Technical Information 12

Effects of Minor and Trace Elements in Cast Iron

Small quantities of many elements can occur in cast irons and have a marked influence on the
structure and properties of the castings. Some are present as deliberate additions while others
arise from trace impurities in the raw materials. Several of these elements have beneficial effects,
particularly in grey irons, while others are very damaging and must be avoided as far as possible.
The following table lists the common sources of these elements, the levels at which they are likely
to occur and their principle effects. The use of some of these elements (e.g. chromium) as major
alloying elements is not included in the table.

Normal
Element Common Sources Levels (%) Effects in Cast Irons
Promotes hydrogen pinholes in light sections
Al-killed steel scrap,
above about 0.005 %Al. Neutralizes nitrogen.
Aluminium inoculants, ferro-alloys, light
Up to Promotes dross formation. Detrimental to nodular
Al alloy components, additions
0.03 graphite above approx. 0.08%. May be neutralized
of aluminium.
by cerium. Strong graphite stabilizer.
Steel scrap, vitreous
Antimony Up to Strong pearlite and carbide promoter.
enamel scrap, bearing
Sb 0.02 Inhibits nodularity in absence of rare earth’s.
shells, deliberate additions
Arsenic Up to Strong pearlite and carbide promoter.
Pig iron, steel scrap.
As 0.05 Improves nodular graphite shape.
Barium Barium containing Up to Improves graphite nucleation and reduces fading.
Ba inoculants. 0.003 Reduces chilling tendency and promotes graphite
Promotes chill and undesirable graphite forms.
Rarely
Bismuth Deliberate additions, mould Increases nodule number in ductile irons
above
Bi coatings containing Bi. containing rare earth’s (cerium). Excessive nodule
0.01
counts may cause shrinkage problems.
Above 5 ppm promotes ferrite. Above 10 ppm pro-
Boron Vitreous enamel scrap, Up to
motes carbides particularly in ductile irons. 20 ppm
B deliberate additions as FeB. 0.01
improves annealing of malleable irons.
Improves spheroidization of graphite nodules.
Calcium Ferro-alloys, nodularizers, Up to
Improves graphite nucleation.
Ca inoculants. 0.01
Reduces chilling tendency and promotes graphite.
Normally not used in grey irons.
Most magnesium alloys or
Cerium Up to Suppresses deleterious elements in ductile irons.
added as mishmetall or
Ce 0.02 Improves spheroidization of graphite. Carbide
other rare earth sources.
stabilizing due to segregation.
Alloy steel, chromium plate, Promotes chill and pearlite. Increases strength.
Chromium Up to
some pig irons, ferro- Form carbide segregates in ductile irons above
Cr 0.3
chromium. 0.05%.
Cobalt Up to
Tool steel No significant effects in cast irons.
Co 0.02
Copper wire, copper-based Promotes pearlite. Improves strength.
Copper Up to
alloys, steel scrap, Impairs ferritization in ductile irons.
Cu 0.5
deliberate additions of Cu. No harmful effects.
Produces sub-surface pinholes. Has a mild chill-
Damp refractories, mould
Hydrogen promoting action. Promotes "inverse chill" when
materials and humid
H there is insufficient manganese present to
additions.
neutralize sulphur. Promotes coarse graphite.

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Technical Information 12 2

Normal
Element Common Sources Levels (%) Effects in Cast Irons
Causes spiky and undesirable graphite structures
in grey irons and severely reduces strength at
Old paints, some vitreous
levels above 0.004 %. Promotes pearlite and
Lead enamel, free-cutting steel,
Up to carbides.
Pb terne plate, solder, petrol
0.005 Cause degenerated nodular graphite forms.
engine deposits.
Effects on graphite in ductile irons are neutralized
by rare earth’s (cerium).
Promotes nodular graphite in ductile irons.
Magnesium Additions of magnesium
0.03 - 0.08 Carbide stabilizing effect in ductile irons.
Mg alloys (nodularizers).
Not used in grey irons.
Most pig irons, steel scrap, Neutralizes sulphur by forming MnS.
Manganese additions of ferro Promotes pearlite formation. Forms carbide
Mn manganese lump or 0.2 - 1.0 segregates in ductile irons. Promotes gas holes at
briquettes. high levels in conjunction with high sulphur levels.
Refined pig irons, alloy Mild pearlite promoter.
Molybdenium Up to
steels, ferro-molybdenum Increases strength.
Mo 0.1
additions. Can promote shrinkage and carbides.
Nickel Nickel plate, steel scrap, Up to Small amounts have little effects.
Ni refined irons, NiMg alloy. 0.5 Graphitizing effect in larger quantities.
Coke, carburizers, core Compacts flake graphite. Promotes pearlite.
Nitrogen binders, steel scrap, Increases strength. High levels causes fissure
Up to
N additions of nitrided ferro- defects in heavier sections. Can be neutralized by
0.015
manganese. Al, Ti and Zr. Has little effect in ductile irons.
Increases CEV. Increases fluidity. Forms
Phosphorous Phosphoric pig iron and Up to phosphide eutectic. Damaging in ductile irons
P scrap, additions of FeP. 0.1 above 0.05 %. At levels above 0.04%, can cause
metal penetration.
Silicon Ferro-silicon alloys, steel Promotes graphitization, reduces chill, stabilizes
0.8-4.0
Si scrap, pig iron. ferrite, improves castability.
Very damaging to structure and properties unless
Coke, carburizers, pig iron, Up to 0.15 balanced by manganese. Improves grey irons
Sulphur
scrap iron, additions of iron (grey response to most inoculants. Increases Mg
S
sulphide. irons) requirements in ductile irons.
Should be below 0.03 % in ductile irons.
Strontium Strontium containing Up to Improves graphite nucleation in grey and ductile.
Sr inoculants. 0.003 Strongly reduces chilling tendency in grey irons.
Strongly promotes carbides. Causes many
Free-cutting copper, mould
Tellurium undesirable forms of graphite. Effects observed as
coatings, cooling curve Up to
Te low as 0.0003 %. Effects reduced by combination
carbon samples. 0.003
with Mg and Ce in ductile irons.
Solder, tin plated steel Strongly promotes pearlite. Improves strength.
Tin Up to
scrap, bronze components, Embrittles ductile irons above 0.08 %.
Sn 0.15
tin additions. No other harmful effects.
Some pig irons, some
Neutralizes nitrogen in grey irons. Promotes
paints and vitreous
Titanium hydrogen pinholing due to aluminium. Promotes
enamels, CG-iron returns, Up to
Ti undercooled graphite in grey iron. Suppresses
additions of titanium or 0.10
nodular graphite in CG-irons.
ferro-titanium
Tungsten Up to Rarely found in significant amounts.
High speed tool steel
W 0.05 Mild pearlite promoter.
Steel scrap, tool steel,
Vanadium Up to Promotes chill formation. Refines flake graphite.
some pig irons, ferro-
V 0.10 Markedly increases strength.
vanadium additions.