High temperature cast iron with niobium and having compacted graphite structures

Abstract

A product including an iron casting alloy including iron, niobium and compacted graphite structures.

1 . A product comprising:
 an iron casting alloy comprising iron, niobium, and compacted graphite structures.   
     
     
         2 . A product as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the niobium is present in an amount ranging from 0.4-0.7% by weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         3 . A product as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the alloy further comprises molybdenum. 
     
     
         4 . A product as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the iron is present in an amount of about 88-91% by weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         5 . A product as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the compacted graphite structures comprise carbon present in an amount of 3.0-3.6% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . A product as set forth in  claim 5  further comprising silicon present in an amount of 4.0-4.6% by weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         7 . A product as set forth in  claim 5  further comprising manganese present in an amount up to 0.3% by weight. 
     
     
         8 . A product as set forth in  claim 5  further comprising sulfur present in an amount up to 0.02% by weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         9 . A product as set forth in  claim 5  further comprising phosphorus present in an amount up to 0.07% by weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         10 . A product as set forth in  claim 5  further comprising nickel present in an amount up to 0.6% by weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         11 . A product as set forth in  claim 5  further comprising titanium present in an amount up to 0.2% by weight of the alloy. 
     
     
         12 . A product as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a graphite modifier present in an amount ranging from 0.015-0.04 weight percent of the alloy, the graphite modifier comprising at least one of magnesium or cerium. 
     
     
         13 . A product as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising titanium. 
     
     
         14 . A product comprising an iron casting alloy comprising iron present in an amount of about 88-91% by weight, carbon present in an amount of about 3.0-3.6% by weight, silicon present in an amount of about 4.0-4.6% by weight, niobium present in an amount of about 0.4-0.7% by weight, manganese in an amount of 0.05% or less by weight, sulfur in an amount of about 0.02% by weight or less, phosphorus in an amount of about 0.07% by weight or less, nickel in an amount of about 0.6% by weight or less, wherein the carbon is present in a form comprising compacted graphite structures. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making compacted graphite iron, comprising:
 forming a ferrous alloy melt comprising iron present in an amount of about 88-91% by weight, carbon present in an amount of about 3.0-3.6% by weight, silicon present in an amount of about 4.0-4.6% by weight, niobium present in an amount of about 0.4-0.7% by weight, and causing the melt to form compacted graphite particles upon solidification; solidifying said melt to form a compacted graphite iron casting.