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Wear resistance of TiC-cast steel metal matrix composite has been investigated. Composites were obtained with SHSB method known as SHS synthesis during casting. It has been shown the differences in wear between composite and base cast steel. The Miller slurry machine test were used to determine wear loss of the specimens. The slurry was composed of SiC and water. The worn surface of specimens after test, were studied by SEM. Experimental observation has shown that surface of composite zone is not homogenous and consist the matrix lakes. Microscopic observations revealed the long grooves with SiC particles indented in the base alloy area, and spalling pits in the composite area. Due to the presence of TiC carbides on composite layer, specimens with TiC reinforced cast steel exhibited higher abrasion resistance. The wear of TiC reinforced cast steel mechanism was initially by wearing of soft matrix and in second stage by polishing and spalling of TiC. Summary weight loss after 16hr test was 0,14÷0,23 g for composite specimens and 0,90 g for base steel.

The article presents chosen aspects of foundry engineering of the settlement dwellers, including the archaeometric characteristics and metal science analysis of the artefacts, as well as an attempted reconstruction of the production organization. Discovered in Szczepidło (Greater Poland), the foundry workshop is unique in Central European Bronze Age.

Refinement is one of the most energy consuming technological process, aimed at obtaining mineral raw materials of the proper grain size. Cast structural elements such as jaws or hammers in crushing machines operate under conditions of an intensive wear. The data indicate that 80 % of failures of machines and devices is caused by wearing of rubbing surfaces. This problem became the subject of several scientific and industrial investigations carried out in the whole world in order to produce materials ultra- wear resistant. Methods allowing to obtain wear resistant composite castings are discussed in the hereby paper. Within the performed research microstructures of the produced composite zones were presented and the comparative analysis with regard to mechanical and functional properties of local composite reinforcements in relation to the commercial alloys of increased wear resistance was performed. The results show almost twenty five times increase in wear resistance compared to manganese cast steel containing 18 % Mn.

The aim of the study was to synthesize and characterize the selected in-situ composites from the Fe-Cr-Ni-Mo-C system, additionally strengthened by intermetallic compounds. The project of the alloys was supported by thermodynamic simulations using Calculation of Phase Diagram approach via Thermo-Calc. Selected alloys were synthesized in an arc furnace in a high purity argon atmosphere using a suction casting unit. The studies involved a range of experimental techniques to characterize the alloys in the as-cast state, including optical emission spectrometry, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, X-ray diffraction and microhardness tests. These experimental studies were compared with the Thermo-Calc data and high resolution dilatometry. The results of investigations presented in this paper showed that there is a possibility to introduce intermetallic compounds, such as χ and σ, through modification of the chemical composition of the alloy with respect to Nieq and Creq. It was found that the place of intermetallic compounds precipitation strongly depends on matrix nature. Results presented in this paper may be successfully used to build a systematic knowledge about the group of alloys with a high volume fraction of complex carbides, and high physicochemical properties, additionally strengthened by intermetallic compounds.

In order to increase wear resistance cast steel casting the TiC-Fe-Cr type composite zones were fabricated. These zones were obtained by means of in situ synthesis of substrates of the reaction TiC with a moderator of a chemical composition of white cast iron with nickel of the Ni-Hard type 4. The synthesis was carried out directly in the mould cavity. The moderator was applied to control the reactive infiltration occurring during the TiC synthesis. The microstructure of composite zones was investigated by electron scanning microscopy, using the backscattered electron mode. The structure of composite zones was verified by the X-ray diffraction method. The hardness of composite zones, cast steel base alloy and the reference samples such as white chromium cast iron with 14 % Cr and 20 % Cr, manganese cast steel 18 % Mn was measured by Vickers test. The wear resistance of the composite zone and the reference samples examined by ball-on-disc wear test. Dimensionally stable composite zones were obtained containing submicron sizes TiC particles uniformly distributed in the matrix. The macro and microstructure of the composite zone ensured three times hardness increase in comparison to the cast steel base alloy and one and a half times increase in comparison to the white chromium cast iron 20 % Cr. Finally ball-on-disc wear rate of the composite zone was five times lower than chromium white cast iron containing 20 % Cr.

Nickel superalloys as Inconel® are materials widely used in the aerospace industry among others for diffusers, combustion chamber, shells of gas generators and other. In most cases, manufacturing process of those parts are used metal strips, produced by conventional plastic processing techniques, and thus by hot or cold rolling. An alternative technology allowing for manufacturing components for jet engines is the technique of 3D printing (additive manufacturing), and most of all Direct Metal Laser Sintering, which is one of the latest achievement in field of additive technologies.

The authors own computer software, based on the Ueshima mathematical model with taking into account the back diffusion, determined from the Wołczyński equation, was developed for simulation calculations. The applied calculation procedure allowed to determine the chemical composition of the non-metallic phase in steel deoxidised by means of Mn, Si and Al, at the given cooling rate. The calculation results were confirmed by the analysis of samples taken from the determined areas of the cast ingot. This indicates that the developed computer software can be applied for designing the steel casting process of the strictly determined chemical composition and for obtaining the required non-metallic precipitates.

