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journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jmatprotec

Mechanical and microstructural properties of low-carbon

steel-plate-reinforced gray cast iron

Ahmet Avcı a , Nevzat İlkaya a , Mehmet Şimşir b,∗ , Ahmet Akdemir a

a Department of Mechanical Engineering, Selçuk University, 42079 Konya, Turkey
b Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Cumhuriyet University, 58140 Sivas, Turkey

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: In the present experimental study, strengthening of gray cast iron by reinforcing with steel
Received 20 April 2007 plates was investigated in the as-cast and normalized conditions. Normalizing heat treat-
Received in revised form ments were applied to the specimens at temperatures of 800 ◦ C and 850 ◦ C. Three-point
21 March 2008 bend specimens were manufactured from gray cast iron and also from gray cast iron with
Accepted 30 March 2008 reinforced steel plates. Flexural strengths of the steel-plate-reinforced cast iron were cal-
culated for four distinct volume fractions (Vr = 0.04, 0.08, 0.12, and 0.16). The current study
shows that the steel-plate-reinforced gray cast iron has higher flexural strength and flexu-
Keywords: ral modulus than the cast iron without reinforcement. The flexural strength considerably
Metal matrix composites increases with slight increase in normalization temperature. Optical and scanning electron
Mechanical properties microscopy analyses were used to examine flake morphology and microstructures of gray
Casting cast iron and steel-plate-reinforced gray cast iron. It is noted that carbon diffuses from the
Microstructure gray cast iron to the steel plates. A transition region containing partially dissolved graphite
Optical microscopy analyses and having high hardness was observed due to the carbon diffusion.
© 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction of the Cu alloyed gray iron by austempering heat treatment

Gray cast iron is the most widely used metallic materi-
als among cast irons because it has some advantageous
properties such as good castability, corrosion resistance,
machinability, filling mould, in addition to its low melting
point, high damping capacity, and relatively low cost (Walton
and Opar, 1981). Moreover, gray cast iron is an important
construction material. The microstructure of gray cast iron
comprises free carbon in the form of graphite flakes and a
ferritic or pearlitic matrix. Graphite flakes are formed during
the solidification process and basically control the mechani-
cal properties of the gray cast iron. The graphite flakes confer
low strength and toughness to the gray cast iron. There are
several ways to change the mechanical properties of the gray
cast iron. Hsu et al. (2000) improved the fracture toughness
causing the change in microstructure of gray iron. Hemanth
(2001) investigated the effect of sub-zero and water-cool chill-
ing on solidification and mechanical properties of cast iron.
Bartocha et al. (2005) worked on qualitative and quantitative
analysis of graphite in gray iron and the effect of graphite mor-
phologies and casting condition on the mechanical properties
of gray iron. Another way to improve the mechanical proper-
ties of gray cast iron is to produce a composite material by
reinforcing it with a higher-strength material as used in this
study. Antolovich et al. (1972) improved fracture toughness of
martensitic maraging steel matrix by reinforcing austenitic
maraging steel. Ozdemir et al. (2003) studied the effect of
graphite shape on the diffusion bonding of nodular cast iron
with gray cast iron. Simsir (2004 and 2007) worked on frac-
ture behavior of laminated metal matrix composite (MMC) and

∗
Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 346 219 10 10x2805; fax: +90 346 219 11 79.
E-mail address: msimsir@cumhuriyet.edu.tr (M. Şimşir).
0924-0136/$ – see front matter © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2008.03.052

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J. Mater. Process. Tech. (2008), doi:10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2008.03.052
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tough steel fiber-reinforced gray cast iron. Kurt et al. (2007)

