Refining processes in the copper casting technology

The paper presents the analysis of technology of copper and alloyed copper destined for power engineering casts. The casts quality was assessed based on microstructure, chemical content analysis and strength properties tests. Characteristic deoxidising (Logas, Cup) and modifying (ODM2, Kupmod2) formulas were used for the copper where high electrical conductivity was required. Chosen examples of alloyed copper with varied Cr and Zr content were studied, and the optimal heat treatment parameters were tested for a chosen chromium copper content, based on the criterion of hardness and electrical conductivity tests. Searching for materials with high wear resistance, the influence of variable silicone content on the properties of CuNiSi alloy was researched

Influence of refining treatments on the properties of Al-Si alloys

The article focused on researching the influence of Ti, B, Sr and Na as a modifying treatment elements for Al-Si alloys. The influence of alloying additives such as Cu and Cr was studied. Tensile strength Rm, elongation A5 and HB hardness was analysed, as well as the influence of the above-mentioned elements on the microstructure and solidification of alloys containing a varied content of Si, within the 7 ÷ 16 % range. The influence of heat treatment on the alloy properties was also researched

Effect of Alloying Additives and Casting Parameters on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Silicon Bronzes

The studied silicon bronze (CuSi3Zn3Mn1) is characterised by good strength and corrosion resistance due to the alloying elements that are present in it (Si, Zn, Mn, Fe). This study analysed the casting process in green sand moulding, gravity die casting, and centrifugal casting with a horizontal axis of rotation. The influences of Ni and Zr alloying additives as well as the casting technology that was used were evaluated on the alloy’s microstructure and mechanical properties. The results of the conducted research are presented in the form of the influence of the technology (GS, GZ, GM) and the content of the introduced alloy additives on the mechanical parameters (UTS, A10, and Proof Stress, BHN). The analysis of the tests that were carried out made it possible to determine which of the studied casting technologies had the best mechanical properties. Microstructure of metal poured into metal mould was finer than that which was cast into moulding compound. Mechanical properties of castings made in moulding compound were lower than those that were cast into metal moulds. Increased nickel content affected the BHN parameter

Copper alloys in investment casting technology

This paper presents research results in the field of casting technology of copper and copper alloys using the investment casting technology, both from historical as well as modern technology perspective. The analysis of exemplary elements of the old casting moulds is included, as well as the Bronze Age casts. The chemical content of various copper alloys was determined and the application of lost wax method was confirmed in the Bronze Age workshop. At present, investment casting method is used for manufacturing high-quality casts, especially products for power engineering that is why it demands respecting very rigorous technological requirements. The casts were characterised based on microstructure research, chemical composition and conductivity in relation to oxygen content

Investigations of the Influence of the Zone of Chills on the Casting Made of AlSi7Mg Alloy with Various Wall Thicknesses

The influence of the chill on the AlSi7Mg alloy properties after the heat treatment T6, was realised in the system of the horizontally cast plate of dimensions 160x240 mm and thickness of 10 and 15 m. The cooling course in individual casting zones was recorded, which allowed to determine the solidification rate. Castings were subjected to the heat treatment T6 process. Several properties of the alloy such as: hardness BHN, density, tensile strength UTS, elongation %E were determined. The microstructure images were presented and the structural SDAS parameter determined. The performed investigations as well as the analysis of the results allowed to determine the influence zone of the chill. The research shows that there is a certain dependence between the thickness of the casting wall and the influence zone of the chill, being not less than 2g, where g is the casting wall thickness. The next aim of successive investigations will be finding the confirmation that there is the dependence between the casting wall thickness and the influence zone of the chill for other thicknesses of walls. We would like to prove that this principle is of a universal character

Computer simulation of process in molten oxide slag reduction

Praca zajmuje się termodynamiczną analizą elementarnych procesów chemicznych zachodzących podczas redukcji żużla zawierającego tlenek miedzi. Redukcja żużla zachodzi przez zastosowanie reduktora w postaci stałej - węgla, gazowej - tlenek węgla lub węgla rozpuszczonego w ciekłym żużlu. Obecna praca rozpatruje dwa procesy chemiczne: reakcję ciekłego żużla z węglem oraz z tlenkiem węgla. Korzystając z komercyjnego oprogramowania FATSage obliczono w warunkach równowagi termodynamicznej składy faz dla układów: stały węgiel – ciekły żużel - stop Cu–Fe–Pb – faza gzowa oraz gazowy CO – ciekły żużel – stop Cu–Fe–Pb – faza gazowa. Symulację prowadzono dla temperatury procesu 1500, 1600, 1700 K. Gazowe produkty reakcji redukcji i stop Cu–Fe–Pb były usuwane z układu w każdym kroku obliczeniowym. Uzyskane wyniki obliczeń wykazały, że redukcja za pomocą węgla odgrywa zasadniczą rolę w procesie odzysku miedzi.The present work deals with thermodynamic analysis of process of the reduction of molten slag containing copper oxide. Reduction of liquid slag is possible with solid carbon, gaseous carbon oxide. and carbon dissolved in liquid slag. This work studied two chemical reactions of liquid slag containing copper oxide: with solid carbon and gaseous CO. Thermodynamic equilibrium in the system: solid carbon – liquid slag – metallic alloy Cu–Fe–Pb – gas and gaseous CO – liquid slag – metallic Cu–Fe–Pb – gas were calculated by means of FACTSage software. The simulation of the progress of reduction process at 1500, 1600, 1700K was obtained under assumption that the gaseous reduction products and metallic alloy Cu–Fe–Pb were removed from consideration after each simulation step. The calculation revealed that consumption of reducing agent is much higher in the case of CO reduction. The effect of simulation suggested, that reduction with solid carbon is the predominant mode of industrial process