Microstructure and Hot Oxidation Resistance of SiMo Ductile Cast Irons Containing Si-Mo-Al

SiMo ductile cast irons are used as high-temperature materials in automotive components, because they are microstructurally stable at high operating temperatures. The effect of different amounts of Si and Mo as well as the addition of 3 wt pct Al on the microstructure, high-temperature oxidation, and mechanical properties of SiMo ductile cast iron was studied. Dilatometric measurements of SiMo ductile iron exhibited obvious differences in the transformation temperature A (1) due to presence of Al and the increase of Si. The microstructure of the SiMo alloys without Al addition showed outstanding nodularity and uniform nodule distribution. However, by adding 3 wt pct Al to low Si-SiMo ductile iron, some compacted graphite was observed. The results of oxidation experiments indicated that high Si-SiMo ductile iron containing 4 and 4.9 wt pct Si had superior resistance to lower Si-SiMo and SiMo ductile iron containing 3 wt pct Al. The results showed also that with increasing Si up to 4.9 wt pct or by replacing a part of Si with 3 wt pct Al, tensile strength increased while elongation and impact toughness decreased.