There is currently a shortage of information on the affect cooling rate has on the mechanical properties of ductile irons. Limited information exists in the Ductile Iron Handbook and Ductile Iron Production Practices.^1,2 However, the method for generating the data in these sources were not documented.³ To correct this lack of data, the American Foundry Society has funded two previous projects to document the relationship between cooling rate and mechanical properties for 65-45-12 and 80-55-06 grades of ductile iron. However, there still remains a need for information on the 100-70-03 grade.

Design engineers require this information to understand how mechanical properties vary within their castings. Understanding this variation will allow them to appropriately design section sizes of their castings to meet product requirements. Knowledge of the mechanical property-cooling rate relationship will enable design engineers to interpret how separately cast tensile bars relate to their product. It will also allow the use of cooling rate information from solidification simulations to predict the resulting mechanical properties.

The goal of this project is to quantify the relationship between cooling rate and mechanical properties in 100-70-03 ductile iron. The project will also examine the role casting skin has on mechanical properties of this grade of ductile iron. Results from this project build on data from previous projects on 65-45-12 and 80-55-06.

Status Update: Green sand specimens have been poured and next phase is the chemically bonded molds. Anyone interested in how they might participate in this project should contact Prof. Bob Tuttle, Saginaw Valley State University, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .