Crystallization of casting alloys has been shown to be a nanostructured process. Microcrystals of phases in the temperature range of liquidus and solidus, during eutectic and peritectic reactions, are formed from nanocrystals of components A and B of alloys, their free atoms and atomic complexes. Microcrystals of primary austenite and austenite-graphite eutectics during crystallization of cast iron, microcrystals of austenite and δ-ferrite during crystallization of steel are formed as a result of nanostructural reactions from elementary nanocrystals of iron and graphite, free atoms of iron and graphite, iron-carbon complexes. Primary and eutectic microcrystals of silumin are formed from elementary nanocrystals of aluminum and silicon, free atoms of aluminum and silicon, aluminum-silicon complexes.

In order to timely and fully identify all cases of defects in mass cast iron production it is proposed to use statistical analysis of the entire technological process using quality tools adapted to the conditions of mass cast iron production based on the principles of thrift. The complexity and multi-stage of the technological processes of mass casting production characterized by a wide range of raw materials coming from outside, the spread of their properties, a variety of equipment, external energy sources, unstable attendant factors, determine the expediency of considering mass cast iron production as a complex, open system from the perspective of synergetics.

Recrystallization of iron-carbon alloys has been shown to be a nanostructured process. Microcrystals of secondary cementite of steels and cast iron are formed from elementary nanocrystals of iron and graphite, free atoms of graphite and iron-carbon complexes. Microcrystals of primary α-ferrita steels are formed from elementary nanocrystals of iron and graphite, free iron atoms. Microcrystals of cast iron secondary graphite are formed from elementary nanocrystals and free graphite atoms. Eutectoid microcrystals are formed from elementary nanocrystals of iron and carbon, free atoms of iron and carbon, iron-carbon complexes.

The influence of various modifying additives on the shrinkage porosity of silumins and the tightness of castings is considered. A comparative assessment of the modification of the shrinkage components in the resulting blanks was carried out. The dependences of the strontium content in the silumin melt depending on the melt holding time are established. The relationship between the level of scrap of aluminum castings and the content of strontium has been revealed. Due to the fact that the level of rejection of aluminum castings due to leakiness does not directly depend on the porosity in the alloy, it is suggested that strontium has significant changes in the mechanism of crystallization of the alloy and the distribution of microporosity in the alloy structure with the formation of a more developed channels.

A technique that allows calculating the values of the specific heat flux in a given range of values of the technological parameters of casting and the maximum allowable thickness of the casting crust at the outlet of the mold is proposed. The information on the temperature regime of the mold at various casting parameters can serve as a database containing the necessary information to solve the casting solidification problems. With the subsequent design of tooling and equipment, there is no need for additional experimental studies and analysis of the results obtained.

The article describes the system of casting computer simulation software PoligonSoft. The main features of the system and work stages are described. Particular attention is paid to the features of the latest version of the software product: what’s new in the flow and stress solvers, what’s new in the preprocessor and mesh generator. The analysis of the convergence of the simulation results and the collection of experimental data was carried out.

It is shown that during developing continuous casting technology, it is necessary to solve a number of tasks related to finding the optimal technology option, creating special equipment to expand the range of cast blanks and calculating optimal parameters. The profile, dimensions and material of the blanks determine the continuous casting method choice and the installation type. Designs of the most important components and mechanisms are being developed for the selected type of installation. For the selected design solution, based on the lesson learned and available research, optimal thermal and technological parameters of casting are calculated.

Thermodynamic calculations have shown that hydrogen from atmospheric water vapors can penetrate aluminum, iron and copper, especially into their melts. Hydrogen atoms in these metals are in free and adsorbed states. Strong and dense oxide films on the surfaces of aluminum, iron and copper significantly reduce the solubility of hydrogen in these metals. Copper and iron nanocrystals more actively adsorb atomic hydrogen than aluminum nanocrystals. This is one of the main reasons for the weak solubility of hydrogen in aluminum and the large desorption of hydrogen atoms in the crystallization of aluminum compared to iron and copper.

The article discusses the results of the work of OJSC «BSW – Management Company of Holding «BMC», the largest metallurgical enterprise in the Republic of Belarus in 2021. The successful diversification of markets and export orientation to friendly markets in 2022 are also presented. New types of products and achievements in the field of quality, functional and operational work of the company’s personnel are described.

The maximum drawing of the wire rod with a single drawing characterizes its deformation ability to extremely large total compressions. A complex index of deformability of a low-carbon wire rod determined under tension is proposed, taking into account the ability of the metal to harden and its tendency to localize plastic deformation.

Recalculation formulae of hardness transformation in units of HRC into Vickers hardness HV 30 for hardened and tempered structural steels in ASTM E 140-07 and ISO 18265:2013 were analyzed. From a Vickers hardness reading of 62.3 HRC using a 4.903 N indenter, the hardness is converted to 294.2 N and the hardness is converted to HRC using the ASTM E 140-07 formula. Full agreement of average hardness value HRC with reference measure is obtained. Correction factor of conversion to hardness at 294,2N and approximating relationship between hardness value HV0,2 and hardness value measured at 4,903N load during testing is given. The relationship between Vickers hardness HV, HV0.5, HV0.2 and hardness in units of HRC for hardened and tempered structural steels is given.