investigated the effect of heat treatment on the interface shear
strength between gray cast iron and medium carbon steel.
Akdemir et al. (2005) worked on the strengthening and tough-
ening of cast iron with a chemical composition of 3.5% C, 2.35%
Si, and 0.72% Mn by reinforcing it with steel fiber (Vf = 0.05) that
has a chemical composition of 0.15% C, 0.15% Si, and 1.0% Mn.
Properties of the interface between the matrix and the rein-
forcement are the most important factors in the manufacture
of metal matrix composites. There must be a good compati-
bility (wettability and reactivity) between the matrix and the
reinforcement. Wetting and interfacial reactions determine Fig. 1 – Schematic illustration of stacking of the steel plates
the quality of the bond between the various components, and in the cast iron (all dimensions in mm).
therefore greatly influence the final mechanical properties of
the composites. Arpon et al. (2003) showed that interfacial
reaction is important in the production of particulated metal
Low-carbon steels with 1-mm thickness were cut into dimen-
matrix composites. Şimşir (2007) investigated the effect of
sions of 50 mm × 250 mm and the surface of the steel plates
microstructure in the interface region on the fracture tough-
were cleaned of all dirt, grease and oxides for 10–15 min in
ness of fiber-reinforced gray cast iron.
a solution containing 3.7 g hexamethylenetetramine, 500 ml
The metal matrix composites can be used for a variety
HCl acid, and 500 ml pure water. Subsequently, the surfaces of
of structural applications, such as in the transportation and
the plates were grinded sequentially using emery paper with
defense industries, since their mechanical properties vary
grit size range from 320 to 1200 and washed with water and
over a wide range (Hashmi et al., 2002).
dried using alcohol. The steel plates were then alternately
The first objective of this study was to produce a
stacked depending on the volume fraction of the reinforce-
high-flexural-strength metal matrix composite consisting of
ment, as shown in Fig. 1 and the two ends of the two steel
high-strength steel plates reinforced with in relatively low-
plates were joined by welding. A wood pattern was prepared
flexural-strength gray cast iron. The second objective of this
having dimensions of 30 mm × 55 mm × 300 mm. The dimen-
study was the removal of the brittle graphite flakes, which
sions of the pattern were kept larger than those of the steel
interrupt the continuity of the microstructure of the cast-
plates because the shrinkage of the liquid cast iron was con-
iron matrix, by diffusion of carbon atoms from gray cast
sidered during the solidification process. The sub-faces of the
iron (matrix) to low-carbon steel plate (reinforcements). The
wood pattern were inclined by a few degrees so that the pat-
third objective was to investigate the effect of normalization
tern could be taken out easily after filling and compression of
heat treatment on the mechanical properties of the current
the sand. End-welded steel plates were then placed vertically
composite. Hence, the microstructure and the mechanical
into the cast cavity, as shown in Fig. 1. The gateway and the
properties of MMCs, composed of castings of gray cast iron
riser were placed on the top of the sand mould, but on oppo-
with steel-plate reinforcement, have been examined.
site sides. Before casting, the mould cavity and steel plates
were heated up to approximately 500 ◦ C using flame of oxy-
acetylene welding flame. Molten cast iron was later poured
2. Experimental study into the mould until the cast iron was taken out from the riser
of the mould. Laminated composites were produced by rein-
2.1. Materials forcing 1, 2, 3, and 4 steel plates separately in the gray cast
iron, and they were machined to prepare the specimens with
The MMCs consist of low-carbon steel plates as reinforcement dimension of 25 mm × 50 mm × 250 mm, as shown in Fig. 1.
and gray cast iron as matrix. The steel plates were bought By this way, four different volume fractions of reinforcement,
from Ereğli Iron and Steel Plant Coop. Inc. Strengthening of Vr = 0.04, 0.08, 0.12, and 0.16 were produced in the composites.
the gray cast iron was planned to be achieved by reinforc- The casting temperature was chosen to be 1250 ◦ C, and
ing it with steel plates. The steel plate has an yield strength casting was followed by cooling in the sand mould. To compare
of 235 MPa, tensile strength in the range of 360–510 MPa and the flexural strength of the gray cast iron and the compos-
ductility of 17%. The chemical composition of the steel plate ites, the gray cast iron and the composites were cast under
and the gray cast iron are given in Table 1. Sand-mould cast- the same casting conditions to yield specimens with the same
ing technique was used for the production of both the gray dimensions. Three-point bend specimens were produced for
cast iron without reinforcement and that with reinforcements. the cast iron and composites. Three-point bend specimens

Table 1 – Chemical composition of gray cast iron and steel plate (wt.%)
Materials C Si Mn P(max.) S(max.) Fe

Cast iron (GG 20) 3.36 1.55 0.63 0.01 0.148 Balance
Steel plate (St37) 0.0339 0.336 0.147 0.01 0.01 Balance

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6ıW
ε= (3)
L2

where, P represents the maximum load, B is the thickness of

the material, W is the depth of the material, L is the span
length, and ı is the deflection at maximum load.

