Influence of 1 wt- addition of Ni on structural and mechanical properties of ferritic ductile irons

Two sets of ductile irons with and without Ni additions containing various low Si contents have been prepared in order to study the effect of Ni on structural and mechanical properties of thermal analysis cups and standard keel blocks. Because contradictory results appearing in literature, this work has been focused on the influence of this element on matrix structure and on impact properties at room temperature as well as at low temperatures. The structures of Ni free and Ni bearing alloys have been related to the features of cooling curves recorded on both casting types and to the tensile and impact properties of the materials.