Mechanical behaviour of graphite in fracture of austempered ductile iron

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to examine the mechanical behaviour of graphite in the fracture of austempered ductile iron (ADI) by in situ tensile testing with an SEM. The results indicate that the graphite in ADI cannot be regarded as voids with no strength because graphite–matrix (G–M) interface cracking and the internal fracture of graphite were observed. Under tensile testing, microcracks always initiated at and propagated along the G–M interface first. Graphite nodules do not cause micronotch stress concentration thermselves in advance of the G–M interface cracking. The propagation of interfacial cracks along the G–M interface resulted in crack deflection. When the main crack propagated to a graphite nodule whose G–M interface had cracked and formed a void, it was obviously blunted. Graphite–matrix interface cracking occurred ahead of a propagating crack. The G–M interfaces and graphite nodules have a certain strength.