Study of the effect of a combined modifier from silicon production waste on the properties of gray cast iron

Introduction. During the metallurgical production of silicon, waste is generated that accumulates in dumps, causing harm to the environment. Disposal and recycling of solid waste from silicon production is especially important because They contain important chemical compounds (silicon dioxide, silicon carbide, carbon nanotubes) that can be used in other industries, which will bring greater economic value. Considering the possibilities for extracting these useful components from silicon production waste, it is necessary to bring processing technologies to the stage of widespread practical application. Therefore, the development of a special waste processing technology to obtain a useful product in the form of a composition of silicon dioxide and silicon carbide remains an urgent problem. Purpose of the work: to study the formation of the morphological form of graphite with the introduction of nano-modifiers from silicon production waste. The work examined samples of gray cast iron after modification with a combined modifier obtained from silicon production waste. The research methods are mechanical tests for statistical tension, analysis of the chemical composition and metallographic studies. Results and discussion. It was revealed that the mechanical properties of gray cast iron increased by 30-50% after modification with a combined modifier, compared with witness samples. The morphology of graphite is an important parameter affecting the properties of cast iron. It has been established that during the modification process the morphology of graphite changes from lamellar to vermicular. Specimens of gray cast iron with vermicular form of graphite have high strength values compared to specimens of gray cast iron with lamellar form of graphite. The presented results confirm the promise of the developed approach aimed at obtaining new classes of modifiers and products made of gray cast iron with a high range of mechanical properties.