The generation of electricity in the Europe from wind-powered turbines is increasing and the most important challenges for the wind turbine manufacturers are linked to the development of larger and more effective wind turbines. Cast iron is today used in central parts of a wind turbine construction and this is a growing market for Swedish foundries. The specifications and requirements applied for the cast iron components are among the most stringent used within the iron foundry branch. A problem for the production of these large components can be too high pearlite content in the metal matrix, thereby deteriorating mechanical properties. Because of this reason there are just a few iron foundries in Sweden that are able to cast the required high quality cast iron components.

The project work has focused on reducing the pearlite stabilizing blanks into the melt and to improve the inoculation process. The project has shown that systematic work with the melt composition and inoculation may provide a much improved structure and thus better properties.