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Effect of First-Step Temperature and Time on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of the Two-Step Cu-Alloyed ADI

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Abstract

In this study, Cu-alloyed ductile cast iron treated by different first-step temperatures and times was investigated. The influence of the amount, morphology and distribution of acicular ferrite and retained austenite on the mechanical properties of the two-step austempered ductile iron (ADI) was analyzed. The results indicated that acicular ferrite was both nucleated and grown in two-step austempering. The thinner and sharper acicular ferrite formed at lower temperature at first step austempering was the ferrite needle, the thicker and blunt acicular ferrite formed at higher temperature at second step austempering was ferrite bunch. Ausferrite refinement, austenitic volume fraction and stability were strongly influenced by the phase transformation amount during first step austempering. A low transformation amount at the first- step of austempering process led to a decrease in austenite stability, which resulted in martensite formation and was detrimental to the mechanical properties. The overmuch transformation amount at the first-step of austempering process led to a similar morphologic ausferrite compared to single step ADI treated at the corresponding first-step temperature, which showed minimal improvement in the comprehensive mechanical properties. The maximum ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation reached 1280, 1190 MPa, 10.2% respectively, as the first-step temperature increased to 280 °C due to the ausferrite refinement. The impact energy and fracture toughness maintained an increasing trend and reached a maximum at 93.5 J and 66.72 MPa m1/2, respectively, as the first-step temperature increased to 320 °C. The ultimate tensile strength and yield strength gradually increased with the first-step time increased, while the elongation, impact energy and fracture toughness gradually decreased. Ausferrite refinement was attributed to the appropriate amount of ferrite needles transformed at first step austempering, which was mainly reason for strength improvement. Austenitic volume fraction and stability increasing were the main influence factor for ductility and toughness of two-step Cu-alloyed ADI. The transformation-induced-plasticity (TRIP) effect was only effective as the induced transformation behavior was retarded to yield, which was also depended on austenitic stability. An optimal combination of ausferrite refinement, austenitic volume fraction and austenitic stability could be achieved through the appropriate first step transformation amount, which together influence the mechanical properties of Cu-alloyed ADI.

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Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. (Grant Nos. 51374086 and 51674094).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Material Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Haigang District, Qinhuangdao, 066000, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

    Yi Pengyue

  2. Tianjin Heavy Industries Research and Development Co, Ltd, Binhai New District, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China

    Yi Pengyue

  3. School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of China

    Guo Erjun, Wang Liping, Feng Yicheng & Wang Changliang

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  1. Yi Pengyue
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Pengyue, Y., Erjun, G., Liping, W. et al. Effect of First-Step Temperature and Time on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of the Two-Step Cu-Alloyed ADI. Inter Metalcast (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40962-023-01211-6

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