PIXE analysis of antinodularizing elements Al, Pb and Bi in nodular cast iron

Abstract Al, Pb and Bi are the most important antinodularizing elements. The samples of nodular cast iron were prepared with normal nodularizing technology, in which Al or Pb or Bi was added in order to investigate the dependence of nodularization of graphite on these elements. The contents of trace elements in matrix and in the graphite were measured by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) respectively. The results have shown that the nodularizing percentage decreased when Al or Pb or Bi was added, and the content of Ti increased because of the presence of these elements. Most of Al, Pb and Bi existed in the matrix as impurity. Ti and As are related to Pb and Bi.