Compact graphite iron’s real time manufacturing control by thermal analysis

This research work presents a real time nodularity control methodology by thermal analysis for compact graphite iron (CGI) production. It studies the shape of the solidification curve and relates it to the graphite morphology. The target is to control compact graphite iron melt preparation through an accurate prediction of the nodularity index in a short time. 

Thermal analysis cups were poured, together with different thickness Y block standard samples (12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mm). The thermal analysis solidification curves were used to predict the nodularity index of the cups and the Y blocks data were used to extrapolate the results to the different sections of a given casting. This was made studying the thermal modulus, a parameter that affects the nodularity. The developed predictive model to forecast the nodularity index presents a high accuracy and provides results in around 3 minutes.