Microstructure, fluidity, and mechanical properties of semi-solid processed ductile iron

This research is directed towards studying the effect of semi-solid processing (using cooling plate technique) on the microstructure, fluidity, and mechanical properties of ductile iron (DI). Sand mold castings with constant width of 25 mm and length of 150 mm with the thicknesses of 6, 12, 18, and 25 mm were used in this study. Microstructure, fluidity, and tensile strength properties were investigated as a function of fraction of solid. The results indicated that by increasing fraction of solid microstructure becomes finer and more globular. However, increasing primary fraction of solid increases the cementite content in the matrix. Above a certain fraction of solid (f _s = 0.28, f _s = 0.1, and f _s = 0.05 for 25, 18, and 12 mm wall thickness, respectively), the fluidity of semi-solid processed DI decreases steeply. For low fraction of solid (f _s ≤ 0.15), increasing the fraction of solid results in an increment in the tensile strength, comparing with the ordinary DI due to the fine and globular structure formation. Any further increment of fraction of solid (f _s > 0.15) leads to the cementite increment and gas porosity formation, consequently the tensile strength decreased. The fraction of solid of DI and casting wall thickness should be considered in order to obtain the best combination of microstructure, fluidity, and mechanical properties of semi-solid processed DI.