Effects of Moisture in the Air on Characteristics of Strength in High Strength Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of humidity on the strength characteristics in high strength spheroidal graphite cast iron with two phases, which is ferrite and pearlite. Three spheroidal graphite cast irons (FCD400(FDI), FCD500(FPDI.82) and FCD600(FPDI.55)) were used as specimens. In addition, heat treatment (Normalizing) was conducted in FCD500 (PDI). Tensile test conforming to JIS was carried out using these resultant four materials in air and water. The specimen used was of the 14A type. The relationship between tensile strength and area ratio of brittle fracture was investigated. Fatigue crack propagation test conforming to ASTM was also carried out using these materials. Stress ratio R was 0.1, and the specimen used was of the 1CT type with a thickness of 12.5 mm. The test was carried out at room temperature and three kinds of humidity: 0, 40 and 80%. The relationship between the characteristics of fatigue crack propagation and crack closure generated on the fracture surface was investigated.Though tensile strength in FDI and FPDI.82 was not influenced by water brittlement, strength in PDI and FPDI.55, which included pearlite, was decreased by water brittlement. This phenomenon may mainly be caused by the amount of parlite in the matrix. The threshold stress intensity factor range ¦K th of all materials increased with increasing humidity. Crack closure was investigated in all materials. It seemed to become marked with increasing humidity. In the low ¦K eff region of all materials (except FPDI.55, 80%), the fatigue crack propagation rate was almost the same because of oxide-induced crack closure of the ferrite included in the matrix. In the high ¦K eff region of FPDI and PDI, the rate was not the same. The acceleration was investigated because of effect of a phenomenon similar to the water embrittlement of pearlite included in the matrix.