Metal Casting Zone

Hi..

This is my first topic and is for request some information about the production of nodular cast iron, I have a foundry in Bogota, Colombia whit a cupola furnace, and I produce grey iron, but I need expand the products and some of this products are in nodular cast iron.
Someone knows the process, ingredients and tool that i need for produce this material?
I will be very gratefull for the information that can provide me.
Best regards.
David P.
Pd. I will publishing some pictures of my foundry backyard.

welcome to the forum and good luck with your project.

Welcome to the forum.

I looked in Wiki and ductile iron can be made but it doesn't give much detail.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nodular_cast_iron
Looks like it may require a long heat treat, sounds expensive.

We would love to see some pictures of a working cupola.

Hello

Thanks for the greetings and I hope learn a lot for me and my industry.
I had already looked in wikipedia, was the first site that i looked, but i need more technic information. However thanks for reply my post Jammer.

This picture is of my cupola working.

I found a book at work that tells a little more about it. I'll see what I can find out.
Nice looking, BIG cupola.

I just checked out your profile page. Very nice set-up.

I looked through the book, The Making, Shaping and Treating of Steel. 1985, and found some, more info on Nodular Iron. It's very interesting and I'm learning a lot. This was discovered in the 40's so it not any company secrets or anything. You may be able to find this book at a large library or university.
The composition of Nodular Iron is a little higher Si and Carbon than gray iron.

Carbon: 3.35-3.65%, Silicon: 2.50-2.80% with Sulphur less than 0.10% and ideally less than 0.030%, Manganese less than 0.30%.
After you tap the heat you would inoculate with Ferro-Silicon and also 0.040-0.080% Magnesium. Cerium could be used instead but I think Mg would be easier to find. I'm trying to find out what form the Mg is in. I'm pretty sure it's metallic. You would have to be careful and not have a Mg fire. It would only be about 80mg/100 Kilos. I'm still reading, this book is about the size of a big Bible.
It also refers to the spec under ASTM A-536 in volume #102. I only have access to volumes #104 and #105 for structural steel.

I think I may try this in a small amount of Iron some time. If anyone else tries this, don't hold me responsible. Magnesium fires are fun to watch but not when they get out of hand. BE CAREFUL, WORK SAFE

hi Jammer,

yes, you are right,, The composition of Nodular Iron is a little higher Si and Carbon than gray iron.

QT 450-10 composition
碳C ：3.70～4.00
硅 Si：2.15～2.93
锰 Mn：0.46～0.66
硫 S ：0.010～0.016
磷 P ：0.027～0.070
镁 Mg：0.027～0.050
铼 Re：0.026～0.043

HT 250 Composition
碳 C ：3.16～3.30
硅 Si：1.79～1.93
锰 Mn：0.89～1.04
硫 S ：0.094～0.125
磷 P ：0.120～0.170

i am dylan, and i work in a professional manufacturer for grey iron casting and ductile iron casting parts in DL.