Simulation of Phase Equilibria in High Chromium White Cast Irons

Abstract

In this study, using the Materials Calculator software program, the pseudo binary phase diagrams (i.e. isoplethal maps) of high chromium white cast irons (~19% in weight) with different molybdenum contents were simulated. In order to test the accuracy of the calculated phase diagrams, the transformation temperatures read from the diagrams at certain compositions were compared with the phase transformation temperatures measured using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis of the samples produced by casting in the same composition followed by slow cooling. With the same purpose, low temperature phases read from the phase diagrams were compared with the crystalline phases determined by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) of the casted samples. Simulated diagrams predicted an increase in the amount of secondary M23C6carbides with increasing molybdenum content. The validity of this prediction was tested by determining the phase distribution and phase compositions in the casted samples by means of metallographic examinations and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) - Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analyzes. When the hardness values of the samples were taken into consideration, it was seen that the hardness increased from 44.90 to 51.05 HRC with a 1% increase in Mo content and a corresponding increase in the amount of secondary carbides without any heat treatments. Results show that theoretical predictions and experimental measurements are in accord and estimating phase equilibria in multi-component systems is of practical importance.

Keywords

• matcalc
• computational thermodynamics
• alloy design
• high chromium white cast iron
• secondary carbides
• hesaplamalı termodinamik
• matcalc
• alaşım tasarımı
• yüksek kromlu beyaz dökme demir
• ikincil karbürler