Some aspects of convection as well as graphite and carbide formations during casting

Abstract: It is an established fact that segregation during casting affects the physical properties of carbon-based ferro alloys; this motivates the study of the segregation behaviour of carbon and carbide-forming solute elements. In this context, this thesis investigates two different situations: the effects of cooling rate and turbulence on the precipitation behaviour of the graphite nodules in nodular cast iron; the nature of carbide precipitation in a bearing steel grade and the effects of subsequent soaking on these carbides.The structures of boiling water reactor inserts cast by the uphill and downhill casting of nodular cast iron were examined. The samples were taken from representative locations in the top, middle and bottom cross sections of the castings. It was observed that in uphill-cast inserts the nodules were larger but fewer in number the bottom section, whereas in downhill-cast inserts the nodules in the bottom section were smaller, but greater in number. Variation in volume fraction of the graphite nodules across the inserts was also observed. The probable cause of this variation was the difference in cooling rate in different sections of the insert. Between the steel tubes located at the central part of the casting, the fraction of graphite was lower, which could be the result of carburization of the steel tubes.To study the effects of melt stirring during the solidification of nodular cast iron, several experiments were conducted at variable cooling rates and for different stirring times. Examination of the microstructure was conducted using Light Optical Microscope (LOM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). It was observed that during stirring the melt oxidized and oxide nuclei were formed. The number of nucleation sites for the precipitation of graphite nodules increased, which raised the nodule count and the fraction of the graphite precipitated. The matrix transformed from pearlite to ferrite, which could be due to the fact that more carbon had diffused out of the matrix.The segregation behaviour in hypereutectoid bearing steel produced by ingot casting was also studied. The effects of soaking on micro and macro segregation was investigated in samples taken from as cast and soaked ingots; emphasis was laid on the bulk matrix and A-segregation channels. Samples were also taken from ingots which were soaked and then hot worked. The micro and macro examination of the microstructure was conducted using LOM and SEM. Quantitative and qualitative composition analysis was performed using Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and an electron micro probe analyzer (EMPA). It was observed that M3C, M2C and M6C had precipitated. The carbide morphology in the bulk matrix was different to that in the A-segregation channels. All the primary carbides in the bulk matrix were found to have dissolved after 4 hours of soaking at 1200oC.