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Technical Information 7

Magnesium Contents in Ductile Iron


Magnesium is usually introduced into cast iron melts by the addition of a magnesium
ferrosilicon alloy (MgFeSi or FeSiMg). When magnesium is added its first effect is to
combine with any sulphur and oxygen present in the iron to form sulphides and oxides. No
"free" magnesium can occur in solution in the iron to promote the formation of spheroidal
graphite until all the sulphur and oxygen have been consumed. In order to cope with
variations in the oxygen and sulphur contents of the base iron, a higher addition of
magnesium is normally made than is strictly needed. This is in addition to that made to
compensate for losses by evaporation during addition. Only a fraction of the magnesium is
dissolved in the iron after the nodularizing reaction is complete.

The total analytical or residual magnesium content of liquid iron immediately after treat-
ment is comprised of:
• Dissolved magnesium;
• Micro-inclusions of magnesium compounds (oxides and sulphides)
• Larger, magnesium containing slag particles

These contributions to total magnesium will react in different ways during subsequent
holding of the iron. A schematic example of the fading characteristics of the magnesium
content on holding is given in the figure below. It is not possible to separate between
these three contributions to the residual magnesium by conventional analytical methods
that will only give the total magnesium content of the iron.

Figure 1: Fading of magnesium during holding of treated ductile iron (left), and schematic represen-
tation of magnesium losses from a treatment ladle (right).

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Technical Information 7 2

Important Characteristics of Magnesium Analysis and Magnesium Fading on Holding:


• The total residual magnesium content of ductile iron as analyzed is not the same as
the dissolved magnesium content.
• Fading of the magnesium content on holding treated iron may be the result of slag
separation, inclusion flotation and evaporation loss of dissolved magnesium. In
some instances magnesium fading can make a positive contribution to the metal
cleanliness and freedom from slag entrapment since harmful slag particles will float
to the bath surface with holding time and can hence be removed.
• Only the total magnesium content (slags + micro-particles + dissolved) in a sample
can be analyzed by ordinary analytical methods.
• It has been shown that losses of dissolved magnesium on holding generally are
small and that the degeneration of the spheroidal graphite structure often attributed
to magnesium fade, is actually the result of fading of inoculation. Fully spheroidal
graphite structures can often be regained by a small, late addition of inoculant.

Figure 2: Schematic representation of fading of graphite


nodularity on holding. A second addition of inocu-
lant can regain fully spheroidal graphite structures
even though the analytical magnesium content is
falling continuously.

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