New solution for property improvement of automobile parts

Abstract

Now a day materials have been a key to increase the performance of automotive parts, which point out to develop a new materials having better property. Main objective is to achieve increase in quantity and quality of automotive parts produced and for an optimum performance along their life cycle. Cast iron has remained a competitive material due to its low production cost. In fact, among the cast iron group one of alternative lightweight alloys is compacted graphite iron (CGI). Nowadays it is accepted that, CGI can effectively reduce the total weight of an automobile by virtue of its high strength- when compared to other cast irons and aluminum alloys. Better strength-to-density ratio of CGI gives clear advantage over other conventional used materials. It is known that the size or weight of CGI is 15% lighter in compare to gray cast iron. The paper gives a comparative view of CGI with gray cast iron (GCI) & ductile iron (DI). Surface morphology studied by SEM micrograph. Tensile strength and other properties can be calculated by stress-strain curve. Hardness measured by Brinell hardness testing m/c. During the production of CGI, the main aim is to control the appropriate percentage of magnesium for which we can get higher fatigue limit, higher yield stress, excellent machinability, better modulus of elasticity, low thermal expansion, good thermal conductivity, and favorable casting properties than those of GCI and DI. Several metallurgical variables need to be strictly controlled in order to achieve consistent CGI properties in a production line at reasonable costs for automotive industry with at least 75% higher tensile strength, 45% higher stiffness and approximately double the fatigue strength of conventional grey cast iron.