The paper describes the influence of graphite shape, size and amount to electrical properties of different cast irons. Experiments of electrical resistivity measurements were conducted during solidification of four different melts in different time intervals from melt treatment by inoculation and nodularization. Metallographic analyses were made in order to determine the shape, size, distribution and amount of graphite and correlate results with electrical resistivity measurements. It was found out that nodular graphite is giving the lowest electrical resistivity and is decreased during solidification. Electrical resistivity of lamellar cast iron is increased during solidification since lamellas interrupt metal matrix severely There is no significant difference in resistivity of vermicular cast iron from nodular cast iron. Smaller size of graphite and lower amount of graphite and higher amount of metal matrix also decrease resistivity.

The graphite form in cast iron is the structure parameter deciding on its all physical and mechanical properties. Three basic forms of graphite: flake, vermicular (compact) and nodular (spheroidal) are singled out in standard cast iron grades, without a heat treatment. Standards of individual grades of cast iron the most often allow only the homogeneous graphite form, sometimes with addition of 5÷10% of the other form. The interesting and - in the authors opinion - future-oriented material can constitute cast iron in which various forms of graphite are present, e.g. in comparative amounts: spherical and vermicular cast irons. Cast iron within which graphite occurs in two or three forms was named „Vari-Morph” (VM) cast iron, i.e. the one in which spherical and vermicular or vermicular and flake graphite occur in a wide range of proportions. The results of investigations of these new cast iron grades and their properties are presented in the hereby paper.