A spheroidal graphite cast iron comprising: C: 3.3 to 4.0 mass %, Si: 2.1 to 2.7 mass %, Mn: 0.20 to 0.50 mass %, S: 0.005 to 0.030 mass %, Cu: 0.20 to 0.50 mass %, Mg: 0.03 to 0.06 mass % and the balance: Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein a tensile strength is 550 MPa or more, and an elongation is 12% or more.

A casting solidification analysis method, which can analyze positions of shrinkage cavities more accurately than in the past, a casting method using the above method, and an electronic program are provided. A following casting solidification analysis method is provided. An amount of expansion/shrinkage for each solidification step length separated by inflection points in a cooling curve is determined, by setting a solid phase ratio at a completion of pouring to 0, setting a solid phase ratio at an end of solidification to 1.0, and determining the expansion/shrinkage amount for the each solidification step length by proportionally distributing the each solidification step length to the total solid phase ratio length.

A casting solidification analysis method, which can analyze positions of shrinkage cavities more accurately than in the past, a casting method using the above method, and an electronic program are provided. A following casting solidification analysis method is provided. An amount of expansion/shrinkage for each solidification step length separated by inflection points in a cooling curve is determined, by setting a solid phase ratio at a completion of pouring to 0, setting a solid phase ratio at an end of solidification to 1.0, and determining the expansion/shrinkage amount for the each solidification step length by proportionally distributing the each solidification step length to the total solid phase ratio length.

The present invention refers to a vermicular cast iron alloy specially designed for internal combustion engine blocks and heads having special requirements of mechanical strength and fatigue strength. Vermicular iron alloy with high mechanical strength and high fatigue strength for the production of internal combustion engines blocks and heads characterized by having a microstructure of pearlitic matrix and predominantly vermicular graphite (>70%) and presence of graphite nodules in up to 30%, wherein its graphite microstructure is described by the Microstructure Factor (FM), as defined below, with Microstructure Factor values higher than 0.94.

A spheroidal graphite cast iron meeting N.sub.(5-)≥250, N.sub.5-20)/N.sub.(5-)≥0.6, and N.sub.(30-)/N.sub.(5-)≤0.2, wherein N.sub.(5-) represents the number (/mm.sup.2) of graphite particles having equivalent-circle diameters of 5 μm or more, N.sub.(5-20) represents the number (/mm.sup.2) of graphite particles having equivalent-circle diameters of 5 μm or more and less than 20 μm, and N.sub.(30-) represents the number (/mm.sup.2) of graphite particles having equivalent-circle diameters of 30 μm or more, among graphite particles observed in an arbitrary cross section of at least 1 mm.sup.2.

A spheroidal graphite cast iron meeting N.sub.(5-)≥250, N.sub.5-20)/N.sub.(5-)≥0.6, and N.sub.(30-)/N.sub.(5-)≤0.2, wherein N.sub.(5-) represents the number (/mm.sup.2) of graphite particles having equivalent-circle diameters of 5 μm or more, N.sub.(5-20) represents the number (/mm.sup.2) of graphite particles having equivalent-circle diameters of 5 μm or more and less than 20 μm, and N.sub.(30-) represents the number (/mm.sup.2) of graphite particles having equivalent-circle diameters of 30 μm or more, among graphite particles observed in an arbitrary cross section of at least 1 mm.sup.2.

Additive for the thermochemical treatment of molten iron in order to separate, distribute, agglomerate, precipitate, spheroidize and/or crystallize combined, solvated and/or colloidal carbon present in molten iron in the liquid state into graphite in its hexagonal diamond or Lonsdaleite form, in order to produce ductile, nodular, spheroidal, vermicular, coral, spheroidized or grey iron with superior mechanical properties, iron with high metal yield and zero contraction during casting; the additive comprises two or more elements in the metallic state selected from the S-block of periods 2 to 7 of the periodic table of elements; and two or more elements in the metallic state selected from F-block of periods 6 to 7 of the periodic table of elements. The additive makes it possible to produce cast iron parts with Type I and II spheroidal graphite in hexagonal diamond or Lonsdaleite form as per the ASTM-A247 standard.

Additive for the thermochemical treatment of molten iron in order to separate, distribute, agglomerate, precipitate, spheroidize and/or crystallize combined, solvated and/or colloidal carbon present in molten iron in the liquid state into graphite in its hexagonal diamond or Lonsdaleite form, in order to produce ductile, nodular, spheroidal, vermicular, coral, spheroidized or grey iron with superior mechanical properties, iron with high metal yield and zero contraction during casting; the additive comprises two or more elements in the metallic state selected from the S-block of periods 2 to 7 of the periodic table of elements; and two or more elements in the metallic state selected from F-block of periods 6 to 7 of the periodic table of elements. The additive makes it possible to produce cast iron parts with Type I and II spheroidal graphite in hexagonal diamond or Lonsdaleite form as per the ASTM-A247 standard.

The present invention relates to the technological field of cast iron alloys for automotive and similar applications. Problem to be solved: Presently, structural parts of internal combustion engines are made of gray cast iron alloys that rarely have a tensile strength limit range greater than 350 MPa or vermicular cast iron alloys that do not remain stable at high temperatures. Solution of the problem: It is disclosed a vermicular cast iron alloy that, due to the addition of amounts of Molybdenum, Copper and Tin, with Hot Resistance Factor from 0.5 to 1.7% (HRF=3×(% Mo)+1×(% Sn)+0.25×(% Cu)) achieves a tensile strength limit of 500 to 550 MPa at room temperature and up to 300° C., and a tensile strength limit of 430 to 450 MPa at 400° C.

A spheroidal graphite cast iron having a chemical composition of: C: 3.0% to 4.0%, Si: 2.0% to 2.4%, Cu: 0.20% to 0.50%, Mn: 0.15% to 0.35%, S: 0.005% to 0.030%, Mg: 0.03% to 0.06%, each by mass, and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, where Mn and Cu are contained at 0.45% to 0.75% in total; and a structure in which a ferrite layer encloses spheroidal graphite crystallized out in a matrix of pearlite. Part of the pearlite is extended from the matrix side to the spheroidal graphite side to divide the ferrite layer at one or more areas.