2.2.2. Metallographic examination

Metallographic specimens were prepared for examining the
Fig. 2 – Schematic illustration of three-point bending (all flake morphology and the microstructures. Before etching, the
dimensions in mm). morphology and the distribution of the graphite flakes were
examined under an optical microscope with a magnification
of 100× according to the American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) A 247-67 standards. To determine the types
were machined to dimensions of 25 mm × 50 mm × 250 mm
of graphite flakes in the gray cast iron, the graphite flakes
and the ratio of span length to width used in the determination
were compared with those defined in ASTM A 247-67 stan-
of the flexural strength was kept equal to 4. Nine specimens
dards. Subsequently, the specimens were etched by 4% picral
for each composite and for gray cast iron were prepared as
to reveal the matrix microstructure. The steel, transition, and
shown in Fig. 2.
cast-iron regions were examined in the as-cast and normal-
Normalization heat treatment gets rid of residual stress
ized specimens.
in the materials. To obtain a reference state for comparing
the mechanical properties of gray cast iron and laminated
2.2.3. Hardness
composites, stress-relief heat treatment was applied in the
The hardness values for both cast iron and laminated com-
as-cast condition for both the laminated composite and the
posites in the transition regions and in the two sides (matrix
gray cast-iron specimens, before normalization. The residual
and reinforcement) were measured in the as-cast and the nor-
stresses affect the mechanical properties of materials. The
malized specimens. Five hardness values were measured for
effect of the residual stresses on the mechanical properties of
each side in terms of the Rockwell C (HRc) and for the transi-
the as-cast composite was nullified by stress-relief heat treat-
tion region in terms of Vickers hardness (HV) that were then
ment. In this manner, only the microstructure should affect
converted to HRc. Mean hardness profiles of the matrix, rein-
the mechanical properties of both the as-cast and normal-
forcement, and transition regions were drawn separately for
ized composites. To evaluate this effect, the as-cast specimens
the as-cast and normalized conditions.
were heated to 550 ◦ C at a rate of 25 ◦ C/min, in an electri-
cally heated muffle furnace (Protherm plf 130/12), and held
at that temperature for 25 min followed by cooling in air to 3. Results and discussion
room temperature. Normalization heat treatment was applied
at two different temperatures, 800 ◦ C and 850 ◦ C, with the 3.1. Flexural strength and modulus
same heating rate, and the specimens were held for 15 min at
these normalizing temperatures and then cooled in air to room The flexural strengths of the gray cast iron and composite
temperature. materials with four distinct volume fractions (with Vr = 0.04,
0.08, 0.12, and 0.16) were determined both under as-cast and
2.2. Testing normalized (at temperatures of 800 ◦ C and 850 ◦ C) conditions.
Typical load versus deflection curves of both composite mate-
2.2.1. Flexural strength and modulus rials and cast iron were obtained for the as-cast condition as
Three-point bending test was applied to determine the flexu- seen in Fig. 3, and similar curves were obtained for the speci-
ral strengths of the gray cast iron and the composite materials. mens normalized at 800 ◦ C and 850 ◦ C, as shown in Fig. 3. Pmax
The tests were conducted by a universal test machine (Dartec and ımax values increase with increasing volume fraction of
servo hydraulic test machine) under stroke-control with a the steel plates. Gray cast iron has strain of 1.81% at Pmax.
crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Test specimens according to
ASTM B-312 standard were prepared. The span length was
four times that of the specimen width (see Fig. 2). Maximum
bending load (Pmax ), maximum deflection (ımax ), flexural mod-
ulus (Eb ), and flexural strength ( b ) were determined using the
equations given below. The test was repeated three times for
each specimen, and the average of the test results was used
in the evaluation.

3 PL
b = (1)
2 BW 2

1 PL3 Fig. 3 – Load–deflection curves for gray cast iron and

Eb = (2)
4 BW 3 ı laminated composites for as-cast condition.

