The elastic behavior of ductile and compacted graphite cast irons.

摘要

The elastic modulus of ductile iron and compacted graphite iron is difficult to measure due to a non-linear stress/strain relationship. The elastic region of the stress/strain diagram may not be linear as in Hooke's law, though the specimen exhibits pure elasticity. The curvature in the stress-strain relationship is caused by energy loss in the complex interaction between the graphite nodule and the matrix. The non-linear nature of the stress strain diagram of ductile and compacted graphite iron is explained by the mechanism of solid friction, which has been developed for gray cast iron.; A method for accurately determining the zero modulus is proposed, investigated, and correlated to the microstructure. Multi-factor linear regression analysis was used to correlate microstructure, physical, and chemical properties to the elastic modulus; therefore, the elastic modulus can be predicted from microstructural, physical, and chemical data. The significant factors in the regression equation were density, nodularity percentage, and copper content. The effect of copper was found to play a role in determining the elastic modulus and this is contrary to the literature available. The exact mechanism by which the modulus is decreased is not fully understood, but the elastic modulus of the iron was lowered by up to 1 × 106 psi due to the effect of copper.; The hysteresis loop of the stress/strain diagram was studied for tension-compression relationships considering the microstructure, stress level, and heat treatment. The surface area in contact with the nodule/matrix interface is proportional to the hysteresis width and this in turn is proportional to the damping capacity of the iron. The data supported the solid friction mechanism for the non-linear stress/strain relationship of ductile and compacted graphite iron.; The effects of heat treatment on the density and the nodule/matrix interface were studied in detail. When normalizing ductile or compacted graphite iron the transfer of carbon to the matrix creates voids in the graphite at the matrix interface and a lower modulus and damping capacity iron result. Annealing tends to increase contact between the nodule and matrix and therefore damping is increased; however, the density and nodularity is decreased and therefore the modulus is decreased.