# US 2020/0399724 A1 · Cast iron inoculant and method for production of cast iron inoculant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0399724 A1 - Document ID: US20200399724A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/957,284 - Filed: 2018-12-21 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-29 - Assignees: Elkem ASA - Applicants: Elkem Asa - Inventors: Emmanuelle OTT - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399724A1 ## CPC - C21C 1/105: {Nodularising additive agents} - B22D 1/007: {Treatment of the fused masses in the supply runners (B22D1/002, B22D1/005 take precedence)} - C22C 33/08: Making cast-iron alloys - C22C 38/002: {containing In, Mg, or other elements not provided for in one single group C22C38/001 - C22C38/60} - C22C 38/005: {containing rare earths, i.e. Sc, Y, Lanthanides} - C22C 38/02: containing silicon - C22C 38/04: containing manganese - C22C 38/06: containing aluminium - C22C 38/14: containing titanium or zirconium - C22C 38/60: containing lead, selenium, tellurium, or antimony, or more than 0.04% by weight of sulfur - C22C 37/04: containing spheroidal graphite - C21C: PROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS - B22D: CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES (shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; metallurgical processing, selection of substances to be added to metal C21, C22) - C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F) ## Abstract An inoculant for the manufacture of cast iron with spheroidal graphite is disclosed, the inoculant has a particulate ferrosilicon alloy having between 40 and 80% by weight of Si, 0.02-8% by weight of Ca; 0-5% by weight of Sr; 0-12% by weight of Ba; 0-10% by weight of rare earth metal; 0-5% by weight of Mg; 0.05-5% by weight of Al; 0-10% by weight of Mn; 0-10% by weight of Ti; 0-10% by weight of Zr; the balance being Fe and incidental impurities in the ordinary amount, wherein the inoculant additionally contains, by weight, based on the total weight of inoculant: 0.1 to 15% by weight of particulate rare earth metal oxide(s) and at least one of from 0.1 to 15% of particulate Bi2O3, and/or from 0.1 to 15% of particulate Bi2S3, and/or from 0.1 to 15% of particulate Sb2O3, and/or from 0.1 to 15% of particulate Sb2S3, and/or from 0.1 to 5% of one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof, and/or from 0.1 to 5% of one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof, a method for producing such inoculant and use of such inoculant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inoculant for the manufacture of cast iron with spheroidal graphite, said inoculant comprises a particulate ferrosilicon alloy consisting of between 40 and 80% by weight of Si, 0.02-8% by weight of Ca; 0-5% by weight of Sr; 0-12% by weight of Ba; 0-10% by weight of rare earth metal; 0-5% by weight of Mg; 0.05-5% by weight of Al; 0-10% by weight of Mn; 0-10% by weight of Ti; 0-10% by weight of Zr; the balance being Fe and incidental impurities in the ordinary amount, wherein said inoculant additionally contains, by weight, based on the total weight of inoculant: 0.1 to 15% by weight of particulate rare earth metal oxide(s), and at least one of from 0.1 to 15% of particulate Bi2O3, and/or from 0.1 to 15% of particulate Bi2S3, and/or from 0.1 to 15% of particulate Sb2O3, and/or from 0.1 to 15% of particulate Sb2S3, and optionally from 0.1 to 5% of one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof, and/or from 0.1 to 5% of one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the ferrosilicon alloy comprises between 45 and 60% by weight of Si. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the ferrosilicon alloy comprises between 60 and 80% by weight of Si. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the rare earth metals include Ce, La, Y and/or mischmetal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the inoculant comprises 0.2 to 12% by weight of particulate rare earth metal oxide(s). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the rare earth metal oxide(s) is (are) CeO2 and/or La2O3 and/or Y2O3. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the inoculant comprises from 0.3 to 10% of particulate Bi2O3. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the inoculant comprises from 0.3 to 10% of particulate Bi2S3. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the inoculant comprises from 0.3 to 10% of particulate Sb2O3. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the inoculant comprises from 0.3 to 10% of particulate Sb2S3. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the inoculant comprises from 0.5 to 3% of one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof, and/or from 0.5 to 3% of one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of the particulate rare earth metal oxide(s) and the at least one of particulate Bi2O3, and/or particulate Bi2S3, particulate Sb2O3, and/or particulate Sb2S3, and/or one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof, and/or one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof is up to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the inoculant. