Inoculants are added in liquid cast iron in order to provide the best and consistent characteristics in the final casting. They are used to control matrix structure and avoid casting defects.

Inoculants can be found under several grain size distributions to satisfy the location of the inoculant addition within the foundry process. those locations of inoculant addition are known as in furnace, in ladle, in stream or in mould.

The addition of inoculants in liquid cast iron (gray and ductile irons) allowed to:

1)improve the homogeneity of the cast iron structure

2)eliminate the formation of carbides into thin parts or salient angles

3)direct the solidification towards the stable diagram, with graphite precipitation

4)refine the structure (higher cells count, finer grains in the microstructure)

5)improve mechanical properties

6)better separate slag and metal

7)decrease the tendency to dross formation

8)decrease tendency of micro-shrinkage

9)decrease risk of gas formation

10)decrease risk of mold / metal interface defects