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Fig. 4 – Variations of flexural strength of the composite with
increasing volume fraction and normalized temperature.
The strain values at Pmax increase with increase in the volume
fraction of the steel plates. The maximum strain at Pmax was
obtained for the Vr = 0.16 composite. The strain (Pmax ) of the
as-cast composite with Vr = 0.16 is 4.82% higher than that of
gray cast iron. It can be concluded that the ductility of the gray
cast iron increases by reinforcing with steel plates. Similar
increment in the strain (Pmax ) was observed for the normalized
composites.
3.1.1. As-cast condition
The variation in the flexural strengths of the composites with
the volume fraction of the reinforcement for both the as-cast
and the normalized conditions is shown in Fig. 4. Under the
as-cast condition, the gray cast iron without the steel plate
has a flexural strength of 357.6 MPa. In the previous study of
the author (Şimşir, 2007), the flexural strength of the gray cast
iron was evaluated to be 421 MPa. The difference in the flexural
strength values was caused by the different casting tempera-
tures. The flexural strength of the composites with Vr = 0.04,
0.08, 0.12, and 0.16 were calculated and were found to be 5.1%,
7.4%, 11.4%, and 14.6% greater than that of gray cast iron,
respectively. The maximum flexural strength was obtained
for the composite with a steel-plate ratio of 0.16. The cur-
rent results show that the flexural strength of the brittle gray
cast iron was increased by reinforcing with high-strength steel
plate and by increasing the volume fraction of reinforcement.
Similar results were obtained by Akdemir et al. (2005).
3.1.2. Effect of heat treatment
As observed in Fig. 4, the flexural strength of the gray cast
iron without reinforcement under the as-cast condition was
357.6 MPa. The same specimen with normalization at 800 and
850 ◦ C had flexural strengths 6.4% and 6.7% greater than that
of gray cast iron, respectively. For normalization at 850 ◦ C,
the gray cast iron without fiber reinforcing had a flexural
strength of 381.6 MPa. The flexural strengths of composites
with Vr = 0.04, 0.08, 0.12, and 0.16 were 4.1%, 8.8%, 13.8%,
and 20.1% greater than that of gray cast iron, respectively. It
is noted that maximum increment in flexural strength was
obtained in the composite with Vr = 0.16 normalized at 850 ◦ C.
For the composite with Vr = 0.04, the flexural strength was
375.6 MPa for the as-cast condition: the increments in flex-
ural strength were 2.2% and 5.7% for the normalization at
800 ◦ C and 850 ◦ C, respectively. Similar increments in flexu-
ral strength were observed for the composites with Vr = 0.08
Please cite this article in press as: Avcı, A., et al., Mechanical and microstructural properties of low-carbon steel-plate-reinforced gray cast iron,
J. Mater. Process. Tech. (2008), doi:10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2008.03.052
Fig. 5 – Flexural modulus-volume fraction of reinforcement
curve of gray cast iron and composites in as-cast condition.
and 0.12. Furthermore, the flexural strength of the composite
with Vr = 0.16 was measured as 409.9 MPa under the as-cast
condition and the maximum flexural strength was obtained
for the same composite after normalization at 850 ◦ C: 11.8%
higher than that of the specimen under the as-cast condi-
tion. It should be noted that the strength of 458 MPa for the
reinforced (Vr = 0.16) gray cast iron is greater than the tensile
strength (403 MPa) of acicular gray iron having a bainitic matrix
of (which is now termed ausferrite on the basis of ASTM A
644 terminology). The present results show that the flexural
strengths of the gray cast iron and composites increase with
increasing normalization temperatures, as shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 5 shows the variation of the flexural modulus with
the volume fraction of reinforcement under the as-cast condi-
tion. The flexural modulus of the gray cast iron was increased
linearly by reinforcing with steel plates. Gray cast iron with-
out reinforcement has a flexural modulus of 114.9 GPa. The
flexural moduli of composites with Vr = 0.04, 0.08, 0.12, and
0.16 were 3.2%, 4.3%, 6.9%, and 9.3% greater than the flexu-
ral modulus of gray cast iron, respectively. It is noted that the
maximum increment in flexural modulus was obtained in the
composite with Vr = 0.16.
3.2. Microstructures
The surfaces of the gray cast iron and the composites with
Vr = 0.04, 0.08, 0.12, and 0.16; in as-cast and the normalized
conditions, were examined under an optical microscope at
100× magnification. First, the morphology of graphite with-
out etching was examined using optical microscopy on the
basis of ASTM A 247-67 standard. Subsequently, the matrix
microstructure of the gray cast iron was inspected after etch-
ing with 4% picral.
The reinforced and unreinforced specimens were grouped
and compared under both the as-cast and the normalized
conditions. The microstructure of the un-etched composite
with Vr = 0.04 was examined under 100× magnification, and
the images in Fig. 6a–c represents the as-cast samples and
samples normalized at 800 ◦ C and 850 ◦ C, respectively; the
microstructure of the same specimens after etching are shown
in Fig. 6d–f. In Fig. 6, the left column is the gray cast iron (region
1), the middle column is the transition region (region 2), and
the right panels represent the steel plate (region 3). As shown
in Fig. 6a, the graphite flakes in the as-cast condition were ran-
domly oriented, thick, and with extremely sharp tips, and the
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Fig. 6 – Microstructure of the composite with Vr = 0.04. Region 1 is the gray cast iron, region 2 is the transition region and
region 3 is the steel plate. Un-etched (a) as-cast, (b) normalized at 800 ◦ C, (c) normalized at 850 ◦ C; Etched (d) as-cast, (e)
normalized at 800 ◦ C, and (f) normalized at 850 ◦ C.