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the inoculant is in the form of a blend or a physical mixture of the particulate ferrosilicon alloy and the particulate rare earth metal oxide(s), and the at least one particulate Bi2O3, particulate Bi2S3, particulate Sb2O3, particulate Sb2S3, one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof and/or one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the particulate rare earth metal oxide(s), and the at least one particulate Bi2O3, particulate Bi2S3, particulate Sb2O3, particulate Sb2S3, one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof and/or one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof are present as coating compounds on the particulate ferrosilicon based alloy ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the inoculant is in the form of agglomerates made from a mixture of the particulate ferrosilicon alloy and the particulate rare earth metal oxide(s), and the at least one particulate Bi2O3, particulate Bi2S3, particulate Sb2O3, particulate Sb2S3, one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof and/or one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the inoculant is in the form of briquettes made from a mixture of the particulate ferrosilicon alloy and the particulate rare earth metal oxide(s), and the at least one particulate Bi2O3, particulate Bi2S3, particulate Sb2O3, particulate Sb2S3, one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof and/or one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The inoculant according to claim 1, wherein the particulate ferrosilicon based alloy and the particulate rare earth metal oxide(s), and the at least one particulate Bi2O3, particulate Bi2S3, particulate Sb2O3, particulate Sb2S3, one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof and/or one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof, are added separately but simultaneously to liquid cast iron. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A method for producing an inoculant according to claim 1, comprising: providing a particulate base alloy comprising between 40 to 80% by weight of Si, 0.02-8% by weight of Ca; 0-5% by weight of Sr; 0-12% by weight of Ba; 0-10% by weight of rare earth metal; 0-5% by weight of Mg; 0.05-5% by weight of Al; 0-10% by weight of Mn; 0-10% by weight of Ti; 0-10% by weight of Zr; the balance being Fe and incidental impurities in the ordinary amount, and adding to the said particulate base, by weight, based on the total weight of inoculant, 0.1 to 15% by weight of particulate rare earth metal oxide(s) and at least one of from 0.1 to 15% of particulate Bi2O3, and/or from 0.1 to 15% of particulate Bi2S3, and/or from 0.1 to 15% of particulate Sb2O3, and/or from 0.1 to 15% of particulate Sb2S3, and optionally from 0.1 to 5% of one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof, and/or from 0.1 to 5% of one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof, to produce said inoculant. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A The method according to claim 18, wherein the particulate rare earth metal oxide(s), and the particulate Bi2O3, and/or the particulate Bi2S3, and/or the particulate Sb2O3, the particulate Sb2S3, the one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof, and/or the one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof, are mixed or blended with the particulate base alloy. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A The method according to claim 18, wherein the particulate rare earth metal oxide(s), and the particulate Bi2O3, and/or the particulate Bi2S3, and/or the particulate Sb2O3, the particulate Sb2S3, the one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof, and/or the one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof, are mixed before being mixed with the particulate base alloy. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) Method for manufacturing cast iron with spheroidal graphite, by adding the inoculant according to claim 1 to the cast iron melt prior to casting, simultaneously to casting or as an in-mould inoculant. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein the particulate ferrosilicon based alloy and the particulate rare earth metal oxide(s), and the particulate Bi2O3, and/or the particulate Bi2S3, and/or the particulate Sb2O3, the particulate Sb2S3, the one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof, and/or the one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof, are added as a mechanical mixture or a blend to the cast iron melt. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein the particulate ferrosilicon based alloy and the particulate rare earth metal oxide(s), and the particulate Bi2O3, and/or the particulate Bi2S3, and/or the particulate Sb2O3, the particulate Sb2S3, the one of more of particulate Fe3O4, Fe2O3, FeO, or a mixture thereof, and/or the one of more of particulate FeS, FeS2, Fe3S4, or a mixture thereof, are added separately but simultaneously to the cast iron melt.