The spheroidisation of VC carbides in high-vanadium cast iron

High-vanadium cast iron is a type of white cast iron, in which a regular fibrous γ + VC eutectic with about 20 vol.% of vanadium carbides crystallises. The paper presents the results of research during which the high-vanadium cast iron was subjected to spheroidisation treatment with magnesium Elmag 5800 master alloy. The purpose of this operation was to obtain the VC carbides of a spheroidal shape. The study also included metallographic examinations and testing of mechanical properties carried out on high-vanadium cast iron of a eutectic composition in as-cast condition and after the spheroidising treatment. The attempt to spheroidise the vanadium carbides has proved to be quite successful. The introduction of magnesium alloy has made nearly one half of the crystallised vanadium carbides acquire a spheroidal shape. The, obtained in this way, high-vanadium cast iron with vanadium carbides of a spheroidal shape showed very high mechanical and plastic properties. The tensile strength R_m increased by 60% compared to the as-cast alloy, while ductility increased more than twenty times. The presented results are based on the initial trials, but further studies of this new material are planned, mainly to check its resistance to abrasion, to impacts and corrosion. Tests are also planned to increase the fraction of spheroidal carbides and measure the effect of their content on the mechanical and tribological properties.