The simulation of the chip heating process in the zones of gas-flame and induction heating of a continuous muffle furnace has been carried out. The mechanisms of heat transfer (conductive, convective, radiative) that have a conjugated character are considered in the approximation of interpenetrating continuums in the absence of any noticeable influence of filtration processes under conditions of a highly porous chip medium. As a result of the analysis of heat and mass transfer in the porous chip body and the working space of the furnace, a system of equations was obtained for calculating temperature and concentration fields and fields of thermal radiation intensity depending on the specified furnace productivity, natural gas consumption, and oil concentration in the coolant. The system of equations, which is a model of heat and mass transfer processes, is closed and allows us to solve the problem posed – to determine the heating temperature of the chips at the exit from the gas-flame heating zone, the composition and residual content of the liquid phase in it, and also to find the optimal height and temperature of the inductor muffle in induction heating zone, dimensions and electrical parameters of the inductor.

The article discusses the technological principles of improving the manufacturing process of consumable cathodes-targets of vacuum electric arc evaporation plants from complex silicides. Which are based on: the selection of chemical composition based on the analysis of state diagrams of double and triple systems, the production of fast-cooled ingots using high-speed induction melting, subsequent grinding and grinding to a powder of the required fraction, static or dynamic pressing of the cathode blank, its sintering and soldering of the current guide. The results of laboratory studies of the process are presented and prototypes of products are obtained.

Based on studies of the tool wear nature for cold stamping, the expediency of using heat treatment by quenching with intermediate tempering has been established. Considering that the dislocation density changes little at 1100–1150 ºС, it was recommended this specific temperature range for heat treatment. Intermediate tempering at 450 ºС is the most preferable, as it provides not only dislocation structure stabilization, but also reduces internal stresses after the first hardening. This treatment increases the durability of the forging tool by 2–3 times.

The paper is devoted to the formation of transition zone between matrix alloy and reinforcing phase (cast iron granules) during the synthesis of composite casted materials. Results on concentration distribution of main elements (Si, Fe, Cu) are presented. It is shown that the formation of transition zone starts during the infiltration process with further its growth during the exposition at synthesis temperature. As the result dissolution and distraction of granules take place.

At the present time, in the mining and metallurgical industry there are trends in the processing of man-made waste that have accumulated over the course of many years. Since the world’s reserves of ore deposits with a high initial content of non-ferrous metals and easily processed ores are currently practically depleted. This is due to a decrease in the volume of processing of conditioned ores and the involvement in the development of industrial waste, refractory ores and off-balance from low-grade dumps. High prices for metals on the world market create a favorable environment for the development of technologies for the extraction of precious metals involving the processing of mineral resources of technogenic origin. The work studies the mineralogical composition of industrial waste from the copper industry in the conditions of JSC “Almalyk MMC”, determined the effectiveness of methods for the selective extraction of platinoids and paid attention to the methods of dissolution, reduction of platinum metals and methods of their purification from various impurities. Based on the study of this topic and the analysis of the results of the research, the authors proposed an optimal technology and complex methods for extracting platinum, palladium and rhodium from industrial waste using selective methods suitable for each metal separately using hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy. Hydrometallurgical methods have been developed for the purification of palladium, platinum and rhodium with treatment, respectively, with formic, citric and nitric acids. As a result of the developed technologies, the possibility of complex extraction of platinum group metals from industrial waste has been achieved. In this case, the end-to-end extraction of all platinoids is over 80 %.

Docker is a virtualization tool that allows developers and system administrators to run applications and services in containers isolated from each other and from the guest operating system. Docker containers, unlike other virtualization tools, work directly with the host machine hardware, which is good for system resource consumption. Containers run from prebuilt images. The ability to collect all dependencies and application data in an image allows you not to worry about compatibility with the systems in which the container will run. The independence of containers from each other allows you to run entire groups of related services, in which a change of version or data in one of the containers does not affect the functioning of the rest of the group.

The results of the assessment of visual conditions at the workplaces of various sections of foundries in comparison with acceptable values are presented and the necessity of calculating the estimated illumination at the stage of reconstruction or design of foundries is shown. The necessity of compliance with the required labor protection rules, the development of a set of measures to optimize visual working conditions, and the prevention of occupational diseases is substantiated. The role of timely implementation of preventive measures in ensuring compliance of illumination at the workplaces of foundries with the current standards and the creation of the required visual working conditions of foundry workers is shown.

The expert evaluation of the effectiveness of measures to improve working conditions in foundries using the integrated assessment methodology is considered. Four classes of foundries have been established according to working conditions, which are determined by a complex of factors of the production environment. The possibility of using it to select the most optimal option in the development of projects of reconstructed foundries or workshops and the implementation of measures to improve working conditions is shown. To evaluate the developed methodology, it was tested on the example of the organization of a foundry with a small-scale production. The technique has shown its high efficiency in choosing the optimal placement of equipment.

Modern technologies for manufacturing cores and molds using cold-hardening mixtures are considered. The results of studies of the content of harmful substances in the air of the working area during the manufacture of cores and molds by various processes (NO-WAX, Alpha-set, Beta-set, COLD-BOX-AMINE, EPOXY-SO2 process, RESOL-CO2) and pouring molds and cores with liquid metal are presented. It is noted that a complex of harmful substances is fixed in the air, the composition of which depends on the processes used to obtain cores and molds, binding materials, metal poured into molds, and the nature of production. It is established that in order to ensure safe working conditions for workers in the organization of production, it is necessary to take into account the sanitary and hygienic characteristics of the substances used and the conditions of a particular production.