The aim of this publication is to present practical application of the R. Kolman’s quality rating method used in the evaluation of aluminium alloys. The results of studies of the mechanical and physical properties of the three selected test materials are discussed. To find the best material, the quality level of each of the tested materials was assessed using quality ratings proposed by R. Kolman. The results of the conducted analysis have proved that the best material was an AKII MM alloy, i.e. a casting AK11 aluminium alloy from the 4XXX series.

The paper presents the results of research on the effect of added iron powder from plasma cutting on the mechanical properties and structure of a composite rod based on aluminum powder. The iron powder came from plasma cutting of steel elements and was handed over by the enterprise “AK Anatol” from Żary. One of the ways to dispose of it is to use it as a filler in aluminum composite rods. Research shows that Fe can be distributed in aluminum evenly, and increase in mechanical properties is achieved at the expense of only a slight increase in density. The proposed system does not reduce the amount of waste produced by plasma cutting but finds a use for some of it. The sintering point of the powder required a strongly reducing atmosphere (PO2 < 10–50 atm) which seems virtually unachievable under laboratory conditions. The reinforcing mechanism is related to the fragmentation of the matrix aggregate particles and the uniform distribution of Fe particles in the aluminum matrix.