Although lamellar cast iron has been used in advanced applications for about twenty years, our knowledge about the mechanisms affecting microstructure and defect formation is relatively limited. The present paper summarizes some solidification related phenomena from a series of recently published peer reviewed papers and scientific theses and suggests a mechanism of defect formation which is dependent on the shape of the solidifying casting geometry. When shrinkage porosity or metal expansion penetration occurs evidence of material transport in the intergranular zone of primary equiaxed austenite grains in the casting and in the intergranular regions between the sand grains in the mold material is seen. Material transport occurs across the casting-mold interface where the existence of or the permeability of the primary columnar zone determines if material transport can take place.

Shrinkage porosity and metal expansion penetration are two fundamental defects appearing during the production of complex shaped lamellar cast iron components. Simplified test models simulating the thermal and geometrical conditions existing in complex shaped castings have been successfully used to provoke shrinkage porosity and metal expansion penetration. A stereological investigation of the primary dendrite morphology indicates a maximum intra-dendritic space in connection with the casting surface where the porosity and the penetration defects appear. Away from the defect formation area the intra-dendritic space decreases. Comparison of the simulated local solidification times and measured intra-dendritic space indicates a strong relation which can be explained by the dynamic ripening process. The slow local solidification time situated at the boundary between the casting surface and its surrounding is explained to be the reason for the formation of an austenite morphology which can promote mass flow between dendrites, thereby provoking shrinkage porosity or metal expansion penetration.

Shrinkage porosity and metal expansion penetration are two fundamental defects appearing at production ofcomplex shaped lamellar cast iron components. In previous work it has been shown that both shrinkageporosity and metal expansion penetration are related to the primary austenite dendrite network and itsformation mechanisms. The purpose of the present work is to study the morphology of primary austenite intest casting with a high tendency to form shrinkage porosity and metal expansion penetration. Simplified testmodels simulating the thermal and geometrical conditions similar to the conditions existing in complex shapedcasting have been successfully used to provoke shrinkage porosity and metal expansion penetration.Stereological investigation of the primary dendrite morphology indicates a maximum interdendritic space inconnection to the casting surface where the porosity and the penetration defect appear. Away from the defectformation area the interdendritic space decreases. Furthermore the local solidification times of the investigatedsamples were calculated in a 3D simulation software. Comparison of the simulated local solidification timesand measured interdendritic space indicates a strong relation of the same shape as it is known from theliterature when dynamic coarsening mechanism is characterized. The main outcome of the present paper is theobserved gradient of increasing interdendritic space from sections with high local solidification to sectionswith low solidification time. The mechanism of increasing the interdendritic phase can be explained by thedynamic ripening process. The unfortunate thermal conditions with the slowest local solidification timesituated in the border between the casting surface and its surrounding are considered the reason to form anaustenite morphology which can promote the mass flow between dendrite provoking shrinkage porosity ormetal expansion penetration.