The paper analyses the as-cast state structure of chromium cast iron designed for operation under harsh impact-abrasive conditions. In the process of chromium iron castings manufacture, very strong influence on the structure of this material have the parameters of the technological process. Among others, adding to the Fe-Cr-C alloy the alloying elements like tungsten and titanium leads to the formation of additional carbides in the structure of this cast iron, which may favourably affect the casting properties, including the resistance to abrasive wear.

A superior SiC based thermal protection coating process for carbon composite, which can be especially effective in a hot oxidizing atmosphere, was established in this study. A multi-coating process based on a combination of Chemical Vapor Reaction (CVR) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) was developed. Various protective coating layers on carbon composite were tested in hot oxidizing surroundings and the test results verified that the thermal ablation rate could be dramatically reduced down to 3.8% when the protective multi-coating was applied. The thermal protection mechanism of the coating layers was also investigated.

The objective of the research in this work was the modification of structure of carbide-type chromized layers, by the combination of diffusion chromizing with subsequent PVD treatment, consisting of chromium nitride deposition, carried out to improve their tribological properties. As a result, hybrid layers on the surface of tool steel were obtained. For comparison, the properties of single chromized carbide layers obtained in a diffusion chromizing process were tested. Investigations of layer microstructure, their mechanical properties, surface topography, adhesion of layers to the steel substrate, as well as tribological properties were conducted. The layer microstructure was characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Topography of the layer surface was studied by an optical profilometer. The scratch test for investigations of layers adhesion to the steel substrate was used. Testing of tribological properties (linear wear) of the layers was performed by the three-cylinder-cone method. It was shown, that hybrid layers are characterized by a significantly smaller surface roughness than that of chromized carbide layers and their wear resistance improved almost twice with respect to carbide layers.

In this paper, an experimental surface roughness analysis in milling of tungsten carbide using a monolithic torus cubic boron nitride (CBN) tool is presented. The tungsten carbide was received using direct laser deposition technology (DLD). The depth of cut (ap), feed per tooth (fz) and tool wear (VBc) influence on surface roughness parameters (Ra, Rz) were investigated. The cutting forces and accelerations of vibrations were measured in order to estimate their quantitative influence on Ra and Rz parameters. The surface roughness analysis, from the point of view of milling dynamics was carried out. The dominative factor in the research was not feed per tooth fz (according to a theoretical model) but dynamical phenomena and feed per revolution f connected with them.

This study manufactured a SiC coating layer using the vacuum kinetic spray process and investigated its microstructure and wear properties. SiC powder feedstock with a angular shape and average particle size of 37.4 μm was used to manufacture an SiC coating layer at room temperature in two different process conditions (with different degrees of vacuum). The thickness of the manufactured coating layers were approximately 82.4 μm and 129.4 μm, forming a very thick coating layers. The SiC coating layers consisted of α-SiC and β-SiC phases, which are identical to the feedstock. Cross-sectional observation confirmed that the SiC coating layer formed a dense structure. In order to investigate the wear properties, ball crater tests were performed. The wear test results confirmed that the SiC coating layer with the best wear resistance achieved approximately 4.16 times greater wear resistance compared to the Zr alloy. This study observed the wear surface of the vacuum kinetic sprayed SiC coating layer and identified its wear mechanism. In addition, the potential applications of the SiC coating layer manufactured using the new process were also discussed.

This article is devoted to basalt reprocessing together with magnetite concentrate in order to obtain ferrous alloy and calcium carbide. The studies have been based on thermodynamic simulation and electric smelting in arc furnace. The thermodynamic simulation has been performed using HSC-5.1 software based on the principle of minimum Gibbs energy. The blend was smelted in arc furnaces. On the basis of the obtained results of combined processing of basalt, it has been established that under equilibrium conditions, the increase in carbon content from 36 to 42 wt % of basalt and concentrate mixture makes it possible to increase the aluminum extraction into the alloy up to 81.4%, calcium into calcium carbide – up to 51.4%, and silicon into the alloy – up to 78.5%. Increase in the amount of lime to 32% allows to increase the content of calcium carbide to 278 dm3/kg. Electric smelting of the blend under laboratory conditions in the presence of 17-32% of lime makes it possible to extract ferrous alloy containing 69.5-72.8% of silicon, 69.1-70.2% of aluminum, and to obtain ferrous alloy containing 49-53% of ΣSi and Al and calcium carbide in the amount of 233-278 dm3/kg. During large-scale laboratory smelting of blend comprised of basalt (38.5%), magnetite concentrate (13.4%), lime (15.4%), and coke fines (32.7%), the ferrous alloy has been produced containing 48-53% of ΣSi and Al, calcium carbide in amount of 240-260 dm3/kg. Extraction of Si and Al into the alloy was 70.4 and 68.6%, respectively; Ca into carbide – 60.3%; Zn and Pb into sublimates – 99.6 and 92.8%, respectively.

