Effect of cooling rate on microstructure and mechanical properties of gray cast iron

This paper presents the results obtained and the deductions made from a series of microstructural studies and mechanical tests involving gray cast iron which was sand cast using a variety of modules. The effect of cooling rate on the primary dendrite arm spacing (DAS), secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS), thickness of ferrite-cementite layer (lambda(e)) and the hardness (HB) were evaluated. Results show that the both DAS and SDAS and also lambda(e) are highly dependent on the cooling rate, and they decreases as the cooling rate increases. More attempts were also done to correlate the HB with DAS, SDAS and lambda(e). It was found that HB increases as DAS, SDAS and lambda(e) decreases. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.