COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE CORROSION RATE OF AN ADI (Austempered Ductile Iron), CADI (Carbide

Austempered Ductile Iron) AND STEEL FOR BUSH TO FISHING NETS APPLICATION

J. Alejandro García Hinojosa, C. Rodríguez Rivera, G. Arano López, O. Cisneros Blas, A. Gerardo Ruiz T.

Departamento de Ingeniería Metalúrgica, Facultad de Química, Universidad nacional Autónoma de México, Cd.
Universitaria Coyoacan México D.F. CP 04210, email: jagarcia@unam.mx

ABSTRACT

In the present study was investigated the comparison of the corrosion rate of three different material used in
the manufacturing of a bush to fishing nets. The original material of the piece was an A2 steel in quenched ant
tempered condition, its corrosion rate was compared with an Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) and another piece
fabricated in Carbide Austempered Ductile Iron (CADI) in a marine medium. The bush fishing net usually works
under sea water and also with high wear condition, therefore the piece demands high wear resistance mixed
with high corrosion resistance on order to get high performance. Corrosion behavior was studied using
electrochemical techniques, the corrosive medium used was 3% sodium chloride solution. Corrosion
stabilization potential-time was measured during 1 hour and then was applied the polarization plots technique
in stationary state starting with Ecorr and applying η from -500 mV to 1000mV with a sweep velocity of 1 mV/seg.
Corrosion rate was evaluated using Tafel plot technique in stationary state starting with E corr and applying η±300
mV with sweep velocity of 1 mV/seg. Electrochemical tests were carried out using a potenciostat-galvanostat
with software integrated and connected to a PC. Experimental arrangement consisted of three electrodes (work-
auxiliary-reference) into acrylic cell. Results indicated that the ADI and CADI have better corrosion resistance
than A2 steel linked to its microstructure and also CADI has a very high wear resistance.

Key words: nodular iron, ADI, CADI, corrosion rate

INTRODUCTION

The evolution of metallic alloys with higher mechanical properties and corrosion resistance has been increased
in last times due to engineering requirements and high sophistication of materials. Such is the case of nodular
cast iron. Its first evolution was to ADI (Austempered Ductile Iron) and currently being developed components of
CADI ( Carbide Austempered Ductile Iron). The last one is very resistant to wear and with acceptable toughness
associated with the microstructural characteristics of carbides in the matrix of ausferrite. For ADI irons a lot of
studies have been reported in the literature (1, 2, 3, 4) about of corrosion topics. However CADI corrosion
behavior could be significantly different due to the presence of carbides in the microstructure. Some authors (1)
mentioned that single and homogeneous phases as the ferrite and austenite are less susceptible to corrosion
than the phase mixtures such as perlite and bainite, and further heat treatments to improve the corrosion
resistance, as well as the addition of alloying elements such as chromium and molybdenum. Another factor
affecting the corrosion resistance may be associated with type carbides precipitated, since the formation of
carbides is promoted by high solidification rates or by adding of alloying elements as Cr, Mo, V, Mn. In this work
the corrosion rate of a hub used in networks of fishing boats working under saline medium (sea water) was
studied. Corrosion rate of the original piece made of A2 steel as well as a conventional ADI and CADI pieces, in
order to compare them and determinate the suitability of replacing the steel from the point of view of corrosion
resistance.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Chemical composition and microstructure

In the experimental procedure samples of the piece shown in figure 1 were cut. The original piece was an A2
steel in quenched and tempered condition with tempered martensite in its microstructure, chemical
composition shown in Table 2. The nodular iron with austempering treatment (ADI) has the composition shown
in Table 2. Finally for the Carbide Austempered Ductile Iron (CADI) the chemical composition is also shown in
Table 2. The pieces of iron ADI and CADI were manufactured in the Foundry Laboratory Foundry of Metallurgical
Engineering Department of the UNAM and the steel is the commercial product.

