The exudation layer seriously affects the properties and the surface finish of the tin bronze alloy. The effective control of the exudation thickness is important measure for improving the properties of the alloy. In order to study the influence of process parameters on the thickness of exudate layer, the tin bronze alloy was prepared by continuous unidirectional solidification technology at different process parameters. The microstructure of the continuous unidirectional solidification tin bronze alloy was analyzed. The effect of process parameters on microstructure and chemical compositions was studied by orthogonal experiment. The results show that there exists an exudation layer on the surface of the continuous unidirectional solidification tin bronze alloy, and the exudation is mainly composed of a tin-rich precipitated phase. It indicates that the continuous casting speed is the main factor affecting the thickness of exudation layer, followed by mold temperature, melt temperature, cooling water temperature and cooling distance.

The study presents a concept of generation of micro-cracks (or cracks) in metal specimens in order to assess their material with respect to the thermal shock resistance. Both the method of conducting the experiment and the criteria of the assessment of the material resistance to the rapid temperature changes are discussed. The schematic diagram of the research stand used for repeated heating and rapid cooling of specimens, constructed in the Foundry Institute of the Częstochowa University of Technology, is presented. The proposed solution enables to maintain constant conditions of the experiment. The tests were held for flat specimens 70 mm long, 20 mm wide, and 5 mm thick, tapered over a distance of 15 mm towards both ends. The specimens were induction heated up to the specified temperature and then, in response to the signal produced by a pyrometer, dipped in the tank containing the cooling medium. The thermal shock resistance of the material can be assessed on the basis of either the total length of the micro-cracks arisen at the tapered parts of a specimen after a specified number of heating-and-cooling cycles, or the number of such cycles prior to the total damage of a specimen, or else the number of thermal cycles prior to generation of the first crack. The study includes an exemplary view of the metal specimen after the thermal shock resistance tests, as well as the illustrative microstructure of the vermicular cast iron which reveals a crack propagating from the edge towards the core of the material.