The Inconel 740H alloy is used in the construction of pressure components of ultra-supercritical operating parameters. The paper presents the results of microstructure analysis after 1000 and 10 000 h ageing at 700 and 750 • C. Microstructure studies were made using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Identification of precipitations was made using X-ray analysis of phase composition. The influence of ageing time on changes in microstructure and the precipitation process of the tested alloy were described. Presented research results are a material characteristic of new generation materials, which are used in the design of elements of pressure parts of boilers and diagnostics work during operation.

Casting quality depends on many factors including the quality of the input materials, technology, material securing and last but not least, the mould into which the casting is casted. By pouring into a single-shot mould, based mainly on 1st generation binders, is is a very important factor. Basically, a bentonite mixture represents either a three- or four-component system, but each component of the system is a heterogeneous substance. This heterogeneity punctuates mainly a non-stationary heat field, presented throughout the whole process of the casting production. The most important component is a binder and in the case of first generation binders mostly bentonites are used - clays that contain minimum of 80% of montmorillonite.

The automotive industry is one of the most important customers for the foundry industry. In particular, casting of engine parts for combustion engines is one of the most demanding areas of casting technology. New generation of engine blocks and cylinder heads are getting geometrically more complicated in order to maintain or even increase performance. With the increased complexity, the strain for the casting molds is growing and the widely used technology of core making with standard silica sands is, for several applications, no longer reaching the demanded results. Furthermore, in last decade, there has been an effort in using inorganic binders in core making process, which brings along some additional technological challenges. In order to cope with these challenges, in this paper, silica and non-silica sands with round and angular grains as well as with fine and coarse grains are examined using an inorganic binder for strength, permeability, and thermal stability. The results shall provide useful information about the possibilities of application and combining different types of foundry sands, both silica and non-silica. With their impact on the selected sand core properties, they can help in solving problems in the core making process as well as reaching a high quality of the final product-casting.

Nowadays, constant pressure on enviromental aspects in the foundry industry is calling for an improvement in casting production. The almost not used inorganic binders are coming back to the fore. Into this group, among others, belong binders based on alcali silicate solutions, known as water glass. The new hot-curing binder systems were introduced by different binder manufacturers. In order to compensate dissadvantages of alkalic silicate binder, the systems and processes are working with additives and adjuvants which are contained in a binder itself or added in liquid or powder form to the sand mixture. This paper presents the ASK Inotec process and impact of silica sand granulometry on achieved core mixture strength, which is important from a core production and also from a decoring ability point of view. Experiment was performed in laboratory terms using standard equipment and conditions.

The main bulk density representation in the molding material is opening material, refractory granular material with a particle size of 0.02 mm. It forms a shell molds and cores, and therefore in addition to activating the surface of the grain is one of the most important features angularity and particle size of grains. These last two features specify the porosity and therefore the permeability of the mixture, and thermal dilatation of tension from braking dilation, the thermal conductivity of the mixture and even largely affect the strength of molds and cores, and thus the surface quality of castings.[1] Today foundries, which use the cast iron for produce of casts, are struggling with surface defects on the casts. One of these defects are veining. They can be eliminated in several ways. Veining are foundry defects, which arise as a result of tensions generated at the interface of the mold and metal. This tension also arises due to abrupt thermal expansion of silica sand and is therefore in the development of veining on the surface of casts deal primarily influences and characteristics of the filler material -opening material in the production of iron castings.