Study of Blowholes Formation and its Prevention in Nodular Iron Castings

The content of magnesium in various parts of a nodular iron casting is measured by using spectrum analyzer. The results show that the skin of castings has an enrichment of magnesium, and the inner has a gradient distribution of magnesium, not an average distribution. Discussions on the results indicate that bubbles in the liquid metal would not move upward under the action of buoyancy, but migrate toward all directions and the bubble stranded below the surface of the liquid metal form blowholes, because these bubbles can not migrate with the obstruction of oxide films and dendrites. The results of production practices show that increasing carbon equivalent in the liquid metal is helpful to avoid blowhole defects.