Influence of cooling rate on nature and morphology of intercellular precipitates in Si-Mo ductile irons

Abstract

This work is designed to better understand the influence of cooling rate on the nature and morphology of intercellular precipitates in Silicon-Molybdenum ferritic ductile iron (SiMo). Plates of 3, 6, 9 mm thickness were cast in greensand and investment casting molds to give a wide spectrum of cooling rates. It was found that at higher cooling rates, the intercellular regions have a lamellar structure typical of pearlite. With decreasing cooling rates, the precipitate contains complex (Fe-Mo-Si) carbides of fine spheroidal or rod-like structure surrounding the eutectic carbides. Intensive Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and Optical Microscopy (OM) investigations showed that the eutectic carbides are mainly (Fe, Mo, Si) C containing up to 48% Mo, whereas the fine precipitates contain lower Mo-contents. Both carbide types did not show to have a strict stoichometric composition. The solidification and solid-state transformation path was determined using both phase diagram calculated from Thermo-Calc software as well as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).