Casting materials cracking problems due to thermal stress

[asimpson]

I am doing some R&D work using cast iron as a high temperature heat store and cycling it between 800-100 deg.C.

Naturally cracking occurs, I assume due to thermal stresses and low UTS of cast iron.

Would anyone have an opinion on the merits of using cast steel or bronze as an alternative to avoid this cracking problem?


Thanks

 

[btrueblood]

You might try ductile cast iron too. But yes, something with a bit more ductility and fewer stress risers (graphite flakes) than grey iron.

 

[arunmrao]

Did you consider Compacted Graphite Irons. They are better suited for thermal cycling applications.

_____________________________________
"It's better to die standing than live your whole life on the knees" by Peter Mayle in his book A Good Year

 

[CoryPad]

High SiMo ductile iron is widely used in automotive exhaust applications and may be suitable.

 

[dgallup]

Why use a solid? Most heat stores use something that transitions between phases as you can store much more energy.

----------------------------------------

The Help for this program was created in Windows Help format, which depends on a feature that isn't included in this version of Windows.