Solidification Study of Gray Cast Iron in a Resistance Furnace

Solidification of hypoeutectic gray cast iron has been investigated in a resistance furnace. A cylindrical shaped sample with three thermocouples, two inside and one in the surrounding, was solidified and compared to samples quenched at different stages during the solidification interval. An additional sample in the series has been produced to reveal the primary grain structure using Direct Austempering After Solidification (DAAS) treatment. The present paper collect for the first time under the same experimental procedure the solidification of a hypoeutectic gray cast iron where both the growth of the primary and eutectic phase are observed. An increase of the secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) was observed until the end of the solidification interval. A comparison of the measured solidified fractions of the phases with those predicted using Fourier Thermal Analyses evidenced the quenching effectiveness. The eutectic cell size is in agreement with the literature. The method presents good consistency.