Cast iron alloyed with Al, Si and Mn, employed for the production of pillow block of rail cars for the transport of sugar cane

Abstract

In this paper is shown the obtaining by inoculation in ladle of gray cast iron using the system Al-Si-Mn, with an alloy level among 5,27-5,70 %, where the aluminum is between 1,97-2,97%, the silicon between 2,14-3,30 % and the manganese between 0,49-0,53 %, whose metallographic and mechanical properties coincide with the established ones for the use in the production of plane bearings for the rail road cars to carry sugar cane, because the matrix was obtained predominantly perlític (85-90 %), with inclusions of a laminate straight graphite, in a concentration among 10-12 % and size between 45 and 90 ìm. A hardness that is in the range of 269-285 HB and the volumetric wear is 8,6 times less in the sample M1 than in the tribologic pair formed by the basic metal. The substitution of brass by cast iron reduces the costs of production of plane bearings.