Chapter 11: Engineering Compacted Graphite Iron Castings

Compacted graphite iron (GCI) is a cast iron grade that is engineered through graphite morphology modifications to achieve a combination of thermal and mechanical properties that are in between those of flake graphite iron and ductile iron. This chapter discusses the advantages of compacted graphite iron over gray iron and ductile iron. It presents examples of low- and high-frequency thermal cycling, both of which affect the thermal stresses that castings are exposed to during temperature fluctations. Information on optimum carbon and silicon ranges as well as mechanical property standards for CGI are provided. The chapter describes the critical factors that control CGI and discusses methods of CGI manufacturing.