Effects of Minor and Trace Elements in Cast Iron

Small quantities of many elements can occur in cast irons and have a marked
influence on the structure and properties of the castings. Some are present as
deliberate additions which others arise from trace impurities in the raw materials.
Several of these elements have benefical effects, particularly in grey iron, which
others are very damaging and must be avoided as far as possible. The following
table lists the common sources of these elements, the levels at which they are
likely to occur and their principle effects. The use of some of these elements
(e.g.chromium) as major alloying elements are not included in the table.

Elements Common sources Normal Effects in Cast Iron

Level
(%)
Aluminium Al-killed steel scrap Up to Promotes hydrogen pinholes in light sections above
Inoculants, ferro alloys, 0.03 about 0.005% Al. Neutralizes nitrogen.
Light alloy components, Promotes dross formation. Detrimental to nodular
Additions of aluminium. graphite above approx.0.08%. May be neutralized by
cerium. Strong graphite stabilizing effect.
Antimony Steel Scrap, vitreous Up to Strong pearlite and carbide promoter.
enamel scrap, bearing 0.02 Improves nodular graphite shape.
shells, deliberate
addition
Arsenic Pig Iron, Steel Scrap Up to Strong pearlite and carbide promoter.
0.05 Improves nodular graphite shape.
Barium Barium containing Up to Improves graphite nucleation and reduces fading.
inoculants 0.003 Reduces chilling tendency and promotes graphite.
Bismuth Deliberate additions, Rarely Promotes chill and undesirable graphite forms.
mould coatings above Increases nodule number in ductile irons containing rare
containing Bi 0.01 earth’s (cerium). Excessive nodule counts may cause
shrinkage porosity problems.
Boron Vitreous enamel scrap, Up to Improves spheroidization of graphite nodules.
deliberate addition as 0.01 Improves graphite nucleation.
FeB Reduces chilling tendency and promotes graphite.
Calcium Ferro-alloy, Up to Improves spheroidization of graphite nodules.
nodularizers, 0.01 Improves graphite nucleation.
inoculants,. Reduces chilling tendency and promotes graphite.
Cerium Most magnesium alloys Up to Normally not used in grey iron.
or added as mischmetal 0.02 Suppresses deleterious elements in ductile irons.
or other rare earth Improves spheroidization of graphite. Carbide stabilizing
sources due to segregation.
Chromium Alloy steel,chromium Up to Promotes chill and pearlite. Increases strength.
plate, some pig irons, 0.3 Forms carbide segregates in ductile irons above 0.05
ferro-chromium.
Cobalt Tool Scrap Up to No significant effects in cast irons.
0.02
Copper Copper wire, copper Up to Promotes pearlite. Improves strength.
based alloys, steel 0.5 Impairs ferritization in ductile irons.
scrap, deleberate No hormful effects.
additions of Cu
Hydrogen Damp refractories, Produces sub-surface pinholes. Has a mild chill-
mould materials and promoting action. Promotes “inverse chill” when there is
humid additions. insufficient manganese present to neutraqlize sulphur.
Promotes coarse graphite.

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 Common sources Normal Effects in Cast Iron
Elements Level
(%)
Lead Old paints, some Up to Causes spiky and undesirable graphite structures in
vitreous enamel, free- 0.005 grey iron and severely reduces strength at levels above
cutting steel, terne 0.004%. Promotes pearlite and carbides.
plate, solder, petrol Cause degenerated nodular graphite forms.
engine deposits Effects on graphite in ductile irons are neturalized by
rate earth’s (cerium)
Magnesium Additions of magnesium Promotes nodular graphite in ductile irons.
alloy (nodularizers) 0.03-0.08 Carbide stabilizing effect in ductile irons.
Not used in grey irons.
Manganese Most pig irons, steel Neutralizes sulphur by forming MnS.
scrap, addition of ferro 0.2-1.0 Promotes pearlite formation. Forms carbide segragates
manganese lump or in ductile irons. Promotes gas holes at high levels in
briquettes. conjunction with high sulphur levels.
Molybdeniu Refined pig irons, alloy Up to Mild pearlite promoter.
m steels, ferro- 0.1 Increases strength.
molybdenum additions Can promote shrinkage and carbides.
Nickel Nickel plate, steel Up to Small amounts have little effects.
scrap, refined irons, 0.5 Graphitizing effect in larger quantities.
NiMg alloy
Nitrogen Coke, carburizers, core Up to Compacts falke graphite. Promotes pearlite.
binders, steel scrap,l 0.015 Increases strength, High leves causes fissure defects in
additions of nitrided heavier sections. Can be neutralized by Al, ti and Zr.
ferro manganese. Has little effect in ductile irons
Phosphorou Phosphoric pig iron and Up to Increases CEV. Increases fluidity. Forms phosphide
s scrap, additions of FeP 0.1 eutectic. Damaging in ductile irons above 0.05%. At
levels above 0.04% can cause metal penetration.
Silicon Ferro silicon alloy, steel Promotes graphitization, reduces chill, stabilizes ferrite,
scrap, pig iron 0.8-4.0 improves castability.
Sulphur Coke, carburizers, pig Up to Very damaging to structure and properties unless
iron, scrap iron, 0.15 balanced by manganese. Improves grey irons response
additions of ironl (grey to most inoculants. Increases Mg requirments in ductile
irons)
sulphide. irons.
Should be below 0.03% in ductile irons.
Strontium Strontium containing Up to Improves graphite nucleation in grey and ductile.
inoculants 0.003 Strongly reduces chilling tendency in grey irons.
Tellurium Free-cutting copper, Up ot Strongly promotes carbides. Causes many undesirable
mould coatings, cooling 0.003 forms of graphite. Effects observed as low as 0.0003%.
curve carbon samples Effects reduced by combination with Mg and Ce in
ductlie irons.
Tin Solder, in plated steel Up to Strongly promotes pearlite. Improves strength.
scrap, bronze 0.15 Embrittles ductile irons abover 0.08%.
components, tin No other harmful effects.
additions.
Titanium Some pig irons, some Up to Neutralizes nitrogen in grey iron. Promo0tes hydrogen
paints and vitreous 0.10 pinholing due to aluminium. Promotes undercooled
enamels, CG-iron graphite in grey iron. Suppresses nodular graphite in
returns, additions of CG-irons.
titanium or ferro-
titanium
Tungsten High speed tool steel Upto Rarely found in significant amounts.
0.05 Mild pearlite promoter.
Vanadium Steel scrap, tool steel, Up ot Promotes chill formation. Refines falke graphite.
some pig iron, ferro 0.10 Markedly increases strength.
vanadium additions

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