The paper presents the cellular automaton (CA) model for tracking the development of dendritic structure in non-equilibrium solidification conditions of binary alloy. Thermal, diffusion and surface phenomena have been included in the mathematical description of solidification. The methodology for calculating growth velocity of the liquid-solid interface based on solute balance, considering the distribution of the alloy component in the neighborhood of moving interface has been proposed. The influence of solidification front curvature on the equilibrium temperature was determined by applying the Gibbs Thomson approach. Solute and heat transfer equations were solved using the finite difference method assuming periodic boundary conditions and Newton cooling boundary condition at the edges of the system. The solutal field in the calculation domain was obtained separately for solid and liquid phase. Numerical simulations were carried out for the Al-4 wt.% Cu alloy at two cooling rates 15 K/s and 50 K/s. Microstructure images generated on the basis of calculations were compared with actual structures of castings. It was found that the results of the calculations are agreement in qualitative terms with the results of experimental research. The developed model can reproduce many morphological features of the dendritic structure and in particular: generating dendritic front and primary arms, creating, extension and coarsening of secondary branches, interface inhibition, branch fusion, considering the coupled motion and growth interaction of crystals.

The paper presents data concerning the total production of castings over the 2000-2014 period, both on a global scale, and in Poland. The

basic types of casting alloys were taken into account. Changes in the production volume and structure over the period of the analysed 15

years were pointed out with respect to countries leading in foundry production. The topmost position in the world foundry industry is held

by China for several years (with almost 45% share in the foundry market), the second place is taken by India (with almost 9% share). A

distinct reduction in the shares of the once significant producers of castings, such as USA, Japan, Germany, Russia, Italy, or France, was

observed over the 2000-2014 period. Poland had a share of 1.16% in 2000, and of 1.02% in 2014. Comparing the detailed data concerning

the years 2000 and 2014, one can see that the fractions of castings made of ductile iron, cast steel, aluminium alloys, or magnesium alloys

increase on a global scale, while such alloys as grey cast iron or malleable are in decline.

The paper presents the possibility of application of the developed computer script which allows the assessment of non-equilibrium

solidification of binary alloys in the ThermoCalc program. The script makes use of databases and calculation procedures of the POLY-3

module. A solidification model including diffusion in the solid state, developed by Wołczyński, is used to describe the non-equilibrium

solidification. The model takes into account the influence of the degree of solute segregation on the solidification process by applying the

so-called back-diffusion parameter. The core of the script is the iteration procedure with implemented model equation. The possibility of

application of the presented calculation method is illustrated on the example of the Cr-30% Ni alloy. Computer simulations carried out

with use of the developed script allow to determine the influence of the back-diffusion parameter on the course of solidification curves,

solidus temperature, phase composition of the alloy and the fraction of each phase after the solidification completion, the profile of solute

concentration in liquid during solidification process, the average solute concentration in solid phase at the eutectic temperature and many

other quantities which are usually calculated in the ThermoCalc program.

The results of castability and structures researches of two nickel base alloys - Ceranium CN and Magnum AN applied on casting of the crowns and dental bridges are presented. Studies were carried out on the alloys cast under the centrifugal force to the moulds made by the lost wax method using production line of ROKO. Having regard to a specific technology of casting and possibility of ROKO production line, to the estimation of alloys castability a spiral test was adjusted with a 0,8 mm and a 2,5 mm diameter of test casting. Measuriements executed on a 20 test castings allowed to establish, that castability of Magnum AN alloy was 65 % greater than castability of Ceranium NC alloy. The results of thermodynamics calculations of the equilibrium and nonequilibrium crystallization (Scheil model) of the investigated alloys are presented too. The characteristic temperatures of phase transformation and forecast phase composition of alloys for both kind of crystallization were calculated. It is established after structural supervisions, that the investigated alloys crystallize in dendryte form and in centrifugal casting conditions have cooling rate sensivity and inclination to texture structure forming in outmost layer of casting. Phase composition of alloys corresponds to the results of thermodynamics calculations of the nonequilibrium crystallization conditions.

The work determined the influence of aluminium in the amount from about 0.6% to about 8% on graphitization of cast iron with

relatively high silicon content (3.4%-3.9%) and low manganese content (about 0.1%). The cast iron was spheroidized with cerium mixture

and graphitized with ferrosilicon. It was found that the degree of graphitization increases with an increase in aluminium content in cast

iron up to 2.8%, then decreases. Nodular and vermicular graphite precipitates were found after the applied treatment in cast iron containing

aluminium in the amount from about 1.9% to about 8%. The Fe3AlCx carbides, increasing brittleness and deteriorating the machinability of

cast iron, were not found in cast iron containing up to about 6.8% Al. These carbides were revealed only in cast iron containing about 8% Al.

The work presents results of investigations concerning the production of cast iron containing about 5-6% aluminium, with the ferritic

matrix in the as-cast state and nodular or vermicular graphite precipitates. The examined cast iron came from six melts produced under the

laboratory conditions. It contained aluminium in the amount of 5.15% to 6.02% (carbon in the amount of 2.41% to 2.87%, silicon in the

amount of 4.50% to 5.30%, and manganese in the amount of 0.12% to 0.14%). After its treatment with cerium mixture and graphitization

with ferrosilicon (75% Si), only nodular and vermicular graphite precipitates were achieved in the examined cast iron. Moreover, it is

possible to achieve the alloy of pure ferritic matrix, even after the spheroidizing treatment, when both the aluminium and the silicon occur

in cast iron in amounts of about 5.2÷5.3%.