Abstract An addition of active metals such as magnesium and cerium to molten cast iron gives rise to solidified spheroidal graphite. Such alloys are called nodular cast iron, spheroidal graphite cast iron or ductile cast iron. However, the manufacturing of nodular cast iron has some issues including a difficulty in process control, a hazardous working environment and the unstable price of rare earth metals. To build an alternative way to produce nodular cast iron, this study examined the feasibility of nodulizing graphite by using plastic resin instead of active metals. It is presumed that the contact of plastic resin with molten cast iron results in its thermal decomposition, generating gas and carbon clusters that act as nuclei for precipitation of nodular graphite. Laboratory tests demonstrated a partial nodulization of graphite precipitating into cast iron that came in contact with a polyethylene sheet during the process of solidification. This result suggests an application potency of waste plastics for controlling microstructure of ferrous alloys, contributing to promotion of their recycling.

中文翻译：

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添加塑料树脂球化铸铁中的石墨

摘要 在熔融铸铁中加入镁和铈等活性金属会产生凝固的球状石墨。这种合金称为球墨铸铁、球墨铸铁或球墨铸铁。然而，球墨铸铁的制造存在工艺控制困难、工作环境危险、稀土金属价格不稳定等问题。为了建立生产球墨铸铁的替代方法，本研究检验了使用塑料树脂代替活性金属对石墨进行球墨化的可行性。据推测，塑料树脂与熔融铸铁的接触导致其热分解，产生气体和碳簇，作为球状石墨沉淀的核。实验室测试表明，在凝固过程中，与聚乙烯板接触的铸铁部分球化。这一结果表明废塑料在控制铁合金微观结构方面的应用潜力，有助于促进其回收利用。