Effect of Yttrium-Containing Nodulizer on the Microstructure Formation and Mechanical Properties of Heavy Section Ductile Iron Castings

Ductile iron specimens with dimensions of 400mm×400mm ×450mm were prepared by treating the melt with an yttrium-containing nodulizer. The effect of yttrium on microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated, and the formation of degenerate graphite was discussed as well. The results show that the yttrium-containing nodulizer has good nodulization fading resistance for heavy section ductile iron, since the high melting point hexagonal oxide Y2O3 particles were formed from the nodulizer in the melt and those could act as heterogeneous nuclei for graphite nodule for a long time. Segregation of Ti and MgO at grain boundaries broke the austenite shell, resulting in graphite degeneration. When heavy section ductile iron castings with pearlite matrix were cast, graphite nodule size became finer and the nodularity of graphite nodules improved due to the addition of 0.01wt% Sb to the melt, and pearlite content in specimens increased due to alloying with Cu, Cr, Mo. The heavy section ductile iron tool bed was fabricated by treating the melt with the yttrium-containing nodulizer and Ni. The nodularity of the attached block was 85%~90%, tensile strength, elongation and impact toughness were 440MPa, 23.3% and 5.0J/cm2 respectively.