Assessing the level of metallurgical and foundry technology in prehistoric times requires the examination of raw material finds, including elongated ingots, which served as semi-finished products ready for further processing. It is rare to find such raw material directly at production settlements, but Wicina in western Poland is an exception. During the Hallstatt period (800-450 BC), this area, situated along the middle Oder River, benefited from its favorable location in the heart of the Central European Urnfield cultures and developed networks for raw material exchange and bronze foundry production. Numerous remnants of casting activities, such as clay casting molds, casting systems, and raw materials, have been discovered at the Wicina settlement. This article aims to provide an archaeometallurgical interpretation of raw material management and utilization by prehistoric communities during the Early Iron Age. To achieve this, a collection of 31 ingots from the defensive settlement in Wicina, along with two contemporary deposits from Bieszków and Kumiałtowice, both found within a 20 km radius of the stronghold, were studied. Investigations were conducted using a range of methods, including optical microscopy(OM), scanning electron microscopy (SE M), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SE M-EDS), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (ED-XRF), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), AAS and ICP-OES spectrometer. The significance of ingots is examined in the context of increasing social complexity and the rising popularity of bronze products, which necessitated diversified production and a demand for raw materials with different properties and, consequently, different chemical compositions.

Processing of metal alloys in semi-solid state is a way of producing many near net-shape parts and nowadays is commercially successful. Particular behaviour of alloys in the partially liquid state, having non-dendritic microstructure, is a base for thixoforming processing. Processing materials in the semi-solid state concerns alloys with relatively wide solidification range. Thermodynamic modelling can be used as a one of a potential tools that allow to identify alloys with proper temperature range. It means that the key feature of alloys suitable for thixoforming is a widely enough melting range, allowing for precise control of material temperature. The data gathered from thermodynamics calculations can also pay off in the industrial thixoforming processes design. The goal of this paper is to identify copper alloys which can be successfully shaped in the semi-solid state. Apart to thermodynamic calculations, the observations on high temperature microscope was carried out. During experiments the solidus, liquidus and also deformation temperatures can be determined. An experimental work allows confirming results obtained within the confines of thermodynamic calculations and firstly to determine the deformation temperatures which are the optimal for shaping processes. The basic achievement of this work is an identification of copper alloy groups possible for shaping in the semi-solid state. At the first part of the paper, the basic criteria of suitable alloys were described. Next, both the solid fraction curves for copper alloys with different alloying elements using ProCAST software and the phase diagrams were determined to identify the solidification temperature ranges of these alloys. In the second part of these paper, the identification of the deformation temperatures was carried out with use of high temperature microscope observation.

This study evaluated the effect of milling speed and compaction pressure on the densification and morphology of the CuZn-Gr composite. The composite was prepared by using the powder metallurgy technique. The effect on the microstructural and compaction was determined based on different milling speeds. The different milling speeds involved were 175, 200, 225, and 250 rpm. Meanwhile, the different compaction pressures used in this study were 127, 250, 374, and 500 MPa. The properties of the milled powder gave the result to green density and densification parameters. The XRD pattern of Cu and Zn broadened as milling time increased.

Internal casting defects that are detected by radiography may also be detected by ultrasonic method. Ultrasonic testing allows investigation of the cross-sectional area of a casting, it is considered to be a volumetric inspection method. The high frequency acoustic energy travels through the casting until it hits the opposite surface or an interface or defect. The interface or defect reflects portions of the energy, which are collected in a receiving unit and displayed for the analyst to view. The pattern of the energy deflection can indicate internal defect. Ultrasonic casting testing is very complicated in practice. The complications are mainly due to the coarse-grain structure of the casting that causes a high ultrasound attenuation. High attenuation then makes it impossible to test the entire volume of material. This article is focused on measurement of attenuation, the effect of probe frequency on attenuation and testing results.

