This paper presents a new stand for studying the linear shrinkage kinetics of foundry alloys. The stand is equipped with a laser displacement sensor. Thanks to this arrangement, the measurement is of a contactless nature. This solution allows for the elimination of errors which occur in measurements made using intermediary elements (steel rods). The supposition of the expansion (shrinkage) of the sample and the expansion of the heated rod lead to the distortion of the image of the actual dimensional changes of the studied sample. A series of studies of foundry alloys conducted using the new stand allowed a new image of shrinkage kinetics to be obtained, in particular regarding cast iron. The authors introduce in the study methodology a real-time measurement of two linked quantities; shrinkage (the displacement of the free end of the sample) and temperature in the surface layer of the sample casting. This generates not only a classic image of shrinkage (S) understood as S = f (t), but also the view S = f (T). The latter correlation, developed based on results obtained using the contactless method, provide a new, so far poorly known image of the course of shrinkage in foundry alloys, especially cast iron with graphite in the structure. The study made use of hypo- and hypereutectic cast iron in order to generate an image of the differences which occur in the kinetics of shrinkage (as well as in pre-shrinkage expansion - expansion occurs during solidification).
The purpose of the study was to compare auditory judgments of sound clarity of music examples recorded in a concert hall with predictions of clarity made from the impulse response signal recorded in the same hall. Auditory judgments were made with the use of two methods: by rating sound clarity on a numerical scale with two endpoints, and by absolute magnitude estimation. Results obtained by both methods were then compared against the values of clarity indices, C80 and C50, determined from the impulse response of the concert hall, measured in places in which the microphone was located during recording of music examples. Results show that auditory judgments of sound clarity and predictions made from the C80 index yield a similar rank order of data, but the relation between the C80 scale and perceived sound clarity is nonlinear. The data also show that the values of C80 and C50 indices are in very close agreement.
Biological activity of 6 fungicides in the inhibition of Phytophthora ramorum sporulation and development of blight on rhododendron leaves and stems were evaluated. All tested compounds at dose 8 μg o fa.i./cm3 already inhibited zoosporangia formation at least in 73%. On leaf petioles and leaf disks, taken from rhododendron one week after treatment with fungicides, formation of chlamydospores was especially suppressed by fenamidone + phosetyl Al and oxadixyl + mancozeb whereas development o fspores was not inhibited by cymoxanil + famoxate. All tested compounds significantly inhibited the development and spread of twig blight on rhododendron. However, furalaxyl, applied as spraying of plants 48 hrs before or after inoculation of leaves and stems by P. ramorum was the most effective.
The research focused on the influence of the solution temperature on the structure of precipitation hardening multi-component hypoeutectic aluminium alloys. The AlSi8Cu3 and AlSi6Cu4 alloys were used in the study and were subjected to a thermal-derivative analysis. The chemical composition and crystallization of phases and eutectics shift the characteristic points and the corresponding temperatures to other values, which affect to, for instance, the solution temperature. The alloys were supersaturated at 475°C (according to the determined temperature (TSol) and 505°C for 1.5 hours. Aging was performed at 180°C for 5 hours. The Rockwell hardness measurement, metallographic analysis of alloys by means of light microscopy as well as chemical and phase analysis using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography were carried out on alloys. The use of computer image analysis enabled the determination of the amount of the current Al2Cu phase in the alloys before and after heat treatment.