Microstructure and properties of isothermally quenched high boron white cast iron

Microstructure and properties of isothermally quenched high boron white cast iron were investigated in this paper. The results show that the microstructure of high boron white cast iron is mainly composed of many continuous and netlike eutectic borides, pearlite and ferrite under as-cast condition. The microhardness of Fe₂B ranges in 1200-1600HV whose value seems to approximate that of (Fe, Cr)₇C₃-type carbide (HV1200-1800) in high chromium white cast iron. After isothermal quenching, the matrix transforms into lower bainite in which carbide precipitations are arranged in parallel rows at an angle of 60 deg to the long axis of the plates, but the morphology of boride remains nearly unchanged compared with its as-cast condition. Moreover, precipitation particles with the size of about 1-4 μm can be found in the matrix of isothermally quenched high boron white cast iron. Impact fracture morphology of isothermally quenched high boron white cast iron indicates that fracture propagated more easily through boride/matrix interface than through matrix.