Stator and stator components of dynamoelectric machines and process of inhibiting joule heating therein

A process of inhibiting joule heating of a component in a stator adapted for use in combination with a rotor of a dynamoelectric machine such that alternating magnetic fields are induced in the stator, the stator comprising magnetic sheets oriented approximately perpendicular to an axis of the stator and stator windings passing through the magnetic sheets in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of the stator, the process comprising:

• forming at least one component adapted for axially compressing the magnetic sheets of the stator together, the forming step comprising:
• casting a ductile iron alloy containing, by weight, about 3.25 to about 3.40% carbon, about 3.70 to about 3.80% silicon, about 4.50 to about 4.70% nickel, up to about 0.20% manganese, up to about 0.06% magnesium, less than 0.02% phosphorus, less than 0.02% sulfur, with the balance being iron and incidental impurities;
• and then
• heat treating the ductile iron alloy at a first soak temperature of about 910±20° C. for about three hours±30 minutes, and then at a second soak temperature of about 690±20° C. for about six hours±30 minutes.