Environmental Impact of Cast Iron Production

Abstract

© 2020. All Rights Reserved. Although cast iron is one of the oldest materials in engineering, it is seeing something of a rebirth of fortunes in the modern world regarding environmental impact and sustainability. This is based on the fact that Cast Iron does not rust in the traditional sense, it oxidises very slowly. This process gives off iron ashes which are carbon based and good for the environment. They promote green growth on plants and increase planktonic life in the oceans, thus combating global warming. Modern production control of a bainite structure refers to a qualitative method of analysis and is based on a visual assessment of parameters, which limits the possibility of obtaining objective results. Quantitative methods of production control do not exist today. The main objective of this study is to develop a technique for preparing micro sections for controlling the bainite component in the microstructure of cast iron and evaluating its environmental effects. An algorithm was developed in the course of the work for obtaining etched micro sections for quantitative analysis of bainite. Due to the fact that there are no personal methods for etching microstructures to identify the bainite component, it was decided to conduct research work on the selection of a composition for chemical etching and also use it as a reagent for thermal etching. The reagent given in Appendix 2 “Composition of reagents for etching thin sections and revealing the general structure of cast iron and individual structural components” GOST 3443-87 was used representing 4% picric acid solution (4 g picric acid and 96 cm3 of ethyl alcohol) for etching the surface of a thin section. The composition of the etchant and the modes of thermal etching of the material under study were selected as a result of the literature review conducted by us.