This investigation deals with the effect of cooling rate on the formation of carbide nodular iron alloyed with 2.2 % Cr and equivalent carbon near 4.3%. In the experimental stage three Y-blocks of 1.5, 3 and 5.5 cm in thickness are poured in green sand molds. Castings are sectioned in two positions (wall and center samples) in order to determine the characteristics of the precipitated carbides (fraction, distribution and relative size) from surface to center and from the bottom to the top of the castings applying quantitative analysis of images. The obtained results show the presence of carbides in all of the castings. Finer carbides are obtained in the thinnest casting but with a high variation between the samples located in the wall and center. All castings present massive carbides in the last freezing zone (LFZ). Therefore the cooling rate associated with casting thick has an important effect on the fraction and distribution of carbides.
