Effect of Chemical Composition on Structure and Corrosion Resistance of Ni-Mn-Cu Cast Iron

In the paper, a relationship between chemical composition of Ni-Mn-Cu cast iron and its structure, hardness and corrosion resistance is determined. The examinations showed a decrease of thermodynamic stability of austenite together with decreasing nickel equivalent value, in cast iron solidifying according to both the stable and the metastable systems. As a result of increasing degree of austenite transformation, the created martensite caused a significant hardness increase, accompanied by small decline of corrosion resistance. It was found at the same time that solidification way of the alloy and its matrix structure affect corrosion resistance to a much smaller extent than the nickel equivalent value, in particular concentration of elements with high electrochemical potential.