Influence of inoculant and/or SiC addition on characteristics of grey cast iron

The influence of inoculant additions on the cooling curve characteristics, microstructure and chill depth of hypoeutectic grey cast iron melts treated with FeSi or SiC as silicon carriers has been investigated. The effect of SiC content, when used simultaneously with FeSi as a silicon carrier, on the solidification behaviour of melts with an identical carbon equivalent has also been studied. It has been found that the addition of SiC instead of FeSi as a silicon carrier resulted in variations in the thermal analysis characteristics and microstructure together with decreasing chill depth. These effects were more pronounced for inoculated melts. It was also observed that the maximum amount of A-type graphite, the finest microstructure and the minimum chill depth were obtained with 1(.)6-2(.)0 wt-%SiC additions, for grey cast iron melts (treated with SiC and FeSi) having carbon equivalents of 4-2%. (C) 2004 W. S. Maney Son Ltd.