Effect of heat treatment on ultrasonic velocity in ductile cast iron

The measurement of the ultrasonic velocity is a common method in the foundry industry for the evaluation of the nodularity in ductile iron castings. Practical experience has shown that heat treatment can reduce the ultrasonic velocity compared to the as cast condition. Using ductile iron samples with different heat treatments in order to vary the ferrite and pearlite content respectively confirmed this decrease in the ultrasonic velocity compared to the as cast state. Further investigations showed that with all the heat treatments applied, irrespective of their effect on the microstructure, the density was decreased. The decrease in density correlated with the decrease in ultrasonic velocity for all heat treatments. The mechanisms involved in the reduction in the density are discussed.