The article presents crystallization process of silicon molybdenum ductile cast iron (SiMo). The alloy with 5% silicon content and with
variable amounts of Mo in a range of 0-1% was chosen for the research. The carbon content in the analysed alloys did not exceed 3,1%.
The studies of crystallization process were based on thermal – derivative analysis (TDA). Chemical composition of all examined samples
was analysed with the use of LECO spectrometer. Additionally, the carbon and the sulphur content was determined basing on carbon and
sulphur LECO analyser. For metallographic examination, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDS analyser was used. Disclosed
phases have been also tested with the use of X-ray diffraction. The results allowed the description of crystallization processes of silicon
molybdenum ductile cast iron using thermal – derivative analysis (TDA). Conducted studies did not allow for the clear identification of all
complex phases containing molybdenum, occurring at the grain boundaries. Therefore, the further stages of the research could include the
use of a transmission electron microscope to specify the description of complex compounds present in the alloy.
The article presents results of pitting corrosion studies of selected silicon cast irons. The range of studies included low, medium and high
silicon cast iron. The amount of alloying addition (Si) in examined cast irons was between 5 to 25 %. Experimental melts of silicon cast
irons [1-3] were conducted in Department of Foundry of Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice and pitting corrosion resistance
tests were performed in Faculty of Biomedical Engineering in Department of Biomaterials and Medical Devices Engineering of Silesian
University of Technology in Zabrze. In tests of corrosion resistance the potentiostat VoltaLab PGP201 was used. Results obtained in those
research complement the knowledge about the corrosion resistance of iron alloys with carbon containing Si alloying addition above 17 %
[4-6]. Obtained results were supplemented with metallographic examinations using scanning electron microscopy. The analysis of
chemical composition for cast irons using Leco spectrometer was done and the content of alloying element (silicon) was also determined
using the gravimetric method in the laboratory of the Institute of Welding in Gliwice. The compounds of microstructure were identify by
X-ray diffraction.
Silicon – molybdenum cast iron commonly called SiMo due to its unique properties has becoming more and more interesting engineering material. The history and development of this alloy is relatively long but, due to the significant difficulties during the manufacturing process resulting in the lower final quality than expected, it has not been applied to often in practice. The biggest challenge is its brittleness as a result of the carbides precipitations. During last few years, thanks to the many important researches made and the general foundry technology development, the interest in SiMo iron has been rapidly growing, especially for the castings for heavy duty applications like corrosion, high temperature and wear abrasion resistant parts. In the article the heat treatment attempts to improve the microstructure of SiMo castings has been presented. The goal was to destroy or at least to refine and uniformly distribute the carbides precipitations to improve mechanical properties of the exhaust manifold castings for the cars. The experiments were carried out for the alloy contains approx. 4% Si, 1% Mo and 3.2%C. The range of the research included: hardness measuring, standard mechanical properties and microstructure for as-cast state and after that the subsequent heat treatment process with another properties check. The result of the heat treatment was the elimination of pearlite from the metal matrix. Moreover, the changes of the carbide molybdenum – rich phase morphology were observed. The dispersion of the carbides precipitations in the carbides area was observed. The experiments proved the possibility to control the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the SiMo castings by means of heat treatment but only to some extent.