Abstract
The range of graphite forms observed in vacuum-treated Fe–C–Si alloys was studied using synthetic and commercial alloys (Sorel F-10, S-125) in order to attain a better understanding of the thermal and chemical conditions governing the growth of the various graphite forms. High-purity Fe–C–Si alloys were further treated by 3-h vacuum-refining and allowed to solidify in situ as well as in an unheated ceramic mold under vacuum. The effects of various foreign elements such as sulphur, oxygen, argon, nitrogen and hydrogen were studied by adding them singly to the vacuum-refined high purity Fe–C–Si alloys. The results are reported.
There appeared to be some confusion in the literature, particularly regarding the vermicular/coral and the compacted forms, both in the terminology used to describe them and in their sequential order in the graphite morphology “spectrum”. Hence an attempt has been made to clarify the situation in order to develop a clearer understanding of graphite morphology control.
