A method of manufacturing a cam piece for a continuously variable valve duration and a cam piece manufactured therefrom, and more particularly, to material and heat treatment conditions of a cam piece, may include manufacturing a cam piece by casting; heating the cam piece; maintaining a heating temperature; and salt-bathing the cam piece, in which the cam piece includes 3.2 to 4.2 wt % of carbon (C), 2.2 to 3.4 wt % of silicon (Si), and the balance iron (Fe), and may have a carbon equivalent value of 4.4 to 4.6.

A ductile iron composition including, by weight: about 3.1% to about 3.6% C; about 3.5% to about 4.0% Si; about 0.035% to about 0.050% Mg; about 0.001% to about 0.004% Ce; up to about 0.005% Sb; about 0.008% to about 0.016% S; up to about 0.04% P; up to about 0.3% Mn; and balance iron and incidental impurities;
The ductile iron composition includes a ratio of Sb/Ce greater than or equal to about 1.25, has a ferritic microstructure and graphite nodules, and greater than about 65% of the graphite nodules having a highly spherical geometry. A method and apparatus for forming a ductile iron composition are also disclosed.

A ductile iron composition including, by weight: about 3.1% to about 3.6% C; about 3.5% to about 4.0% Si; about 0.035% to about 0.050% Mg; about 0.001% to about 0.004% Ce; up to about 0.005% Sb; about 0.008% to about 0.016% S; up to about 0.04% P; up to about 0.3% Mn; and balance iron and incidental impurities;
The ductile iron composition includes a ratio of Sb/Ce greater than or equal to about 1.25, has a ferritic microstructure and graphite nodules, and greater than about 65% of the graphite nodules having a highly spherical geometry. A method and apparatus for forming a ductile iron composition are also disclosed.

A system and method of forming a wear resistant composite material includes placing a porous wear resistant filler material in a mold cavity and infiltrating the filler material with a matrix material by heating to a temperature sufficient to melt the matrix material, then cooling the assembly to form a wear resistant composite material. The system and method can be used to form the wear resistant composite material on the surface of a substrate, such as a part for excavating equipment or other mechanical part. One suitable matrix material may be any of a variety of ductile iron alloys.

A system and method of forming a wear resistant composite material includes placing a porous wear resistant filler material in a mold cavity and infiltrating the filler material with a matrix material by heating to a temperature sufficient to melt the matrix material, then cooling the assembly to form a wear resistant composite material. The system and method can be used to form the wear resistant composite material on the surface of a substrate, such as a part for excavating equipment or other mechanical part. One suitable matrix material may be any of a variety of ductile iron alloys.

A nodular iron alloy and automotive components, such as differential and drive axle components, are provided. The nodular iron alloy may include iron, about 3.1-3.3 wt % carbon, about 2.7-4.3 wt % silicon, about 0.15-0.40 wt % manganese, about 0-0.10 wt % magnesium, about 0-0.2 wt % nickel, about 0-0.4 wt % copper, about 0-0.30 wt % chromium, about 0-0.03 wt % phosphorus, and about 0-0.02 wt % sulfur. The nodular iron alloy may have an ultimate tensile strength of at least 620 MPa as-cast. This alloy possesses favorable weldability to weld with steel components without substantial preheating or post heat treatment for a strong and tough weldment, and it has good machinability to facility comprehensive machining operations.

A nodular iron alloy and automotive components, such as differential and drive axle components, are provided. The nodular iron alloy may include iron, about 3.1-3.3 wt % carbon, about 2.7-4.3 wt % silicon, about 0.15-0.40 wt % manganese, about 0-0.10 wt % magnesium, about 0-0.2 wt % nickel, about 0-0.4 wt % copper, about 0-0.30 wt % chromium, about 0-0.03 wt % phosphorus, and about 0-0.02 wt % sulfur. The nodular iron alloy may have an ultimate tensile strength of at least 620 MPa as-cast. This alloy possesses favorable weldability to weld with steel components without substantial preheating or post heat treatment for a strong and tough weldment, and it has good machinability to facility comprehensive machining operations.

A ferrosilicon inoculant for gray cast iron containing between 0.1 to 10% by weight strontium, less than 0.35% by weight calcium, 1.5 to 10% by weight aluminum and 0.1 to 15% zirconium, The inoculant, method for producing the inoculant, method for inoculating the melt and a gray cast iron inoculated with the inoculant are covered.

A ferrosilicon inoculant for gray cast iron containing between 0.1 to 10% by weight strontium, less than 0.35% by weight calcium, 1.5 to 10% by weight aluminum and 0.1 to 15% zirconium, The inoculant, method for producing the inoculant, method for inoculating the melt and a gray cast iron inoculated with the inoculant are covered.

A nodular iron alloy and automotive components, such as crankshafts, are provided. The nodular iron alloy may include iron, about 3.3-3.9 wt % carbon, about 0.2-0.5 wt % manganese, about 1.9-2.6 wt % silicon, about 0.15-0.30 wt % copper, about 0.03-0.06 wt % magnesium, about 0-0.02 wt % sulfur, about 0-0.1 wt % chromium, about 0-0.05 wt % phosphorus, and/or about 0-0.01 wt % tin. The nodular iron alloy may include a number of graphite nodules, each having a diameter between 15 and 120 micrometers, and the graphite nodules having a number density of at least 90 per square millimeter. Iron may surround the graphite nodules in an amount of 20-40% of a ferrite microstructure and 60-80% of a pearlite microstructure. The nodular iron alloy may have an ultimate tensile strength in the range of 550 MPa to 680 MPa as-cast and at least 80% nodularity.