Effect of nodularity on mechanical properties and fracture of ferritic spheroidal graphite iron

Ferritic spheroidal graphite irons with nodularity from 72% to 96% were prepared. The relationship between the nodularity and the mechanical properties of the ferritic spheroidal graphite iron was investigated. The effect of nodularity on the mechanical properties and tensile fracture of the cast iron were studied. Results showed that the tensile strength Rm, yield strength Rp0.2, elongation to failure A5, and impact energy KV2 of the cast iron had a good linear relationship with its nodularity. Nodularity and annealing treatment would obviously affect the fracture characteristics of ferritic spheroidal graphite iron. The annealed ferritic spheroidal graphite iron with 93% nodularity showed a completely ductile rupture. With the decrease of nodularity from 93% to 72%, the cleavage fracture area ratio increased gradually from 0% to 8.3%. Compared with as-cast ferritic spheroidal graphite iron, annealing treatment reduced the cleavage fracture area of the ferritic spheroidal graphite iron.