Influence of Atmosphere and Pressure on Structure of Iron-carbon-silicon Alloys

THE experiments described below are a continuation of work on the graphitization of cast iron conducted as part of the program of funda-mental research at Battelle Memorial Institute. In previous work it was found that melting in hydrogen increased the amount of eutectic and in others i produced al marked changes in the size of the graphite flakes. These effects seemed to be III sulphur and manganese present in the material studied. Iron-carbon- respond silicon alloys did same manner as mg cast iron and there was no evidence to show that hydrogen was able to stabilize the carbide in such alloys unless additions of sulphur were made. The two alloys examined contained about 2 per cent of FIG. 1.-APPARATUS FOR MELTING UNDER PRESSURE. silicon. The present paper is con- A, inlet for gas. cerned with alloys of lower silicon B, outlet for evacuation. content and describes the structural C, power lead. D thermocouple changes produced by melting in E, plug for access to furnace. various atmospheres at pressures F, crucible. ranging from a partial vacuum up to 300 lb. per sq. inch.