Inoculation mechanism of grey cast iron

Abstract

Various inoculants containing calcium were added to a cast iron melt. The number of eutectic cells in the inoculated iron samples and their Ca content were determined. The core of the inoculant effect is not the silicon, that increases the degree of graphitization of the "carbon-microgroup", but the Ca, present to approx0.003% soluble in the melt. The limit imposed on this effect is that of the solubility of Ca in iron liquid. Fading occurs due to waste of the residual Ca during maintenance of the melt. The residual Ca forms CaC sub 2 with the Ca in the melt, and these suspended CaC sub 2 particles act as a more effective and numerous catalyst than the "carbon-microgroup" existing in the melt.