The properties of silicon alloyed ferritic ductile irons

In this paper the influence of silicon content of 3,1 to 5,4 wt. % on the tensile properties, hardness and impact energy of ferritic ductile iron was analysed. It was found that silicon strengthens the ferrite, resulting in an increase in yield strength and tensile strength with increasing silicon content up to 4,22 wt. %. Elongation and impact energy decreases and the hardness increases with increasing silicon content. Since ferritic ductile irons alloyed and strengthened by silicon have a higher Rp_0,2/R_m ratio and a higher elongation than conventional ferritic, ferritic/pearlitic and pearlitic ductile irons at the same level of tensile strength, we can expect an increased demand for these materials in applications where high resistance to impact load and low temperature impact properties are not required