The morphology of G20Mn5 specimens made of non-modified and rare earth metals (REM) modified cast steel was investigated. Molten metal was treated with a cerium-rich mischmetal contain 49.8% Ce, 21.8% La, 17.1% Nd, 5.5% Pr and 5.35% other rare earth metals making up the balance. The melting, quenching (920°C/water) and tempering (720°C/air) were performed under industrial conditions. Analysis included G20Mn5 cast steel fracture specimens subjected to Charpy V-notch impact testing at 20°C, -30°C and -40°C. The purpose of the analysis was to determine the influence of REM on the microstructure and mechanical properties of G20Mn5 cast steel and the REM effect on the morphology, impact strength and character of the fracture surfaces. In addition, a description of the mechanism by which fracture occurred in the two materials was proposed. The author demonstrated the beneficial effects of adding REM to molten steel, manifested by a 20 - 40% increase in impact toughness, depending on test temperature, as compared to the non-modified cast steel. Important findings included more than 100% increase in impact strength in comparison with the required impact toughness of 27J at -40C for heat treated steels (EN 10213).

This paper presents influence of rare earth metals (REM) on the properties of GP240GH cast carbon steel. The research has been performed on successive industrial melts. Each time ca 2000 kg of liquid metal was modified. The rare earth metals were put into the ladle during tapping of heat melt from the furnace. Because of this the amount of sulphur in the cast steel was decreased and the non-metallic inclusion morphology was significantly changed. It was found that non metallic inclusions the cracking mechanism of Charpy specimens and the impact strength were all changed. The following properties were tested: mechanical properties (σy, σUTS), plastic properties (necking, elongation) and impact strength (SCI). In the three-point bend test the KJC stress intensity factor was evaluated.