Kinetics of precipitation for graphite particle in high nickel ductile iron

In order to prevent premature failure of high nickel ductile iron used for engine exhaust manifold due to thermal fatigue, the precipitation morphology, nucleation and growth mechanism of graphite particles in high-nickel ductile iron were systematically studied by optical and SEM microscopy and the growth kinetic equation of graphite particles was derived. The results show that the precipitation density and average size of graphite particles within the austenite grain of high-nickel ductile iron are 44.1 particles/mm2 and 2.2 µm, respectively, and the precipitation density and average size of graphite particles on the austenite grain boundaries are increased to 76.6 particles/mm2 and 17 µm, respectively. The main nucleation mechanism of graphite particles in high nickel austenitic ductile iron is grain boundary nucleation. The maximum nucleation rate temperature of graphite particles nucleated on grain boundary is 650–850 °C, the fastest precipitation temperature is close to 680 °C, and the time from the beginning to the end of the growth of graphite particles nucleated by grain boundary is about 3400 s. The average size of graphite particles precipitated by grain boundary nucleation can grow to grade 7 (15–30 µm) under the high temperature of 715–805 °C for a long time (over 3400 s), which is beneficial to the thermal fatigue property of high nickel ductile iron. The local temperature at manifold should not be higher than 800 °C under long times.