The paper presents the results of corrosion resistance of heat treated aluminized steel strips. Products coated by Al-10Si alloy are used among others in a manufacturing process of welded pipes as the elements of the car exhaust systems, working in high temperatures and different environments (eg. wet, salty). The strips and tubes high performance requirements are applied to stability, thickness and roughness of Al-Si coating, adhesion and corrosion resistance. Tubes working in elements of exhaust systems in a wide range of temperatures are exposed to the effects of many aggressive factors, such as salty snow mud. It was therefore decided to carry out research on the impact of corrosion on the environmental influence on heat treated aluminized steel strips. The heat treatment was carried out temperatures in the range 250-700°C for 30, 180, 1440 minutes. Then the coatings was subjected to cyclic impact of snow mud. Total duration of treatment was 12 months and it was divided into three stages of four months and at the end of each stage was made the assessment of factor of corrosion. The results are presented in the form of macroscopic, microscopic (using a scanning electron microscope) observations and the degree and type of rusty coating.

The process of electrochemical deposition of tellurium was studied. Preliminary researches embrace the voltammetry and microgravimetric measurements. According to the results the electrolysis of tellurium was conducted under potentiostatic conditions. There was no deposition of tellurium above potential −0.1 vs. Ag/AgCl electrode in 25°C. The process of deposition is observed in the range of potentials −0.1 to −0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The presence of tellurium was confirmed by XRF and XRD. The obtained deposits were homogenous and compact. Below potential −0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl the Faradaic efficiency of the tellurium deposition decreased due to reduction of Te to H2Te and hydrogen evolution.

Aluminium-magnesium 5083 alloy was rapidly solidified by means of melt spinning technique and plastically consolidated during subsequent hot extrusion process. As a result, rods 8 mm in diameter were obtained. Structure of as-extruded material is characterized by ultra-fined grains, which influences on increasement of mechanical properties of the material. The strengthening effect was further enhanced by application of thermo-mechanical treatment consist of cold rolling combined with isothermal annealing. As a result, reduction of grain size from ∼710 nm to ∼270 nm as well as enhancement of yield stress (330 MPa to 420 MPa) and ultimate tensile strength (410 MPa to 460 MPa) were achieved. Based on received results Hall-Petch coefficients (σ0, k) for 5083 RS material were determined.

The main objective of this paper was to perform sinterability studies of ball-milled Fe-12%Ni-6.4%Cu-1.6%Sn-0.6%C powders. A mixture of precisely weighed amounts of elemental iron, nickel and graphite, and pre-alloyed 80/20 bronze powders was ball-milled for 8, 30 and 120 hours. After cold-pressing at 400 MPa the specimens were sintered at 900oC for 30 minutes in a reducing atmosphere and subsequently tested for density and hardness as well as subjected to structural studies using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis.

Dwie identyczne matryce do ciśnieniowego odlewania stopów aluminium zostały przedwcześnie wycofane z eksploatacji z powodu wystąpienia na ich powierzchniach roboczych szeregu równoległych pęknięć. Kierunek propagacji pęknięć pokry w ał się z kierunkiem pasmowości mikrostrukturalnej a samo tworzenie się pęknięć było skutkiem niewłaściwej obróbki cieplnej matryc. Stwierdzono nieprawidłową orientację geometryczną matrycy wrzględem kierunku włókien struktury pierwotnej. Badania przy użyciu skaningowego mikroskopu elektronowego z wykorzystaniem techniki EDS wykazały, że przyczyną powstawania pęknięć matryc była nieprawidłową przeprowadzona obróbki cieplna matryc.

Temperature dependence of twinning stress associated with type I twin boundaries in the Ni49.5Mn38.4Sn12.2 single crystal has been measured. At room temperature, the twinning stress amounts to 16.6 MPa, exceeding the typical values observed in the archetypical Ni-Mn-Ga alloys; nonetheless, it shows a remarkable sensitivity to temperature decreasing with a slope of 0.2498 MPa/K. This is a level of magnitude more than in Ni-Mn-Ga alloys. The remarkable sensitivity of twinning stress to temperature is primarily associated with the evolution of lattice parameters during heating. The type II twin boundaries in the same single crystal are activated at the twinning stress of 3.4 MPa, roughly one fifth of the twinning stress recorded for the type I twin boundaries. It is demonstrated that by careful compositional adjustments and thermomechanical training, it may be feasible to exercise magnetic field-induced strain due to twin variant rearrangement outside the Ni-Mn-Ga system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to assess the causes of spatial variations in labour productivity of Italian regions using the gravitational model of economic growth. The model is an extension of Robert Solow’s economic growth model. The model parameters are calibrated using historical data and numerical simulations of the long-run equilibrium states of the model are carried out. The scenarios considered in the paper vary in forecast investment rates, employment growth rates and urbanisation rates. Based on the results of numerical simulations, it is claimed that to achieve the full convergence in labour productivity, it is necessary to maintain higher investment rates in the south of the country than in Lombardy (by about 4%–11%), and to keep investment rates in central and northern Italy at a similar level as in Lombardy. The fall in investment has affected the poorest regions, Southern Italy, the most, followed by central Italy and the richest regions of the north of the country the least.

The analysis of the development of the microstructure of deep drawn automotive B pillar, as well as the analysis of deformation based on numerical simulation and experiment, was performed. The microstructure of steel sheet as well as Al-Si coating after various stages of B pillar production was investigated. It was found that the obtained microstructure of the B pillar was significantly different from that described in many studies as a proper one. The microstructure of the investigated material consisted of martensite, bainite, and a small amount of ferrite. Al-Si coating, despite its morphological changes, remained on the surface of B pillar and, in spite of this, did not fully eliminate oxidation and decarburization of B pillar material. The analysis of the state of strain allowed to evaluate the deformation safety of the process, as well as to verify the simulation results through measurements of sheet thickness variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]