Network structure and its effects on the strength of Fe-C-Si-Mn alloy castings

IntroductionFe-C-Si-Mnalloyisamaterialusedforcommonbladesinhydroelectricgenerators.Itscurrentchemicalcompositionintermsofmassfractionwisasfollows:w(C)withintherangefrom0.17%to0.25%,w(Si)0.40%to0.8%,w(Mn)1.2%to1.6%,w(S)≤0.045%andw(P)≤0.045%.Thebladeserviceconditionrequiresgoodstrength,ductilityandwearresistance.AnormalprocessingandheattreatingprocedureofFe-C-Si-Mnalloybladesincludesinsequence:casting,920°Cnormalizing,600°Ctempering,andwelding.Thevolumeofabladeissohugethatitscentralare…

Network structure and its effects on the strength of Fe-C-Si-Mn alloy castings

Fe-C-Si-Mn alloy castings used as blades in hydroelectric generators are studied and found to contain network structures after some heat treatments. Castings after annealing and normalizing were analyzed by microscope and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The network formed during annealing was proved by TEM to be pearlite with very fine slices, while that formed during normalizing was proved by TEM and micro-hardness to be martensite or bainite. A theoretical analysis together with experimental studies has proved that the pearlite network is caused by carbon content increase in the interdendritic regions to which carbon atoms transfered from dendritic arms due to lower manganese content there during annealing, while the martensite or bainite network results from the higher hardenability of interdendritic regions where manganese content is higher.Experiments reveal that higher heating temperature or longer heating time enlarges the network size due to manganese homogenization. The network structure has a strengthening function like reinforcing rib, and the smaller the network size, the greater its strengthening capability.