The article presents the investigations of 7xxx aluminium alloys performed by the method of thermal and derivational analysis. The studies made it possible to identify the effect of the changes in the Cu concentration, the total Zn and Mg weight concentrations and the Zn/Mg weight concentration ratio on their crystallization process: the cooling as well as the kinetics and dynamics of the thermal process of cooling and crystallization. Metallographic studies were performed on the microstructure of the examined alloys and their HB hardness was measured. The evaluation of the changes was presented in reference to the model alloys EN AW-7003 and EN AW-7010, whose microstructure under the conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium are described by the phase diagrams: Al-Zn-Mg and Al-Zn-Mg-Cu. The performed investigations confirmed that the hardness HB of the examined alloys is mainly determined by the reinforcement of the matrix αAl by the introduced alloy additions and the presence of phases Θ(Al2Cu) and S(Al2CuMg) rich in copper, as well as η(MgZn2), in the examined alloys' microstructure. The increase of the amount of intermetallic phases precipitated in the microstructure of the examined alloys is caused, beside Cu, by the characteristic change of Zn wt. concentration and Mg. It was proposed that the process of one-stage thermal treatment of the examined alloys be introduced at a temperature of up to tJ-20 °C, which will prevent the exceedance of the solidus temperature.

The herein paper contains the results of investigations on a new type of cellulose blend used for the manufacture of profiles applied in the

process of making gating systems in the foundry industry. A standard cellulose profile was subjected to an experiment. During the

experiment the profile was filled with a liquid cast iron and at the same time the temperatures of the liquid metal crystallizing inside the

profile were measured as well as the temperature of the outer layer of the profile was controlled. Further, the microstructure of the cast

iron, which crystallized out inside the cellulose profile, was analysed and the cellulose, thermally degraded after the experiment, was

verified with the use of the chemical analysis method. Moreover, a quality analysis of the original as well as the degraded cellulose profile

was run with the use of the FTIR infrared spectroscopy. The presented results revealed that the cellulose blend is aluminium silicate

enriched and contains organic binder additives. The cast iron, which crystallized out, tended to have an equilibrium pearlitic structure with

the release of graphite and carbides. The generation of disequilibrium ausferrite phases was also observed in the structure.

The paper presents the results of studies on the development of correlation of solidification parameters and chemical composition of nickel

superalloy IN-713C, which is used i.a. on aircraft engine turbine blades. Previous test results indicate significant differences in

solidification parameters of the alloy, especially the temperatures Tliq and Tsol for each batch of ingots supplied by the manufacturer.

Knowledge of such a relationship has important practical significance, because of the ability to asses and correct the temperatures

of casting and heat treatment of casts on the basis of chemical composition. Using the statistical analysis it was found that the temperature

of the solidification beginning Tliq is mostly influenced by the addition of carbon (similar to iron alloys). The additions of Al and Nb have

smaller but still significant impact. Other alloying components do not have significant effect on Tliq. The temperature Teut is mostly

affected by Ni, Ti and Nb. The temperature Tsol is not in any direct correlation with the chemical composition, which is consistent with

previous research. The temperature Tsol depends primarily on the presence of non-metallic inclusions present in feed materials and

introduced during the melting and casting processes.

The work presents the test result of the influence of cooling rate on the microstructure of AZ91 alloy, Vickers micro-hardness and Brinell

hardness. Studies cooling and crystallization of AZ91 alloy was cast into the ceramic shells pre-heated to 180 ° C and then air-cooled at

ambient temperature or intensively super cooled in the liquid coolant. The TDA method was applied to record and characterize the thermal

effect resulting from the phase transformations occurring during the crystallization of AZ91 alloy. The kinetics and dynamics of the

thermal processes of crystallization of AZ91 alloy in the ceramic shells were determined. Metallographic tests were performed with the

use of an optical microscope. A comparison of these test results with the thermal effect recorded by way of the TDA method was made.

Influence of cooling rate of AZ91 on HV0, 01 micro-hardness and Brinell hardness alloy was examined.

The paper presents the results of research on the determination of the effect of pouring temperature on the macrostructure of the castings

subjected to complex (surface and volume) modification and double filtration. Tested castings were made of post-production scrap (gating

system parts) of IN-713C superalloy. Tests included the evaluation of the number of grains per 1 mm2

, mean grain surface area, shape

factor and tensile strength. Casting temperature below 1470 °C positively influenced the modification effect. The grains were finer and the

mechanical properties increased, especially for castings with thicker walls. On the other hand, manufacture of thin walled castings of high

quality require pouring temperature above 1480 °C.

