Study of Rare Earth Additions Effect on the Solidification and Properties of 4130 Steel

This paper covers a set of experiments where two different rare earth additions were made to 4130 steel. A thermal analysis system was employed to measure solidification reactions and determine whether changes from the baseline occurred. Keel block castings were also poured and then machined into tensile bars. Mechanical testing found an increase in strength. Electron microscopy found RE oxysulfides had formed in the steel. Examination of the cooling rate curves noted the formation of additional phases during the solidification of the RE treated steels. The peritectic and solidus temperatures of the treated steels increased, indicating that the RE inclusions acted as heterogeneous nuclei for austenite during freezing.