If I melt down a ductile iron pipe for casting, will it still be
ductile iron upon cooling, or will whatever is used to nodulize the
graphite burn off? Or is there a specific cooling protocol to follow
for ductile? Thanks!

"dan *5" wrote in message
...
If I melt down a ductile iron pipe for casting, will it still be
ductile iron upon cooling, or will whatever is used to nodulize the
graphite burn off? Or is there a specific cooling protocol to follow
for ductile? Thanks!

It is unlikely that you'll end up with ductile, especially if you melt in a
crucible. Once gray iron (low in sulfur only) is inoculated, there is a
brief period where the material forms the spheres of graphite. By the time
you have reheated the material, the magnesium that is responsible for the
conversion will have long since been burned away. You will end up with gray
iron if you're lucky, and white if not. A lot depends on the method of
melting. An induction furnace is ideal, a cupola only if you either use
sulfur free coke, or introduce calcium carbide to the molten iron just
before inoculation. The calcium carbide will combine with the sulfur,
reducing it to an acceptable level. Otherwise, the inoculation isn't
likely to be successful.

Harold

On Nov 30, 4:13*am, "Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote:
"dan *5" wrote in message
If I melt down a ductile iron pipe for casting, will it still be
ductile iron upon cooling,...
It is unlikely that you'll end up with ductile, especially if you melt in a
crucible....
Harold

http://www.ductile.org/didata/Section7/7intro.htm

Malleable iron;
http://steel.keytometals.com/Articles/Art121.htm

I think there is a simpler, older process where the castings are
cooked at red heat for a week. The iron in my old wood stove machines
quite well.