The paper presents the results of the research on the effect of copper on the crystallization process, microstructure and selected properties

of the compacted graphite iron. Compacted graphite in cast iron was obtained using Inmold process. The study involved the cast iron

containing copper at a concentration up to approximately 4%. The effect of copper on the temperature of the eutectic crystallization as well

as the temperature of start and finish of the austenite transformation was given. It has been shown that copper increases the maximum

temperature of the eutectic transformation approximately by 5C per 1% Cu, and the temperature of the this transformation finish

approximately by 8C per 1% Cu. This element decreases the temperature of the austenite transformation start approximately by 5C per

1% Cu, and the finish of this transformation approximately by 6C per 1% Cu. It was found that in the microstructure of the compacted

graphite iron containing about 3.8% Cu, there are still ferrite precipitations near the compacted graphite. The effect of copper on the

hardness of cast iron and the pearlite microhardness was given. This stems from the high propensity to direct ferritization of this type of

cast iron. It has been shown copper increases the hardness of compacted graphite iron both due to its pearlite forming action as well as

because of the increase in the pearlite microhardness (up to approx. 3% Cu). The conducted studies have shown copper increases the

hardness of the compacted graphite iron approximately by 35 HB per 1% Cu.