The paper discusses issues related to the technology of melting and processing of copper alloys. An assessment was made of the impact of titanium and iron introduced in the form of pre-alloy - Ti73Fe master alloy on the microstructure and selected properties of pure copper and copper-silicon alloy. There are known examples of the use of titanium and iron additive to the copper alloy. Titanium as an additive introduced to copper alloys to improve their properties is sometimes also applicable. In the first stage of the study, a series of experimental castings were conducted with variable content of Ti73Fe master alloy entering copper in quantities of 5 %, 15 %, 25 % in relation to the mass of the metal charge. In the second stage, a silicon additive was introduced into copper in the amount of about 4 % by weight and 0.5 % and 1 % respectively of the initial Ti73Fe alloy. Thermodynamic phase parameters were modelled using CALPHAD method and Thermo-Calc software, thus obtaining the crystallization characteristics of the test alloys and the percentage of structural components at ambient temperature. Experiments confirmed the validity of the use of Ti73Fe master alloy as an additive. The pre-alloy used showed a favourable performance, both in terms of addition solubility and in the area of improvement of strength properties. Changes were achieved in the microstructure, mainly within the grain, but also in the developed dendrites of the solid solution. Changes occur with the introduction of titanium with iron into copper as well as to two-component silicon bronze.

One of the most interesting categories of artifacts for archaeometallurgical research includes deposits of bronze items, so-called “metallurgists hoards”. They contain, aside of final products, many fragments of raw material and, moreover, metallurgical tools. An important source for the studies on the history of metallurgical technology is hoard from Przybysław, Greater Poland district.
Thus, the aim of the work is the identification and interpretation of bronze-working practices and strategies adopted by prehistoric communities of the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age (ca. 600 BC). The examined objects are characterized in terms of their design, structure, and chemical composition. The methods chosen for the studies of artifacts include: metallographic macro- and microscopic observations using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the analysis of chemical composition with the methods of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF).
The thermodynamic analysis of the alloys was performed on the basis of the CALPHAD method. The experimental melts allowed to verify the theoretical considerations and to determine the characteristic temperatures of changes.
The old casting technology can be analyzed basing on computer modeling and computer simulation methods. Simulations in the MAGMASOFT® software are a good example to illustrate how to fill a mould cavity with a molten bronze for a hoop ornament. It is also an appropriate tool to determine temperature distribution in a mould. The simulations also show the possible disadvantages with this old technology.

The article deals with ultrasonic testing possibilities of the copper alloy centrifugal casts. It focused on the problems that arise when testing

of castings is made of non-ferrous materials. Most common types of casting defects is dedicated in theoretical introduction of article.

Ultrasonic testing technique by conventional ultrasound system is described in the theoretical part too. Practical ultrasonic testing of

centrifugal copper alloy cast - brass is in experimental part. The experimental sample was part of centrifugally cast brass ring with

dimensions of Ø1200x34 mm. The influence of microstructure on ultrasonic attenuation and limitations in testing due to attenuation is

describes in experimental part. Conventional direct single element contact ultrasound probe with frequencies of 5 MHz, 3.5 MHz and 2

MHz were used for all experimental measurements. The results of experimental part of article are recommendations for selecting

equipment and accessories for casting testing made of non-ferrous metals.

Nil strength temperature of 1062°C and nil ductility temperature of 1040°C were experimentally set for CuFe2 alloy. The highest formability at approx. 1020°C is unusable due to massive grain coarsening. The local minimum of ductility around the temperature 910°C is probably due to minor formation of γ-iron. In the forming temperatures interval 650-950°C and strain rate 0.1-10 s–1 the flow stress curves were obtained and after their analysis hot deformation activation energy of 380 kJ·mol–1 was achieved. Peak stress and corresponding peak strain values were mathematically described with good accuracy by equations depending on Zener-Hollomon parameter.

The article presents tests on a new lead-free bronze CuSn4Zn2PS, intended for fittings for contact with drinking water, in which the addition of lead was replaced with sulphur. The subject of the experimental work was the production of semi-finished products from this alloy based on the charge coming entirely from waste generated after machining. A specialized pilot line was used for the tests, and after cleaning, the waste was melted and then were continuously cast in the form of rods and hollow rods. The cleaning efficiency was assessed, and the manufactured semi-finished products were subjected to tests, including the assessment of the chemical and mechanical homogeneity and the structure of the test batch of the semi-finished casting products in terms of the possibility of manufacturing products meeting the requirements of technical specifications. The obtained results, both in terms of a stable chemical composition, homogeneous and reproducible mechanical properties, fully compliant with the specifications for fittings bronzes (CC499K), as well as the lack of faults of the obtained semi-finished products, despite a very large share of waste material, indicate the possibility of using the tested recycling method for the production of semi-products of sulphur bronze, which is an alloy that is relatively difficult to manufacture.