Damping and tribological properties of Fe–Si–C cast iron prepared using various heat treatments

Gray cast iron specimens with compositions of Fe–2.0Si–xC (x = 2.6, 3.6, 4.6 mass%) were prepared using three different heat treatments, and the damping and tribological properties of each specimen were investigated. It was found that pearlite-based gray cast iron exhibited higher damping capacity than ferrite- and martensite-based gray cast iron of the same composition, and that the damping capacities of the cast iron increased with higher carbon content. Additionally, the average friction coefficients of the gray cast iron specimens of the Fe–Si–C system were found to depend much more on the materials of the paired balls and pins rather than on the carbon content and heat treatment.