Thermal conductivity of cast iron - A review

Abstract

This paper gives a brief introduction to the four research methods for the study on thermal conductivity of cast irons, including experimental measurement, statistical analysis, effective medium theory and numerical simulation. Recent studies on the thermal conductivity of various cast irons are reviewed through the influence of alloying elements, structural constituents, and temperature. The addition of alloying elements is the main reason that restricts the thermal conductivity of cast irons, especially spheroidal graphite cast iron. The connectivity of graphite has a significant effect on the thermal conductivity of flake and compacted graphite cast irons, semiquantitative and quantitative analysis of this factor is a key and difficult point in the study of thermal conductivity of cast irons. The thermal conductivities of different types of cast irons show varying degrees of dependence on temperature. This phenomenon is the combination of graphite and matrix, rather than just depending on graphite morphology. The study of the relationship between individual phase and temperature is the focus of future research. These summaries and discussions may provide reference and guidance for the future research and development of high thermal conductivity cast irons.

Keywords

• cast iron; thermal conductivity; gray cast iron; nodular cast iron; compacted graphite cast iron