The impact of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the Si-Mo cast iron

Si-Mo cast iron belongs to the group of high-quality alloyed cast irons, offering excellent properties at elevated temperatures. The operating environment of Si-Mo cast iron reaches approximately 750–800°C, and its applications include components such as exhaust manifolds and turbochargers.

The primary carbides found in these materials include Fe₄MoC₃, FeMo₂C, M₆C, and M₇C₃. These phases are thermodynamically unstable due to the nature of their metallic bonding and, consequently, undergo morphological changes at elevated temperatures.

In this study, the SHSB (Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis in Bath) reaction synthesis method was employed to produce thermodynamically stable carbides. This method enabled the transformation of Si-Mo cast iron into a composite material reinforced with particles such as TiC, WC, or NbC.

It was demonstrated that the formation of a composite-like structure in Si-Mo cast iron using the SHSB method is possible regardless of the graphite morphology, thereby expanding its potential application range. The SHSB synthesis also enhanced the thermodynamic stability of Si-Mo cast iron while maintaining its mechanical integrity.

This project is funded by the NetCastPL 4.0 initiative.