lengths of flakes varied from 0.12 mm to 0.5 mm (form VIIA,
according to ASTM A 247-67). After normalization at 800 ◦ C,
the graphite flakes became thinner and more oriented, and
the distribution of the graphite flake converted to the VIIB
form (Fig. 6b). The graphite flakes became thinner and ori-
ented and the graphite flake distribution showed a mixing of
the VIIA and VIIB types, as in Fig. 6c. However, the lengths of
the graphite flake did not change considerably with increase
in normalization temperature. Thinning of the graphite flakes
resulted in an increase in the flexural strength. As shown in
Fig. 6a, partially dissolved graphite flakes were observed in
the transition region due to the carbon diffusion (Şimşir et al.,
2004; Şimşir, 2007), and the same result was observed clearly
in the transition region of the other specimens (see Fig. 6b
and c). It can be noted that the carbon diffusion contributes to
the improvement of the flexural strength. Normalizing heat
treatment changes the graphite morphology near the inter-
face, and the carbon content of both steel plate, and gray
cast iron in the transition region. The length of the tran-
sition region was 0.12 mm in the etched cast-iron side, as
shown in Fig. 6d. The microstructures of both gray cast iron
and the transition region showed a ferritic–pearlitic matrix in
the as-cast condition (Fig. 6d) due to the presence of silicon.
However, the microstructures of the transition region did not
show the ferrite phase but showed only the pearlite phase
for the normalized specimens at 800 ◦ C and 850 ◦ C (Fig. 6e
and f). Therefore, diffusion of Si took place from the gray cast
iron to the steel plate. As the normalization temperature was
increased, Si diffusion was more rapid and then the amount
of Si in the gray cast iron decreased; hence fully pearlite phase
was observed in the transition region. In the steel-plate region
in Fig. 6d, ferrite phase occurred at the grain boundaries. The
microstructures of the same specimen after normalization at
800 ◦ C are shown in Fig. 6b and e. Increasing carbon diffusion
from the cast iron to the steel plate causes a better effect on the
microstructure of the gray cast iron, and the microstructure of

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the steel plate has finer grains as compared with the as-cast
condition (Fig. 6e). Fine pearlites were bordered by ferrite, as
shown in Fig. 6e. Thus, the flexural strength of the composite
was increased. The carbon diffusion increased with increasing
normalization temperature because the lengths of the tran-
sition region were measured to be 0.127 mm and 0.145 mm
for samples normalized at 800 ◦ C and 850 ◦ C, respectively, as
observed in Fig. 6e and f, respectively. Almost all the graphite
flakes in the transition region were dissolved, which then dif-
fused to the steel plate, as observed in Fig. 6f. The grain size of
the steel plate was coarsened with increase in normalization
temperature, but the amount of pearlite phase increased in
volume. The increase in flexural strengths was attributed to
both the diffusion of C and Si and the increase in the amount
of pearlite phase in the steel plate.
Similar microstructures were observed for the laminated
composites with Vr = 0.08, 0.12, and 0.16. Furthermore, as the
volume fraction of the reinforcement was increased, both the
total length of the transition region in the gray cast iron and
the total volume fraction of the pearlite phase in the steel
plates were increased; in general, the microstructure of the
gray cast iron was improved by the number of reinforcements.
All of these results support the flexural strength values, i.e.
as the normalization temperature and the volume fraction of
the reinforcements increased, the flexural strength of the gray
cast iron was increased both without reinforcement and with
reinforcement.

