Patent ID: 6102981
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: B22D,G01N

Abstract:
A method of controlling a composition of a cast iron melt comprising:preparing a cast iron melt;adding a structure modifying agent and a nucleating agent in amounts selected to produce a fully compacted graphite iron upon solidification of the melt;extracting a sample of the melt in a sample vessel, the sample vessel comprising:an inner wall having an active portion and an inert portion,the active portion comprising a material which will lower a concentration of dissolved structure modifying agent in the melt by at least 0.003%;providing at least three temperature measuring devices, at least one of the temperature measuring devices disposed substantially at a center of the sample vessel, at least one of the temperature measuring devices disposed adjacent to the active portion of the sample vessel, at least one of the temperature measuring devices disposed adjacent to the inert portion of the sample vessel;allowing the temperature measuring devices to reach thermal equilibrium with the melt;recording temperatures measured by the temperature measuring devices;comparing the recorded temperatures with known cooling curves to determine any corrections to the melt, wherein the corrections are selected from the group consisting of: (a) adjusting a content of the nucleating agent and (b) adjusting a content of the structure modifying agent; andmaking the corrections to the composition of the melt necessary to produce compacted graphite crystals upon solidification of the melt.