This study examines the impacts of copper and boron in parts per million (ppm) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of spheroidal graphite cast iron (SCI). Boron’s inclusion increases the ferrite content whereas copper augments the stability of pearlite. The interaction between the two significantly influences the ferrite content. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis indicates that boron alters the enthalpy change of the α + Fe3C → γ conversion and the α → γ conversion. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis confirms the locations of copper and boron. Mechanical property assessments using a universal testing machine show that the inclusion of boron and copper decreases the tensile strength and yield strength of SCI, but simultaneously enhances elongation. Additionally, in SCI production, the utilization of copper-bearing scrap and trace amounts of boron-containing scrap metal, especially in the casting of ferritic nodular cast iron, offers potential for resource recycling. This highlights the importance of resource conservation and recycling in advancing sustainable manufacturing practices. These findings provide critical insights into the effects of boron and copper on SCI’s behavior, contributing to the design and development of high-performance SCI materials.

This study investigated the impact of boron and copper on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Spheroidal graphite Cast Iron (SCI). The addition of boron increased the ferrite content, while copper increased the stability of pearlite. The interaction between boron and copper significantly increased the ferrite content. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) revealed that boron decreased the enthalpy change of the α + Fe3C -> γ transformation and increased the enthalpy change of the α -> γ transformation. The addition of boron and copper reduced the tensile and yield strength but increased elongation and impact energy. The findings provide valuable insights into the effect of boron and copper on SCI, facilitating the design and development of high-performance SCI materials.

In this study, the characteristics of the SKD61 material used for the stem of an extruder were analyzed through structural analysis, tensile testing, and fatigue testing. The extruder works by pushing a cylindrical billet into a die with a stem to reduce its cross-sectional area and increase its length, and it is currently used to extrude complex and diverse shapes of products in the field of plastic deformation processes. Finite element analysis was used to determine the maximum stress on the stem, which was found to be 1152 MPa, lower than the yield strength of 1325 MPa obtained from tensile testing. Fatigue testing was conducted using the stress–life (S–N) method, considering the characteristics of the stem, and statistical fatigue testing was employed to create an S–N curve. The predicted minimum fatigue life of the stem at room temperature was 424,998 cycles at the location with the highest stress, and the fatigue life decreased with increasing temperature. Overall, this study provides useful information for predicting the fatigue life of extruder stems and improving their durability.