Effect of Rare Earth on M7C3 Eutectic Carbide in 13% Chromium Alloy Cast Iron

The crystallization process of hypoeutectic white cast iron consists of the first secreted austenite branch after the reaction of the austenite -carbide crystal is formed, and the phase crystal fills in the middle of the austenite branches. If the austenite branches are small and smooth, the crystals carbide are fine. The cast iron with 13% chromium which has 3 - 3.2% carbon, have the carbide crystalline as M7C3. The elements in rare earth have a strong affinity for oxygen and sulfur to produce rare earth oxides. These rare earth oxides can create heterogeneous germ center for austenite phases and smooth down these phases. The effect of rare earth on the M7C3 and crystals of 13% chrome white iron has been elucidated. Along with the increase of rare earth content, the microstructure of M7C3 with fine finely graded, more uniformly distributed, dispersed throughout the sample surface. When the carbide is fine and dispersion, will contribute to improving the properties of cast iron especially the impact strength as well as the abrasion resistance of the alloy. The research results show that in the presence of rare earth, rare earth elements created with oxygen and form La2O3 and Ce2O3 as the nucleation for the solidification process and create the small fineness of phases. The orientation of the crystal structure of these oxides is similar to the crystal structure orientation of Fe-γ phase. Finding and proving the oxides of rare earth has crystal structure with phase γ which will be small smooth exogenous minds that the microstructure has a smooth, small size.