Effect of Mo Co-Alloying on Microstructure and Properties of Gray Cast Iron Produced with Steel and Foundry Scrap

In the present work, the gray cast iron was prepared using 80% steel scrap collected from outside and 20% from the in-house plant returns. The effect of Mo co-alloying in the presence of Cu on the microstructural and mechanical properties of gray cast iron has been investigated. The results show that the A-type graphite flakes have increased with Mo content until M2 (0.5% Mo). There is no proper trend in the variation in the mechanical properties with the addition of Mo. Microstructural characteristics show that the increase in Mo content aids in refining the pearlite structure and solid solution strengthening of the matrix, thereby increasing the hardness values. Mo addition also increases the wear properties of gray cast iron as it forms microsegregations that act as lubricant bearings during the wearing mechanism.