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Testing of heating and cooling process of ADI cast iron with use of ATND
method

Article  in  Archives of Foundry Engineering · October 2008

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 ISSN (1897-3310)
ARCHIVES Volume 8
Issue 3/2008
of
11 – 14
FOUNDRY ENGINEERING
2/3
Published quarterly as the organ of the Foundry Commission of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Testing of heating and cooling process

of ADI cast iron with use of ATND method
A. Białobrzeski*, J. Pezda*
Faculty of Chipless Forming Technology, University of Bielsko-Biała, Willowa 2, 43- 300 Bielsko-Biała, Poland
* Corresponding author. E-mail address: abial@iod.krakow.pl, jpezda@ath.bielsko.pl

Received 18.04.2008; accepted in revised form 29.04.2008

Abstract
ADI (Austempered Ductile Iron) cast iron, owing to its unique combination of high tensile strength and abrasion resistance with very good
plasticity, founds implementation in many branches of industry as a substitute of alloy cast steel and carburized or heat treated steels. In
spite of its solid position among producers and recipients of castings, there are still undertaken studies aimed at perfection of its properties
and recognition of mechanisms enabling obtaining such properties.
The paper presents implementation of thermal-voltage-derivative (ATND) method to registration of heating and cooling course of ADI
cast iron with EN-GJS-1200-2 grade. ADI cast iron with EN-GJS-1200-2 grade underwent the study. Heat treatment of the cast iron was
performed in Foundry Institute with use of LT ADI-350/1000 processing line. Results obtained from the testing illustrate in graphic form
registered heating and cooling curves of investigated cast irons obtained with use of the ATND method.

Keywords: Austempered ductile iron; Heat treatment; ATD; ATND

motors) and construction industry (excavator teeth, sorting

1. Introduction machine blades, crushing mill components, carrying rings,
brackets, slideways and shafts, gears, housings, structural
The ADI "Austempered Ductile Iron" cast iron belongs to one
elements).
from the most up-to-date cast structural material [1]. It is cast iron
Counting over per kilogram of material, the ADI cast iron
with metallic matrix consisting of bainitic ferrite needles and
costs less than steel or aluminum. Moreover, in every stage of
stable austenite saturated with carbon. Such microstructure
manufacturing process a component made from ADI can generate
enables to obtain tensile strength up to 1600 MPa [2], yield point
a savings of order of 20% in comparison with forged steel and up
from 500 to 1200 MPa and elongation in range of 1 to 16 % [3,4].
to 50% comparing with aluminum [3,5]. In many applications
Castings made from ADI cast iron enjoy great success in
ADI cast iron surpasses: steel forgings, welded elements, products
automotive industry (steering rods, camshafts, crankshafts,
from carburized steel and aluminum. Strength of ADI cast iron is
conrods, timing gears, suspension elements, friction components
nearly twice higher at equivalent elongation, comparing with
of brake systems), agricultural industry (edges of ploughs,
traditional brands of spheroidal cast iron [6].
elements of movable couplings, components of fertilizer seeders,
In the Fig. 1 is shown a comparison of tensile strength and
towing hooks, eye bolts, wheel hubs, steering shafts, steering
elongation obtained for ADI cast iron, casting alloys of aluminum
rods), railway industry (hub cups, brake pads, wheels of
and wrought aluminium.
maintenance trucks, hooks to coupling devices, shock absorbers,
engine components, track elements), armaments industry (missles,
armours, rocket bodies, alloys for caterpillar links, rotors of

