Seria Metallurgica et Materia, Vo. 32,No.9, pp: 1313-1317, 1995 Pergame Capyeight © 1998 Elsevier Science Lid cee Printed in the USA. All igs reserved (0956-T16K/95 $9,504.00 09S6-716X(95)00163-8 BFFECT OF Cu, Mo, Si ON THE CONTENT OF RETAINED AUSTENITE OF AUSTEMPERED DUCTILE [RON Yan Mi Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Ghejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P.R. China (Received July 18, 1994) (Revised November 4, 1994) Introduction Austempered ductile iron (ADI) bas so far been considered as one of the cast irons with the best comprehensive properties (1,2). Frou previous works, it was concluded that the microstructure and properties of ADI are closely associated with the chemical composition, melting method and especially the techoology of heat treatment (3,4). The major factors affecting the mechanical properties of ADI may be summed up as follows: L.Matrix structure, such as the proportion of bainite in volume fraction to austenite, distribution and existence of carbide and MA microstructure, ete 2.Grapbite morphology, such as the size and circularity of graphite nodules, etc 4. Poundry defects, such as shrinkage and inclusions, ete. In this paper, the effects of Cu,Mo,Si contents on the volume fraction of re austenite of ADI are analysed exactly by X-ray diffraction, and the fracture modes of samples with different volume fraction of retained austenite are investigated by SEM. It shown that the retained austenite content increases with the content of copper, decreases with the content of molybdenum, and reaches the maximum with a certain content of silicon When the retained austenite content decreases, the fracture modes of test samples change fron ductile fracture to cleavage fracture. Experimental Procedu In order to get the microstructure of ADI under different productive conditions, the carbon content was kept in constant (3. 71-3. 76%), the contents of Si,Cu,Mo, and austempering temperature, time, were adjusted at four different levels to form a group of orthogonal tests with five factors and four levels. The ductile iron Y—block castings with various chemical compositions were cast in sand molds, The test samples cut from the bottom of Y- Dlocks were austenitizing at 900°C for | h in 608KC1+50%NACI salt bath, then quenched in GORKNO,+508NeNO, salt bath at temperatures of four levels for different periods of tine. Concentration levets of Cu,Mo,Si,as well as levels of austempering temperatures and time listed in Tab. 1 After the measurement of mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation and impact toughness, the volume fraction of retained austenite of every specinen was measured by X-ray diffraction, and the fractures of some specimens were observed by scanning electron 1313Bia RETAINED AUSTENITE, Vol. 32, No.9 microscope, TABLE 1 Selected Levels of the Orthogonal Tests Level [siw) | cam Mo (8) ‘enperatureC) i tiaetaper 1 | 200 | 0 ° 280 70s o | 266 | 064 | 0.20 330 1.0 os | 300 | om | 048 0 i 2.0 om | 3 | oe | 08 420 { 4.0 Results aod ssion diffraction spectrum of an ADI specimen is shown in Fig. 1, and the A typical X—ra: is presented volume fraction of retained austenite, V,, varying with the contents of Cu, Mo, Si, in Fig. 2. Since copper is the element enlarging austenite zone of phase diagram and incre the transformation rate in the austenitizing process, it may eabance the carbon content in watrix when austenitizing treatment is fulfilled. In the austempering process, copper can restrain the forming of carbide. Thus, with increased copper content, the rolune fraction of retained austenite inereases monotonically (Fig. 28) I solidified in the wold, molybdenum atons segregate in the cell boundary and form carbi rhe molybdenum-containing carbides can hardly dissolve in the austenitiziog process, so after austenitizing treatment the microstructure of auste! patrix is not uniform and the carbon content in matrix may be lower in specimens higher molybdenum content. In Fig. 2b, when the content of molybdenum increases, the volume fraction of austenite in matrix decreases continuously When molten me During