The application of hardfacing is one of the ways to restore the functional properties of worn elements. The possibility of using filler materials rich in chrome allows for better wear resistance than base materials used so far. The paper presents the results of research on the use of 3 different grades of covered electrodes for the regeneration of worn track staves. The content of the carbon in the covered electrodes was from 0,5% to 7% and the chromium from 5% to 33%. The microscopic and hardness tests revealed large differences in the structure and properties of the welds. The differences in the hardness of the welds between the materials used were up to 150 HV units. The difference in wear resistance, in the ASTM G65 test, between the best and worst materials was almost 12 times big.

The paper discusses the application of the current-source concept in the gate drivers for silicon carbide transistors. There is a common expectation that all SiC devices will be switched very fast in order to reach very low values of switching energies. This may be achieved with the use of suitable gate drivers and one of possibilities is a solution with the current source. The basic idea is to store energy in magnetic field of a small inductor and then release it to generate the current peak of the gate current. The paper describes principles of the current-source driver as well as various aspects of practical implementation. Then, the switching performance of the driven SiC transistors is illustrated by double-pulse test results of the normally-ON and normally-OFF JFETs. Other issues such as problem of the drain-gate capacitance and power consumption are also discussed on the base of experimental results. All presented results show that the currentsource concept is an interesting option to fast and efficient driving of SiC transistors.

Preliminary tests aimed at obtaining a cellular SiC/iron alloy composite with a spatial structure of mutually intersecting skeletons, using a

porous ceramic preform have been conducted. The possibility of obtaining such a composite joint using a SiC material with an oxynitride

bonding and grey cast iron with flake graphite has been confirmed. Porous ceramic preforms were made by pouring the gelling ceramic

suspension over a foamed polymer base which was next fired. The obtained samples of materials were subjected to macroscopic and

microscopic observations as well as investigations into the chemical composition in microareas. It was found that the minimum width of a

channel in the preform, which in the case of pressureless infiltration enables molten cast iron penetration, ranges from 0.10 to 0.17 mm. It

was also found that the ceramic material applied was characterized by good metal wettability. The ceramics/metal contact area always has

a transition zone (when the channel width is big enough), where mixing of the components of both composite elements takes place.

The cast alloys crystallizing in Fe-C-V system are classified as white cast iron, because all the carbon is bound in vanadium carbides. High

vanadium cast iron has a very high abrasion resistance due to hard VC vanadium carbides. However, as opposed to ordinary white cast

iron, this material can be treated using conventional machining tools. This article contains the results of the group of Fe-C-V alloys of

various microstructure which are been tested metallographic, mechanical using an INSTRON machine and machinability with the method

of drilling. The study shows that controlling the proper chemical composition can influence on the type and shape of the crystallized

matrix and vanadium carbides. This makes it possible to obtain a high-vanadium cast iron with very high wear resistance while

maintaining a good workability.

This paper presents the results of studies of high-alloyed white cast iron modified with lanthanum, titanium, and aluminium-strontium. The

samples were taken from four melts of high-vanadium cast iron with constant carbon and vanadium content and near-eutectic

microstructure into which the tested inoculants were introduced in an amount of 1 wt% respective of the charge weight. The study

included a metallographic examinations, mechanical testing, as well as hardness and impact resistance measurements taken on the obtained

alloys. Studies have shown that different additives affect both the microstructure and mechanical properties of high-vanadium cast iron.

