Effects of graphite shape on thermal fatigue resistance of cast iron with biomimetic non-smooth surface

In order to improve thermal fatigue resistance of cast iron and further study the effects of graphite shape on it, samples with different graphite shapes were processed by laser to create a biomimetic non-smooth surface. The results indicated that laser processed zone caused the longer crack initiation life and the slower crack propagation rate, which endowed biomimetic non-smooth surface with a beneficial effect on improving thermal fatigue behavior of iron with flake, vermiform or nodular graphite. Thermal fatigue resistance of samples with the same kind of surface (smooth or non-smooth) all were sorted as nodular graphite iron > vermicular graphite iron > flake graphite iron.