Effect of hot working parameters on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of ausformed austempered ductile iron

Abstract

Three ductile irons with different aluminum- and manganese-content were subjected to two thermo-mechanical schedules. In the first schedule, a total deformation of ϕt = 0.3 is applied on the ductile irons in the austenitic region before the austempering process. In the second schedule, the materials are subjected to deformation of 0.2 in the austenitic region and deformation of 0.1 during austempering (ausforming). Mechanical deformation of austenite prior to the transformation “stage I” pronouncedly accelerated the transformation due to increasing the nucleation sites of ausferrite. This increase has its impact on enhancing the microstructural uniformity and refining the ausferrite platelets. On the other hand, the retained austenite content was not significantly affected by the applied ausforming. Remarkable increase in hardness, strength and ductility of the ausformed ductile iron due to the latter effects is observed.