3.3. Hardness

The composite consists of three regions, i.e. cast-iron side,

transition region, and steel side. In order to explain the effects
of both heat treatment and volume fraction of reinforcement
on the hardness of the materials, the Rockwell hardness val-
ues were drawn separately for the gray cast iron and the
three regions of the composites for both the as-cast and the
normalized conditions. Fig. 7a shows the variation of hard-
ness values with the volume fraction of the reinforcement
in the composites. For the as-cast condition, the hardness
value of the gray cast iron without reinforcement was mea-
sured to be 28 HRc, and the hardness value increases slightly
with increase in the volume fraction of the reinforcements.
Increase in the volume fraction of the reinforcement causes
different cooling rates under the same casting condition. How-
ever, for the normalized conditions, there is a decrease in the
hardness values as volume fraction of reinforcement increases
(Fig. 7a). The hardness values of gray cast iron without rein-
forcement were 26 HRc under normalization at 850 ◦ C and the
maximum decrement in the hardness was 26.9% in the com-
posite specimen with Vr = 0.16 under normalization at 850 ◦ C.
For the specimen of the gray cast iron with a reinforcement of
Vr = 0.16, the hardness of the specimen under as-cast condi-
tion was 47.6% and 63.2% greater than those of the specimens
under the normalized at 800 ◦ C and 850 ◦ C, respectively, It is
concluded that heating of the cast iron and the composite
materials causes a decrease in the hardness but an increase
in the ductility of the matrix phase.
For the transition region, the Rockwell hardness values as
shown in Fig. 7b were obtained. As reinforcement increases,
the hardness values increase (Ozdemir et al., 2003). The hard-
Fig. 7 – Variation of the hardness values with volume
fraction of composites; (a) cast iron region, (b) transition
region, and (c) steel region.
ness of the specimens under the as-cast condition is higher
than that of the specimens under the normalized conditions,
and the maximum hardness was obtained from the composite
specimen with volume fraction of Vr = 0.16 under the as-cast
condition. For the specimen of the gray cast iron with rein-
forcement of Vr = 0.16, the hardness of the specimen under
the as-cast condition was 20.5% and 38.2% greater than that
of the specimen under the normalized condition at 800 ◦ C and
850 ◦ C, respectively. This could be attributed to the carbon and
Si diffusions that take place from the matrix to the reinforce-
ment.
For the steel region, the hardness values increase with
increase in the reinforcement as well (Fig. 7c). It is thought
that the formation of pearlite in the steel results in car-
bon and Si diffusions from the matrix to the reinforcement.
The normalized specimens have lower hardness than the as-
cast specimens. For the specimen of the gray cast iron with
reinforcement of Vr = 0.16, the hardness of the normalized
specimens at 800 ◦ C and 850 ◦ C was 19% and 31.6% lower than
that of the specimen under the as-cast condition, respec-
tively. The hardness values decrease with increase in the

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normalizing temperature. It is due to the formation of the
ferrite grains and the grain growth of the pearlite grains (see
Fig. 6f).
For future work, the carbon content of the steel plate can
be chosen to be sufficiently low so that the graphite flakes
are completely removed by the diffusion of carbon from the
cast iron to the steel plate during the solidification and cool-
ing stages. By selecting the appropriate parameters such as
casting condition, cooling rate, plate orientation, and heat
treatment, metal matrix composites having high strength
and increased flexural modulus with completely graphite-free
matrix can be produced economically.
4. Conclusion
In this study, some mechanical properties of a laminated cast
composite, which was made up of low-carbon steel plate as
reinforcement and relatively low-strength gray cast iron as
matrix, were investigated, and the following conclusions were
obtained:
(1) Flexural strength of the gray cast iron increases with
both the addition of the reinforcement and increases with
increase in the volume fraction of the reinforcement.
(2) Gray cast iron with reinforcement has greater ductility
than gray cast iron without reinforcement and the duc-
tility increases with increase in the volume fraction of the
reinforcement.
(3) Normalized gray cast iron has greater flexural strength
than the as-cast gray iron and it increases with increase
in the normalization temperature.
(4) Normalizing heat treatment improves the flexural
strength of the steel-plate-reinforced gray cast iron. Flake
distribution with in the gray cast iron can be controlled
by the volume fraction of reinforcement.
(5) A transition region with partially dissolved graphite hav-
ing increased hardness was observed, which formed as a
result of carbon diffusion. The transition region of com-
posite is larger in the normalized specimen than in the
as-cast specimen because of the diffusion of carbon. Car-
bon diffusion increases with increase in the temperature;
hence the length of transition region becomes larger with
increase in the temperature. Moreover, the amount of the
pearlite phase increases with increase in the normaliza-
tion temperature.
Please cite this article in press as: Avcı, A., et al., Mechanical and microstructural properties of low-carbon steel-plate-reinforced gray cast iron,
J. Mater. Process. Tech. (2008), doi:10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2008.03.052
7
(6) The flexural modulus of the gray cast iron is improved
both by reinforcing with steel plate and by increasing in
the volume fraction of the reinforcement.
Acknowledgement
This study was made as M.Sc. Thesis by Nevzat İlkaya in the
Graduate School of Natural and Applied Science, Selcuk Uni-
versity, Konya 2005 (in Turkish).
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