austompering, silicon restrains the formation of carbide and makes carbon atoms saturate in retained austenite when bainitic ferrite grows, so that the stability of super- cooled austenite is improved. In a certain range, the volume fraction of retained austenite increases with the content of silicon(Pig. 2c). But the effects of silicon on retained austenite content is complicated. When the silicon content exceeds approximately 2.7%, the volume fraction of austenite decreases, The reasons may be analysed as follor 1.With high silicon content, t ductile iron matrix is mostly ferrite. In the austenitizing process, carbon atons diffuse to matrix only from graphite nodules. After austenitizing treatment of the same technology, austenite matrix of test samples with east ferrite matrix contains less carbon than that with as-cast pearlite matrix. The retained austenite decreases accordingly when austempering treatment ond 2Silicon is one of the elements contracting the austenite zone of phase diagram. It reduces the transformation rate of austenitizing, Furthermore, silicon shifts the eutectoid point in phase diagram to lower carbon content, decreases the carbon solubility in austenite atrix.Vol. 32, No.9 RETAINED AUSTENITE 1315 Therefore, with exceasive silicon content, the carbon content in austenite may be cut down and the retained austenite content falls. Figures da and b show the volume fraction of retained austenite(V.) versus the austempering temperature(Ts) and austempering time(t,) curves. [t is evident that the Parameters of austemperiog treatment affect V, the most significantly. In the range of chemical compositions of this study, V, reaches the maximum when test samples were austempered at 330 for 1 hour. Because the effects of austempering process on the volume fraction of austenite have intensively been in ted before (6, 6,7), here it would not be discussed in detail. By observation with SEM, it is found that the fracture modes of ADI test samples depend on the volume fraction of retained austenite to a great extent. With proper contents of alloy elements as well as normal technology of austenitizing and austempering treatment, the retained austenite content is from 28% to 46% and specimens present ductile fracture (ig.da), When the retained austenite deere the fracture wodes change to mized. Both ductile and cleavage fracture zones can be observed (Pig. 4b). Only when the content of retained austenite is extremely cut down (beneath 68), the samples present cleavage fracture completely (Fig. 4c). Cone 1.The volume fraction of retained auste with the content of molybdenum. te increases with the contest of copper, deere: 2.In this study, the volume fraction of retained austenite of specimens reaches the maximum at austempering temperature of 330C and austempering time of 1 hour. The optimum value of silicon content is 2.7%. 3.When the volume fraction of retained austenite decreases, the fracture mode changes from ductile to cleavage, References 1.E.Darazil, Int. Cast Met. J., 7, 62 (1988) 2. 7.N.Roune, K. 3, Rounman, AFS Trans. , 96, 861 (1987) 3.0.Q.8u,M. Yan, X.L.Guo, Proc. of Int, Conf. on Mech, Behavior of DCI and Other Cast Met, Kitakyushu, 361 (1993) 4.H.L. Morgan, The British Poundrymen, 98 (1987) 6.M. Yan, H.Q Su, HL, Zhao, Acta Southeast University, 21, 102 (1991) 6.1, Q 8u,Q.G. Wang,M. Yan, X.L. Gao, Proe. of 1991 World Conf. on ADI, Chicago, 388 (1991) 7.D.J.Moore, T.N, Rouns, K, 8, Rundman, AFS Trans, , $6, 766 (1987)1316 RETAINED AUSTENITE, Vol. 32, No.9 Scansing angle (degrees) diffraction spectrum of an ADI specimen with 2.7% Si stempered at 380°C for 2 hours, containing no Cu and Mo | | on A | ° 1 oor 04 06 oa 2 00 com Mo (8) FIG. 2. Volume fraction austenite, Vr, vs. Si,Cu.Mo contents of ADI (a) Vr (#) ~Cu() —(b) Vr (R) -Mo(%) —(e) Vr (€) ~Si (@)Vol. 32, No.9 RETAINED AUSTENITE, 1317 - ae iw} _ [ \ i nb a TCC) tah) FIG. 3. Volume fraction austenite, Vr, vs. austempering temperature, Ta, and time, ta ia) Ve) ~TACC) (DI Vr (B) ~ta (HD FIG.4, Fracture wodes of samples with different content of retained austenite (a) Vr=36, 9% OD) ¥r=13.8% — (6)V) a