Determination of Thermal Characteristics of Fe-C Cast Iron Using Hot Disk Method

This paper explores the influence of graphite shape, type, and dimensions on the thermal characteristics of Fe-C cast iron. Test samples were prepared from blocks of grey and nodular cast iron, specifically examining castings with D and A types of graphite as well as nodular graphite in a ferrite matrix. To analyze the effect of surface texture, sample surfaces were prepared with varying parameters of surface roughness, achieving values of 0.5 μm for polished and 12.6 μm for unpolished surfaces. Thermal characteristics, including thermal conductivity and effusivity, were evaluated using unsteady hot disk methods, with water as the contact agent, to simulate practical thermal conditions. Additionally, the microstructure of each sample was analyzed using optical microscopy. Results indicate that graphite content, type, shape, and surface roughness collectively have the most significant impact on the thermal properties of cast iron. This study’s findings provide valuable insights into optimizing cast iron for applications requiring efficient thermal management and highlight the importance of graphite morphology and surface finish in enhancing thermal performance.