The article presents the results of research on the physicochemical and mechanical properties, microstructure, and the tendency to form shrinkage of nodular cast iron depending on the type of inoculant used for secondary inoculation. Six different inoculants containing different active elements in their chemical composition were used for the research. Step castings and Y2 wedges were made on the vertical forming line using an automatic pouring machine. The inoculation in the amount of 0.2% was made using a pneumatic dispenser equipped with a vision system controlling the effectiveness of the inoculation. The results of the thermal analysis were determined and compared, and the potential of each of the inoculants was assessed.

Results of a research on influence of chromium, molybdenum and aluminium on structure and selected mechanical properties of Ni-Mn-Cu cast iron in the as-cast and heat-treated conditions are presented. All raw castings showed austenitic matrix with relatively low hardness, making the material machinable. Additions of chromium and molybdenum resulted in higher inclination to hard spots. However, a small addition of aluminium slightly limited this tendency. Heat treatment consisting in soaking the castings at 500 °C for 4 h resulted in partial transformation of austenite to acicular, carbon-supersaturated ferrite, similar to the bainitic ferrite. A degree of this transformation depended not only on the nickel equivalent value (its lower value resulted in higher transformation degree), but also on concentrations of Cr and Mo (transformation degree increased with increasing total concentration of both elements). The castings with the highest hard spots degree showed the highest hardness, while hardness increase, caused by heat treatment, was the largest in the castings with the highest austenite transformation degree. Addition of Cr and Mo resulted in lower thermodynamic stability of austenite, so it appeared a favourable solution. For this reason, the castings containing the highest total amount of Cr and Mo with an addition of 0.4% Al (to reduce hard spots tendency) showed the highest tensile strength.