摘要 |
<p>A method is disclosed for forming a surface hardenable cast iron article by development of metastable retained austenite in the cell boundary of a ductile or semiductile cast iron. The method comprises (a) controlling the solidification of a cast iron melt to extend the eutectic arrest time to 4-12 minutes, the melt having by weight percent a carbon equivalent (carbon plus one-third silicon) equal to 4.3-5.0, manganese .55-1.2, nickel .5-3 0, and the remainder essentially iron, the melt having been treated to form cell boundaries in the solidified iron with a high proportion of the manganese being segregated in the cell boundaries; (b) subjecting the solidified cast iron to an austempering heat treatment to permit the segregated manganese in the cell boundaries to form metastable retained austenite; and (c) terminating the heat treatment prior to the conversion of the metastable austenite to a stable microstructure. To obtain the benefits of wear resistance, the method further comprises using the heat treated cast iron by stressing a surface region thereof and transforming the microstructure of such surface region to martensite.</p> |