A brief analysis of the capabilities of the methodological evaluation of foundry technologies effectiveness is presented by the example of temperature condition adjustment of foundry procedure. It has been revealed that the methodological analysis as applied to different variants of foundry technologies allows determining the most effective ways of development of the foundry technology and increase in its efficiency. A reference to various examples shows the presence of the hidden reserves in foundry technologies. The authors conclude that the methodological analysis allows effective and timely adjustment in the development and modification of foundry technologies and enhancement of its effectiveness. The result of the conducted methodological evaluation is elaboration of the guidelines on the enhancement of foundry technologies effectiveness, aimed at the search of the hidden reserves of already functioning technologies.

The paper presents the information on the temperature influence on the structure and properties of copper alloys. The results of mechanical testing of samples made of tin-base bronzes depending on the pouring temperature and section thickness of the casting have been discussed. The correlation between the superheat value and distribution of structural constituents of multicomponent tin-base bronzes has been considered. It has been ascertained that the increase in the pouring temperature not only causes grain refinement in eutectoid and lead impurities in tin-base bronzes, but also has a favourable effect on their hydrostrength.

The paper presents the experimental material on obtaining and researching of three-dimensional composite heat-conducting copper-diamond materials in the system of spark plasma sintering. Earlier [1-5], it was established that in order to achieve the effect of the increased heat conductivity of a composite it is necessary to create the conditions hindering the movement of heat flux on the interface boundary. In this work we have attempted to obtain the material with heat conductivity higher than that of pure copper due to addition of diamond powder and synthesis of the composite in the system of spark plasma sintering. For comparison, we have considered copper and diamond compositions in the ratios of 50/50 and 40/60 correspondingly. The results of the heat conductivity analysis have not exceeded the indices of pure copper; however, according to SEM data, it has been found that at SPS-sintering local domains with enhanced adhesion form on the surfaces of diamonds.

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the issues connected with crystallisation of multicomponent bronze during centrifugal casting. Bronze containing tin, lead, zink, nickel, copper has been chosen as a material for study. In the course of the study the spin rate of the mould has been varied. The researches of the structure have shown that during solidification of the cast the quantity of lead increases from the middle part to the inner one, and for high spin rates the difference in lead content in different cross sections of the casting being less noticeable than in case of the low ones. In addition it has been noted that great spin rates of the mould reduce liquating processes and provide a more homogenuous structure of casts.

The paper is devoted to the establishment of the technology of castings manufacture out of multicomponent aluminium bronzes for oil and gas producing equipment. Aluminium bronze containing iron has been chosen as a material for casting manufacture. Founding into sand mixtures has been chosen as a manufacturing method. It has been shown that this type of founding allows obtaining the castings with minimal subsequent treatment and high quality surface. The use of the coke furnace at metal melting allows obtaining the castings with high performance characteristics due to gas protection of the melt.