Ductile cast irons: Microstructure influence on the damaging micromechanisms in overloaded fatigue cracks

In this work, the microstructure influence on the damaging micromechanisms in overloaded fatigue cracks in a ferritic DCI was investigated considering fatigue precracked Compact Type (CT) specimens at room temperature. These specimens were metallographically prepared, chemical etched and, then, fatigue precracked and overloaded. According to a step by step procedure, lateral surfaces were observed by means of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).