Microstructure and XRD of Ductile Iron Using Annealing-Tempering Heat Treatment Process

Abstract

In this present study, the effect of tempering temperature of annealing-tempering combination processes, on microstructure as well as exploring the phase constituents of ductile iron through XRD analysis were performed. Ductile iron produced through conventional CO2sand casting method was performed annealing-tempering heat treatment processes by using change furnace method. Three different temperatures were investigated ranging from (i) 250 °C, (ii) 300 °C and (iii) 350 °C for 1.5 hours respectively. Standard metallographic observation and XRD analysis were done to characterize the microstructure and the constituents respectively. It is found that the graphite structure exist in both treated and untreated samples. Pearlitic structure was formed in the microstructure for heat treated samples. Ferritic-pearlitic matrix structure surrounding the graphite nodule has been shown in as-cast sample. Annealing-tempering process does not change the BCC ferrite peak in (200), (211), (220) and (310) planes shown in as-cast.