Design and optimization of stepped austempered ductile iron using characterization techniques

Conventional characterization techniques such as dilatometry, X-ray diffraction and metallography were used to select and optimize temperatures and times for conventional and stepped austempering. Austenitization and conventional austempering time was selected when the dilatometry graphs showed a constant expansion value. A special heat color-etching technique was applied to distinguish between the untransformed austenite and high carbon stabilized austenite which had formed during the treatments. Finally, it was found that carbide precipitation was absent during the stepped austempering in contrast to conventional austempering, on which carbide evidence was found.