ARCHIVES of FOUNDRY ENGINEERING Volume 8, Issue 3/2008, 11 -14 11


Fig. 1. Mechanical properties of ADI cast iron and aluminum
alloys [7]
Bainitic-austenitic structure of castings requires
implementation of heat treatment, consisting on quenching with
isothermal transformation.
The heat treatment is composed from a few stages (Fig. 2)
[8,9,10]:
- Heating of castings up to austenitizing temperature, suitable for a
given chemical constitution, in the limits of 830÷950°C (line 1-2)
- Soaking of the castings in austenitizing temperature during time
which assures equalization of temperature on cross-section of the
casting, decomposition of constituents of initial cast iron (pearlite,
ferrite, possibly carbides) and saturation with carbon (line 2-3),
- Cooling of the castings with a rate assuring avoidance of pearlite
formation, up to temperature of isothermal soaking in limits of
230÷400°C (line 3-4),
- Isothermal soaking of the castings during time which assures
formation ausferrite structure of metallic matrix in spheroidal cast
iron (line 4-5),
- Cooling of the castings to ambient temperature (line 5-6).
Fig. 2. Process of heat treatment of ADI cast iron
Getting suitable properties of ADI cast iron is connected with
selection of proper heat treatment parameters of initial cast iron
(spheroidal one) [11].
12 ARCHIVES of FOUNDRY ENGINEERING Volume 8, Issue 3/2008, 11 -14
To parameters of the heat treatment belong [12,13]:
- austenitizing temperature 820÷950°C,
- austenitizing time 0,5÷5 h,
- temperature of isothermal transformation 230÷400°C,
- time of isothermal transformation 0,5÷5 h.
The above parameters depend on chemical constitution of cast
iron, quantity, shape of graphite release, geometry and method of
production of castings.
2. Methodology of the research
Investigated materials were prepared in Krakow Foundry
Institute with use of LT ADI-350/1000 processing line (Fig. 3) to
heat treatment of cast iron [14].
Fig. 3. LT ADI-350/1000 processing line [3]
The processing line comprises [3]:
- Chamber furnace of B-4-ENL type,
- Salt bath of WS-4/450EL type – serving to isothermal cooling of
castings from iron alloys in temperature range of 250÷480°C,
- WPSD-4EL device for washing and drying of the charge–
destined for removal of salt from castings after salt bath,
- ŁW-4E loader of the charge – mobile loader serving for
transport of the charge to load bottoms of devices positioned in
the processing line,
- Loading-unloading stand – consisted of two supply stands to
load and unload of the charge.
The tests were carried out with use of ATND method. The
method consists on permanent measurement of temperature and
electric voltage generated on probes during crystallization and
phase transformations of solidifying alloy. In course of the
measurement there are registered generated voltage and
temperature of tested specimen. The method enables also to
registration of heating and cooling processes of alloys. Course of
the process is illustrated in form of diagram in which are shown
thermal curves (t and dt/d ) supplemented with voltage ones (U
and dU/d ) [15].
Test stand (Fig. 4) consists of tubular silit furnace, two
millivoltmeters and computer with operating software.
Suitably prepared specimens were put into the furnace’s chamber,
where melting and crystallization occurred. In course of these processes
there occurred permanent, simultaneous registration of specimen’s
temperature change and potential difference on measuring probes.
Cooling occurred after removal of the specimen from furnace.
As a testing material were used:
1) Initial cast iron with chemical composition (% weight):
C = 3,5, Si = 2,35, Ni = 1,0, Cu = 0,95, Mn = 0,13, Mg = 0,065,
P = 0,045, S = 0,015 .
2) ADI cast iron, brand 1200-2 having composition:
C = 3,7%, Si = 2,3%, Ni = 1,34%, Cu = 0,30%, Mn = 0,11%,
Mg = 0,07%, P = 0,035%, S = 0,010%.
Fig. 4. View of the test stand
ADI cast iron was characterized by tensile strength of
Rm=1250 MPa, elongation of A5=3,2% and hardness of HB=350.
The cast iron was austenized in temperature of 900°C during
period of 2 hours. Isothermal transformation was performed in
salt baths with temperature of 340°C. Duration of the isothermal
transformation amounted to 2 hours.
3. Description of achieved results of own
research
In the Fig.5 is shown a run of heating and cooling of initial
cast iron, registered with use of ATND method.
Fig. 5. Curves of ATND method for initial cast iron
ARCHIVES of FOUNDRY ENGINEERING Volume 8, Issue 3/2008, 11 -14
In the Fig. 6 is presented a heating and cooling process of the
ADI cast iron, brand 1200-2, registered with use of ATND
method.
Fig. 6. ATND method curves for ADI 1200-2 cast iron
Specimen from investigated ADI 1200-2 cast iron was heated
to temperature of 1126°C (point P1 in the Fig. 7), and next,
cooled down. Eutectoid transformation proceeds in area of the
Point P3 (temperature of 760°C). Austenization process occurs in
temperature of 810÷980°C (scope from P4 to P5). Next, the
voltage curve “U” falls to the Point P7 (temperature of 1126°C),
from which occurs its growth. It is result of completion of heating
stage and commencing of cooling of the specimen. Point P7
(temperature of 647°C) corresponds to refraction of the curve „T”.
Underneath the Point P8 (with temperature of340°C) there occurs
isothermal transformation. Point P8 corresponds to the Point P2,
occurring in course of heating of the specimen.
Fig. 7. ATND method curves for ADI 1200-2 cast iron with
marked characteristic points
13
 In the Fig. 8 is shown a run of ATND method curves (voltage
and temperature) for initial cast iron and ADI 1200-2 cast iron.
Obtained character of temperature curves points at similarity of
course of the process, whereas voltage curves show a differences
between run of heating and cooling process of initial cast iron and
ADI 1200-2 cast iron.
Fig. 8. ATND method curves for initial and ADI 1200-2 cast iron
4. Conclusions
Basing on obtained results from preliminary tests, one can
ascertain that the ATND method can be used in registration of
heating and cooling processes of metal alloys.
The ATND method for initial and ADI 1200-2 cast iron
shows differences resulted from quenching before isothermal
transformation.
On the voltage curve there are present a characteristic points,
to which correspond on thermal curve a temperatures connected
with phase transformations of the ADI 1200-2 cast iron in solid
state.
14 ARCHIVES of FOUNDRY ENGINEERING Volume 8, Issue 3/2008, 11 -14
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