Abstract
The effect of rare earth elements (R.E)(from 0.0 to 0.04%) on the microstructure formation and mechanical properties of thin-wall ductile iron castings were investigated. Tensile strength and hardness were decreased with an addition of up to 0.03% rare-earth elements. After addition of more than 0.03%, those were increased. Graphite nodule sizes were the finest, nodule count was the highst regardless of thickness and volume fraction of ferrite was the largest when that was 0.02%. However, the nodule count was decreased with increasing R.E. Futhermore. nodule size increased with increasing thickness and the volume fraction of ferrite decreased as that was increased. Nodularity was increased regardless of the thickness as that was increased. The castings of minium thickness up to 3 mm was possible without the formation of chill.