In current casting technology of cored, thin walled castings, the modifying coating is applied on the surface of wax pattern and, after the

removal of the wax, is transferred to inner mould surface. This way the modification leading to grain refinement occur on the surface of

the casting. In thin walled castings the modification effect can also be seen on the other (external) side of the casting. Proper reproduction

of details in thin walled castings require high pouring temperature which intensify the chemical reactions on the mould – molten metal

interface. This may lead to degradation of the surface of the castings. The core modification process is thought to circumvent this problem.

The modifying coating is applied to the surface of the core. The degradation of internal surface of the casting is less relevant. The most

important factor in this technology is “trough” modification – obtaining fine grained structure on the surface opposite to the surface

reproduced by the core.

Paper presents the results of ATD and DSC analysis of two superalloys used in casting of aircraft engine parts. The main aim of the

research was to obtain the solidification parameters, especially Tsol and Tliq, knowledge of which is important for proper selection of

casting and heat treatment parameters. Assessment of the metallurgical quality (presence of impurities) of the feed ingots is also a very

important step in production of castings. It was found that some of the feed ingots delivered by the superalloy producers are contaminated

by oxides located in shrinkage defects. The ATD analysis allows for quite precise interpretation of first stages of solidification at which

solid phases with low values of latent heat of solidification are formed from the liquid. Using DSC analysis it is possible to measure

precisely the heat values accompanying the phase changes during cooling and heating which, with knowledge of phase composition,

permits to calculate the enthalpy of formation of specific phases like γ or γ′.

The paper presents the microstructure and selected properties of ausferritic nodular cast iron annealed at the temperature 520 and 550°C.

This choice was dictated by the temperatures used in the practice of nitriding. Nodular graphite in cast iron was obtained with use of

Inmold process. Cast iron containing molybdenum and copper ensuring obtaining an ausferrite in the cast iron matrix without the use of

heat treatment of castings was tested. The effect of annealing temperature on the microstructure and the kind of fracture of the ausferritic

nodular cast iron was presented. The effect of an annealing temperature on hardness, impact strength and the microhardness of ausferritic

nodular cast iron matrix was shown too. The lamellar structure of phases in the cast iron matrix after annealing has been ascertained. There

has been an increase in hardness of an annealed cast iron and microhardness of its matrix. The reduction in the impact strength of the cast

iron annealed at 520 and 550°C was approximately 10-30%. Both an increase in the hardness of cast iron as well as an decrease in its

impact strength is probably due to the separation of secondary carbides during the heat treatment.

Paper presents the results of research on modified surface grain refinement method used in investment casting of hollow, thin-walled parts

made of nickel based superalloys. In the current technology, the refining inoculant is applied to the surface of the wax pattern and then, it

is transferred to the ceramic mould surface during dewaxing. Because of its chemical activity the inoculant may react with the liquid metal

which can cause defects on the external surface of the cast part. The method proposed in the paper aims to reduce the risk of external

surface defects by applying the grain refiner only to the ceramic core which shapes the internal surface of the hollow casting. In case of

thin-walled parts the grain refinement effect is visible throughout the thickness of the walls. The method is meant to be used when internal

surface finish is less important, like for example, aircraft engine turbine blades, where the hollowing of the cast is mainly used to lower the

weight and aid in cooling during operation.

The paper presents the results concerning impact of modification (volume and surface techniques), pouring temperature and mould

temperature on stereological parameters of macrostructure in IN713C castings made using post-production scrap. The ability to adjust the

grain size is one of the main issues in the manufacturing of different nickel superalloy castings used in aircraft engines. By increasing the

grain size one can increase the mechanical properties, like diffusion creep resistance, in higher temperatures. The fine grained castings. on

the other hand, have higher mechanical properties in lower temperatures and higher resistance to thermal fatigue. The test moulds used in

this study, supplied by Pratt and Whitney Rzeszow, are ordinarily used to cast the samples for tensile stress testing. Volume modification

was carried out using the patented filter containing cobalt aluminate. The macrostructure was described using the number of grains per

mm2

, mean grain surface area and shape index. Obtained results show strong relationship between the modification technique, pouring

temperature and grain size. There was no significant impact of mould temperature on macrostructure.