Role of yttrium in heavy section spheroidal graphite cast iron

Magnesium ferrosilicon alloys (Mg = 5-7%) are widely used abroad, while rare earth-magnesium ferrosilicon alloys (Mg = 8-10%, Ce RE = 5-9%) are used predominantly in China. Recently, due to the exploitation of natural resources of yttrium rare earth at home, a new type of alloy--yttrium based-rare earth ferrosilicon (YRE=25-40%, Si=40%) has been developed and put into trail as a substitute for conventional rare earth magnesium ferrosilicon alloy in some of the foundries for manufacturing heavy section spheroidal graphite cast iron. In this paper the effect of yttrium on mechanical properties and microstructures of heavy section spheroidal graphite cast iron are studied. Some simulating experiments were carried out in laboratory