitates modifying the chemical composition (increase of C and Si content), and improved metallurgical processes. The experimental melts with different ratio of raw materials were realized in laboratory conditions. The paper is aimed to investigate the effects of different composition of charge materials in relation to specific technological conditions of the microstructure, mechanical properties and performance of gray iron.