Influence of Ti and REE on Primary Crystallization and Wear Resistance of Chromium Cast Iron

The article presents the results of primary crystallization, wear resistance and SEM studies of chromium cast iron inoculated with ferrotitanium and rare earth elements as a mischmetal inoculating mixture. Thermal-derivative analysis method was used to conduct studies of primary crystallization in two types of testers, namely ATD-C and ATD-Is, reflecting two different cooling speeds. Wear resistance tests were performed with the use of modified pin-on-disk method on Tribotester 3-POD device, where the samples were moving in circular motion in metal-mineral friction system. Silicon carbide was used as a counter sample. The studies allowed to determine the influence of selected inoculants on the microstructure and wear resistance of the studied samples. All characteristic crystallization temperatures of samples casted into ATD-Is testers increased, as well as wear resistance of each inoculated samples compared to the non-inoculated sample. It was proven that TiC and REE compounds are effective inoculants for chromium carbides and that REE compounds can work as underlay for TiC crystallization.