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Microstructure of spheroidal graphite aluminum-alloyed cast irons (SGAACI) containing up to 7.5 wt% produced via in-mold process

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Abstract

In the present research work, the effect of various aluminum contents on the microstructure of spheroidal graphite cast irons produced via the in-mold process was investigated. Samples containing 0, 3.7, 5.5, 6.4 and 7.5 wt% aluminum were cast and characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and hardness test. It was observed that by increasing the Al content from 0 to 7.5 wt%, the micro-hardness of pearlite and ferrite phases increases by 228 and 254 Vickers, respectively. Moreover, the addition of aluminum led to an increase in the nodule count from 168 to 668 per mm2, reduction in the nodule diameter from 21.4 to 8.8 µm and also reduction in the sphericity from 65 to 48%. The obtained results revealed that varying aluminum content affects the precipitated pearlite morphology. This seems to be the result of aluminum reaction with carbon and the change in both carbon activity and rate of diffusion and also the aluminum atom behavior in the solid solution of Fe–Al–C alloys.

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  1. School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Mehdi Khalvan & Mehdi Divandari

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  1. Mohammad Mehdi Khalvan
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  2. Mehdi Divandari
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Khalvan, M.M., Divandari, M. Microstructure of spheroidal graphite aluminum-alloyed cast irons (SGAACI) containing up to 7.5 wt% produced via in-mold process. Inter Metalcast 15, 271–280 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40962-020-00461-y

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