Improvement of the mechanical properties of nodular gray cast iron with the application of heat treatments

Abstract

For this experimental study, commercial samples of nodular gray cast iron were used. Samples were subjected to different heat treatments such as quenching, tempering, and annealing. These treatments were carried out to obtain an increase in specific mechanical properties such as hardness, where the new values of this property were obtained. In this process, different laboratory tests as metallographic characterization, mechanical characterization by Brinell hardness, physical and chemical characterization by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray Energy Dispersion Spectrometry (EDS) were applied. The results obtained show that specific thermal treatments can be implemented together and different temperatures, achieving an increase of three times the value of the hardness for the manufacture of brake discs, able to withstand the thermal conditions caused during his operation.