Abstract
Copper is known as a pearlite promoter in cast iron and has been used as such for a long time, most often together with low amounts of manganese. Literature data, however, has shown that these two elements act differently on the ferritic and pearlitic transformations. In order to provide more insight in the role of this element on the solid-state transformation of spheroidal graphite (SG) cast iron, this paper investigates the effect of adding copper in small step increments, from 0.11 to 1 wt. % Cu, to SG irons containing about 0.15 wt. % Mn.
The characteristic temperatures for the stable and metastable eutectoid transformations as recorded during cooling after solidification in standard cups and after austenitizing are presented together with microstructure information. It is found that a copper content of about 0.6 wt. % is the upper limit over which only small amounts of ferrite could be obtained except at very low cooling rates. This is tentatively related to the lowering of the temperature for ferrite and the associated decreased kinetics for austenite decomposition in the stable system.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lalich M. J., Loper C. R., “Effects of Pearlite Promoting Elements on the Kinetics of the Eutectoid Transformation in Ductile Cast Irons”, AFS Transactions, vol. 81, pp 217–228 (1973).
Pan E. N., Lou M. S., Loper C. R., “Effects of Copper, Tin, and Manganese on the Eutectoid Transformation of Graphitic Cast Irons”, AFS Transactions, vol. 95, pp 819–840, (1987).
Lacaze J., Boudot A., Gerval V., Oquab D., Santos H., “The Role of Manganese and Copper in the Eutectoid Transformation of Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron”, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions, vol. 28A, pp 2015–2025 (1997).
Lacaze J., Ford S., Wilson C., Dubu E., “Effects of Alloying Elements Upon the Eutectoid Transformation in As-Cast Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron”, Scandinavian Journal of Metallurgy, vol. 22, pp 300–309 (1993).
Lacaze J., Wilson C., Bak C., “Experimental Study of the Eutectoid Transformation in As-Cast Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron”, Scandinavian Journal of Metallurgy, vol. 23, pp 151–163 (1994).
Linares E., Gerval V., Lacaze J., “On the Characteristic Temperatures of the Eutectoid Reaction in Cast Irons”, Scripta Materialia, vol. 38, pp 279–285 (1998).
Gerval V., Lacaze J., “Critical Temperature Range in Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron”, Iron and Steel Institute of Japan International, vol. 40, pp 386–302 (2000).
Lacaze J., “Pearlite Growth in Cast Irons: A Review of Literature Data”, International Journal of Cast Metal Research, vol. 11, pp 431–436 (1999).
Larrañaga P., Gutiérrez J. M., Loizaga A., Sertucha J., Suárez R., “A Computer-Aided System for Melt Quality and Shrinkage Propensity Evaluation Based on the Solidification Process of Ductile Iron”, AFS Transactions, vol. 116, pp 547–561 (2008).
Ågren, J., “Computer Simulations of the Austenite/Ferrite Diffusional Transformations in Low Alloyed Steels”, Acta Materialia, vol. 30, pp 841–851 (1982).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sertucha, J., Larrañaga, P., Lacaze, J. et al. Experimental Investigation on the Effect of Copper Upon Eutectoid Transformation of As-Cast and Austenitized Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron. Inter Metalcast 4, 51–58 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03355486
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03355486