Properties of a gray cast iron with oriented graphite flakes

A new gray cast iron (GCI) with oriented graphite flakes was prepared by a severe plastic deformation (SPD) process. It was clearly recognized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy (OM) observation of the graphite shape, that thinner and parallel graphite flakes were the main character in the deformed GCI. It was proposed that graphite flakes cracking with the dissolving of carbon is the main mechanism in the SPD process. The oriented graphite flakes improved the tensile strength and a considerable ductility was obtained simultaneously.