Effect of copper addition and section thickness on the mechanical and physical properties of grey cast iron

Copper is a graphitizer at the stage of solidification and it acts as antiferritizer during transformation cooling range. Due to this, copper additions to grey cast iron prevent at formation of free ferrite in heavy sections. It also reduces the chilling in thin sections, therefore uniform structure is imparted to grey iron by the copper addition. This gives the appropriate strength and hardness properties to grey iron. Thus copper addition gives certain advantages in relation to the machinability and wear resistance which are important for many engineering properties requires by high duty cast iron. The application of copper as allying element is acceptable due to its price and availability as compared to other alloying elements. (author)