HOT TOPICS

Issue # 5, 2003
Effect of Boron in Ductile Iron
1) Basic elemental information
Element &
Symbol

Atomic
Number

Atomic
Weight

Boron (B)

10.82

Melting
Point

Boron is a stable element and does not burn off in

re-melting. Therefore, it can accumulate and is
only reduced by dilution over time. Segregation of
suspect material might be warranted.

3720 F

2) How Boron is introduced in the iron

Sources of boron include tool steels, interstitial-free
steels, hardenable steels, enameled cast irons and
steels, malleable iron, and certain furnace lining
materials. It has been reported that some silicon
carbide sources can contain boron. Boron is not
reduced or eliminated in normal melting practice.
Recovery is considered to be >90 % from most
sources when oxygen contents are low.
As an alloy addition in malleable iron, boron
combines with N to form boron nitride which
increases temper carbon (nodule) counts and
reduces annealing time. In steels, boron is added at
levels of 0.001 to 0.003% to enhance hardenability.
Boron readily reacts with O and N in steel, and to
be an effective alloy addition, other oxide and
nitride formers such as Al, Ti and Zr are added to
protect the boron.
A major source of boron can be furnace lining
materials. Boric acid and boric oxide are common
components in the binders. Boric oxide lowers the
fusion temperatures, accelerates sintering and
improves toughness. In coreless melting units, it
has been said that boron is picked up in the first 4
hours of melting and that boron will increase from a
nominal 0.0015% to 0.0028%. Subsequent heats
are not susceptible to B pickup.
However, in pressure pour furnaces, it has been
reported that boron pickup persists much longer.
One report indicated an increase from 0.0006 to
0.0061% after holding for two weeks. A different
lining material resulted in raising B from 0.0009%
to 0.0017%. In both instances the linings had been
installed for more than six months.
In another study where various alumina linings
were investigated, boron pickup over a 6-hour
period ranged from 0 to 0.0295%.

3) Effects on the Microstructure

Boron increases the propensity to form ferrite and
carbides in ductile iron. Levels above 0.0005% (5
ppm) can influence the ability to develop fully
pearlitic microstructures in ductile iron. Levels
above 0.002% will form stable carbides in ductile
iron. As little as 0.008%B is known to cause
filamentary carbides in the cell boundaries of
ductile iron.
The normal additions of Mn, Cu and Sn must be
increased to counteract the ferritizing tendency of
boron in pearlitic ductile iron. Various reports have
been given on the influence of boron. One report
stated that when B exceeded 0.0008% in pearlitic
ductile iron, raising the Cu level from 0.23% to
0.47% was sufficient, but that additions of up to
0.16%Mn were ineffective. In the same study,
additions of N actually lowered hardness and at the
same time raised nodule count.
In another trial with 93 to 111 ppm boron, the
additions lowered the pearlite content from 80% to
45% in iron alloyed with 0.50%Cu and 0.0046%Sn.
An addition of 0.41%Cu almost restored the
pearlite, and a subsequent addition of 0.053%Sn
fully restored the pearlitic microstructure. The
investigators also noted pearlite content increased
when the inoculation addition was cut by 75%. Of
course the nodule count was also reduced.
Doubling the inoculant addition further reduced the
pearlite content.
Boron additions have also been investigated in
ferritic ductile iron. An iron with 20% pearlite and
containing 0.20%Cu and 0.0006%B was unaffected
by an addition of 0.0057% boron, thus indicating
that B will not likely be effective in promoting
ferritic structures in ductile iron.

4) Effects on the Mechanical Properties

In general, addition of boron results in decreased
tensile strength, yield strength and hardness in
pearlitic ductile iron.
In one study the mechanical properties of a 16mm
(5/8 in) thick section was reduced by 38 N/mm
(5500 psi) and elongation was reduced by 5% with
the inclusion of 0.01% B. The reason for the
reduction was reported to be the precipitation of
boro-carbides in the cell boundaries.
In another study, a plant noticed a significant
reduction in Brinell hardness of pearlitic ductile
iron after holding the iron in pressure pour furnaces
for several weeks. They studied the chemistry and
found that the boron ranged from 0.0019% to
0.0059 % during the problem period. As the boron
content dropped below 0.0017 % the hardness
became normal again (200 - 210 HB) without
changes in the other chemical residuals. In
addition, as the B dropped below 0.0006 % the
hardness increased to over 230 HB.
In a third study, boron levels of less than 0.0010 %
had little effect on ductile iron properties, whereas
levels of 0.0100 % reduced tensile strength and
hardness slightly and reduced elongation by >40 %.
The material with the elevated B level displayed a
cell boundary network of boro-carbides, which at
high magnification looked very much like
phosphide eutectic.
Annealing Boro-Carbides
In that study, annealing at 1750 F for eight hours
failed to decompose the carbide network, but did
inhibit the decomposition of pearlite during
subsequent furnace cooling and holding at 1275 F.
Analysis of Boron in Ductile Iron
The fastest method for the analysis of boron is by
optical emission spectrometry (OES), but care must
be taken because the lines for B and S are very
close and S can splash over and cause an error. The
best methods for analysis are atomic absorption or a
wet method using boron free glassware, which takes
about seven hours. The boro-carbides are not
readily dissolved in acid and misleading low results
from chemical analysis may be encountered.
Special techniques are required for wet chemistry of
the element.
5) Environmental considerations

There are no known environmental or health

concerns with boron as a dissolved component in
cast iron.
6) Effects on melting and chill
Melting losses are negligible and boron is not lost
on re-melting. Boron recovery is considered to be
>90%. It is known to cause carbide in the cell
boundaries, but it is not known for causing chill at
the normal levels encountered in ductile iron.
7) Considerations in various ductile iron grades
a) In pearlitic ductile irons, boron should be held
below 0.001%. Additions of Cu and Sn can reverse
the ferrite-forming tendency of boron. The melting
of pearlitic ductile should be delayed, rather than
immediately following the relining of the furnace.
b) In ferritic ductile iron, boron appears to have no
effect.
c) In hardenable ductile irons, boron is not known
to impart added hardenability.
8) Effect of section thickness
No reports on the effects of boron in various section
sizes were found.
9) Counteracting detrimental effects
Copper and tin additions were found to counteract
the ferrite forming tendencies of boron. Limited
studies with manganese additions indicated that Mn
was ineffective in restoring pearlite.
Foundries should consider scheduling the melting
of pearlitic iron for a number of shifts after relining
the melting and holding furnaces to avoid soft
castings.
Because melting losses are very low, boron can
accumulate in the iron. There are several sources of
boron and it is only reduced by dilution over time.
Segregation of suspect material might be warranted.
10) References
Trace Elements in Cast Irons, R. Naro and J.F.
Wallace, AFS Transactions, 1969.
The effect of Boron in Ductile Iron, L. Jenkins,
Ductile Iron News, 1995.
Boron Contamination in Ductile Iron, R.D.
Schelleng, Modern Casting, 1967.
Prepared by Richard Gundlach
Climax Research Services, Inc