Figure 1. Hub in networks of fishing boats

Table 1. Chemical composition of A2 steel (wt %)

%C %Si %Mn %P %Cr %Mo %Ni %Al %Cu %V %Fe

0.925 0.378 0.596 0.005 4.75 0.84 0.19 0.036 0.035 0.18 Balance

Table 2. Chemical composition of ADI and CADI pieces (wt %)

%C %Si %Mn %P %S %Cr %Mo %Ni %Cu %Mg

ADI Iron
3.5 2.40 0.68 0.015 0.11 0.10 --- ---- 0.53 0.028
CADI Iron
3.58 1.95 0.675 0.014 0.011 0.95 0.59 0.033 0.46 0.030

The microstructures of the three materials under study were analyzed by metallographic microscopy. In the case
of nodular iron with carbides was determined the fraction of precipitated carbides. Also punctual chemical
composition was analyzed by SEM-EDS techniques. ADI heat treatment conditions were austenitization
temperature 920 C during 50 min, followed by an isothermal treatment carried out at 300 C for 2 hours and
cooled in air. CADI in cast conditions showed 18% carbides and after heat treatment the final fraction of
carbides was 12%. Heat treatment conditions were 910 °C and 60 min austenitization, and isothermal treatment
to 375 °C for 75 min. For the case of steel has not data of heat treatment conditions because is a commercial
product.

Corrosion studies

Corrosion behavior was studied using electrochemical techniques, the corrosive medium used was 3% sodium
chloride solution. Corrosion stabilization potential-time was measured during 1 hour and then was applied the
polarization plots technique in stationary state starting with E corr and applying η from -500 mV to 1000mV with a
sweep velocity of 1 mV/seg. Corrosion rate was evaluated using Tafel plot technique in stationary state starting
with Ecorr and applying η±300 mV with sweep velocity of 1 mV/seg. Electrochemical tests were carried out using
a potenciostat-galvanostat with software integrated and connected to a PC. Experimental arrangement
consisted of three electrodes (work-auxiliary-reference) into acrylic cell.

RESULTS

Microstructural characterization

The microstructures of the three materials under study are shown in Figures 2a to 2c. 1a shows the
microstructure of the steel alloy in which carbides in a matrix of tempered martensite (1000X) were observed.
Figure 1b shows the microstructure of the iron ADI graphite spheroids present in a matrix of ausferrita (1000X).
Finally, Figure 1c shows the microstructure of the iron was observed also CADI graphite spheroids ausferrita
matrix in the presence of undissolved carbides (500X).

Figure 2. (a) Microstructure of A2 steel, (b) Microstructure of ADI cast iron y (c) Microstructure of CADI cast
iron.

Punctual analysis of chemical composition of carbides in iron CADI were obtained by SEM-EDS and shown in
Figure 3. High concentrations of chromium carbides and molybdenum were observed in intercellular regions.
Usually carbide type M3C are reported with this concentration of chromium and M2C type with molybdenum.
Figure 3. Microstructure obtained by BSE and spectro of chemical punctual analysis obtained by EDS

Corrosion rate

Figures 4, 5 and 6 shows the Taffel curves used to get the corrosion rate of each material. Results indicated that
the ADI and CADI have better corrosion resistance than A2 steel linked to its microstructure and also CADI has a
very high wear resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

The study of corrosion of a commercial hub for marine applications originally manufactured in A2 steel
quenched and tempered conditions was performed. Corrosion rate for steel materials and the two proposed
materials ADI and CADI was determined, CADI had the low corrosion rate.

High corrosion resistance of CADI iron may be associated to high levels of chromium makes it more resistant to
corrosion in marine environment, further also small amounts of molybdenum contributes to improved corrosion
resistance. Another important factor was the heat treatment to reduce or eliminate segregation patterns
formed during solidification, making more uniform the microstructure and composition of nodular iron. In the
case of the steel high corrosion rate is due to the residual stresses that acquires the material during quenching
treatment and in some cases are not completely removed during the annealing treatment. The combination of
corrosion resistance, hardness and wear resistance in the high CADI iron make it an ideal material for this
application, and to replace the original piece of steel.

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Support to M. Victor A. Aranda Villada in metallographic preparation for counting the fraction of carbides and
the analysis performed by SEM-EDS is appreciated

REFERENCES
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