In a vacuum Bridgman-type furnace, under an argon atmosphere, directionally solidified sample of Fe - C alloy was produced. The pulling

rate was v = 83 μm/s (300 mm/h) and constant temperature gradient G = 33,5 K/mm. The microstructure of the sample was examined on

the longitudinal section using an Optical Microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope. The X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter

diffraction technique (EBSD) have been used for the crystallographic analysis of carbide particles in carbide eutectic. The

X-ray diffraction was made parallel and perpendicular to the axis of the goniometer. The EBSD shows the existence of iron carbide Fe3C

with orthorhombic and hexagonal structure. Rapid solidification may cause a deformation of the lattice plane which is indicated by

different values of the lattice parameters. Such deformation could also be the result of directional solidification. Not all of the peaks in

X–ray diffractograms were identified. They may come from other iron carbides. These unrecognized peaks may also be a result of the

residual impurity of alloy.

This article presents the results of investigations of the effect of heat treatment temperature on the content of the carbide phase of HS3-1-2

and HS6-5-2 low-alloy high-speed steel. Analysis of the phase composition of carbides is carried out using the diffraction method. It is

determined that with increasing austenitising temperature, the intensification of dissolution of M6C carbide increases. As a result, an

increase in the grain size of the austenite and the amount of retained austenite causes a significant reduction in the hardness of hardened

steel HS3-1-2 to be observed. The results of diffraction investigations showed that M7C3 carbides containing mainly Cr and Fe carbides

and M6C carbides containing mainly Mo and W carbides are dissolved during austenitisation. During austenitisation of HS3-1-2 steel, the

silicon is transferred from the matrix to carbides, thus replacing carbide-forming elements. An increase in a degree of tempering leads to

intensification of carbide separation and this process reduce the grindability of tested steels.

439L stainless steel composites blended with fifteen micron SiC particles were prepared by uniaxial pressing of raw powders at 100 MPa and conventional sintering at 1350oC for 2 h. Based on the results of X-ray diffraction analysis, dissolution of SiC particles were apparent. The 5 vol% SiC specimen demonstrated maximal densification (91.5%) among prepared specimens ­(0-10 vol% SiC); the relative density was higher than the specimens in the literature (80-84%) prepared by a similar process but at a higher forming pressure (700 MPa). The stress-strain curve and yield strength were also maximal at the 5 vol% of SiC, indicating that densification is the most important parameter determining the mechanical property. The added SiC particles in this study did not serve as the reinforcement phase for the 439L steel matrix but as a liquid-phase-sintering agent for facilitating densification, which eventually improved the mechanical property of the sintered product.

This paper describes the study of thermal properties of packages of silicon carbide Schottky diodes. In the paper the packaging process of Schottky diodes, the measuring method of thermal parameters, as well as the results of measurements are presented. The measured waveforms of transient thermal impedance of the examined diodes are compared with the waveforms of this parameter measured for commercially available Schottky diodes.

This paper discusses selected problems regarding a high-frequency improved current-fed quasi-Z-source inverter (iCFqZSI) designed and built with SiC power devices. At first, new, modified topology of the impedance network is presented. As the structure is derived from the series connection of two networks, the voltage stress across the SiC diodes and the inductors is reduced by a factor of two. Therefore, the SiC MOSFETs may be switched with frequencies above 100 kHz and volume and weight of the passive components is decreased. Furthermore, additional leg with two SiC MOSFETs working as a bidirectional switch is added to limit the current stress during the short-through states. In order to verify the performance of the proposed solution a 6 kVA laboratory model was designed to connect a 400 V DC source (battery) and a 3£400 V grid. According to presented simulations and experimental results high-frequency iCFqZSI is bidirectional – it may act as an inverter, but also as a rectifier. Performed measurements show correct operation at switching frequency of 100 kHz, high quality of the input and output waveforms is observed. The additional leg increases efficiency by up to 0.6% – peak value is 97.8%.

The tribological behavior of the PVD-TiAlN coated carbide inserts in dry sliding against two-phase (α-β) titanium alloy,Ti6Al4V grade, was investigated. A modified pin-on-disc device was used to conduct experiments under variable normal load and sliding speed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray micro-analyses by EDS were applied for observations of wear scars and wear products. It was revealed that the increase of sliding speed contributes to decreasing the friction coefficient under a low normal force, whereas the increase of the normal loading causes the friction coefficient is less sensitive to changes in the sliding speed and its values are equal to μ = 0.26-0.34. The adhesive nature of wear along with severe abrasive action of the Ti alloy were documented.