The World Foundry Congress is held every two years. It is organized by the World Foundry Organization (WFO) and its member on a rotating basis. The first World Foundry Congress was held in 1923 in France, and since then, it has become a landmark international event. For over a century, the World Foundry Congress has made a great contribution to the development and exchange of scientific achievements and innovations in the foundry industry around the world, and has also contributed to the improvement of foundry technology in different countries, which provides substantial support for the progress of human civilization.

The 75^th World Foundry Congress was held in Deyang, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China (PRC) from October 25 to 30, 2024.

Crystallization of austenitic carbide eutectic of chromium cast iron is a nanostructural process in which iron, graphite and chromium nanocrystals play a major role. Austenite dendritic microcrystals are not solid solutions of carbon and chromium atoms in the γ-Fe crystal lattice. During the crystallization of chromium cast iron, oxygen and hydrogen atoms in their melts are demodifying elements that reduce the dispersion of microcrystals of eutectic austenite and carbide. Molecular hydrogen released on dendritic microcrystals of eutectic austenite and carbide prevents the branching of dendrites. This leads to demodification of the austenitic-carbide eutectic structure of chromium cast irons. Modifying elements of chromium cast iron reduce the concentrations of oxygen and hydrogen atoms in their melts. This increases the dispersion and branching of dendritic microcrystals of eutectic austenite and carbide during solidification of chromium cast iron. Nonmetallic inclusions of modifying elements (Mg, Ca, Ce, La) of chromium cast irons cannot be centers of crystallization of microcrystals of eutectic austenite and carbide. These crystallization centers are nanostructured formations of austenite and carbide.

The article presents the results of studies of the effect of FerroSAND® magnetite-containing additive on the basic physicomechanical and special properties of cold-hardening sand-resin mixtures used in alpha-set and furan processes. Based on the research results, recommendations are given for the rational use of Ferrosan® additives in mixtures with furan, carbamide-furan and phenol-formaldehyde binders.

The paper considers current approaches to creating model kits parts for small-scale and individual production based on aluminum alloy waste. The aim of this study was to examine the prospects for using foundry waste of aluminum alloys and highly porous materials, in order to minimize the cost of manufacturing a model kit, as well as to develop recommendations for closing the pores of highly porous materials.

In this work, the optimal conditions for the extraction of manganese from manganese-containing slags by sulfuric acid leaching were studied. Studies have shown that adding iron powder and iron sulfate to the reaction mixture increases manganese extraction from 45 % to 52 %, making the process more efficient. The influence of temperature, sulfuric acid concentration, and other factors on the melting process was analyzed. The proposed methods for processing metallurgical waste can serve to reduce the environmental load and increase the economic value of slags due to the extraction of manganese. The results of the research can be used in the metallurgical industry and fertilizer production. This is especially true for regions with limited manganese ore reserves, such as Uzbekistan.

The article provides a comparative analysis of existing approaches, opinions and proposals on environmentally safe and economically feasible methods of processing and recycling metalworking waste. The directions and achievements in processing steel and cast iron chips, ferroalloy screenings, grinding, rolling and filing sludge, scale, shot blasting waste, metal abrasive and aspiration dust are shown. For processing chips, the priority is remelting of low-oxidized chips in bulk in induction furnaces and hot briquetting; for oxide waste, the priority is reducing roasting and sintering in a mixture with an active reducing agent in endogas, followed by remelting of briquettes and sinters in furnaces of any type using traditional technology.

The article provides information on the conducted research aimed at expanding the raw material base of ceramic enterprises of the Republic of Belarus, describes the features of the use of refractory clay raw materials in the production of wollastonitecontaining and cordierite products, describes the behavior of the material synthesized on the basis of the developed formulations.

The study examines temperature variations along the length of rebar coils in relation to air supply at control points during the air-cooling stage of the two-stage Stelmor cooling line. The influence of air-cooling mode variations on the mechanical properties of Ø8 mm and Ø10 mm A500C-grade rebar with a periodic profile of type 2f, in accordance with GOST 34028–2016, has been determined. Using the least squares method within the framework of correlation-regression analysis, linear multiple regression models were developed to calculate the temperature at the center and edges of coils on the roller conveyor (across the width of the conveyor in areas of coil accumulation and in individual coil sections). Additionally, regression dependencies were established to predict the mechanical properties of rebar based on the steel’s chemical composition and technological cooling parameters. These models can be used to optimize the air-cooling process for coiled rebar products to achieve the required microstructure and mechanical properties

This study analyzes the dependence of well-known indicators of strain hardening and ductility on ferrite grain size in low-carbon steel and on interlamellar spacing in pearlitic steel under tensile deformation. Indicators of the degree of relative strength increase allow for control over strain hardening in both uniform and localized tensile regions and exhibit enhanced structural sensitivity at all stages of tension, compared to the strain hardening rate and strain hardening exponent. Relative narrowing and the true strain indicator show less structural dependence on ductility compared to the degree of relative cross-sectional area reduction. Monitoring the degree of relative strength increase, the degree of relative cross-sectional area reduction, and the inverse length of the yield plateau during tensile testing provides a preliminary assessment of drawability for carbon steel wire rod.

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the surface modeling capabilities of two leading contemporary computeraided design (CAD) software packages: KOMPAS-3D and SOLIDWORKS. The research focuses on evaluating their efficiency in creating complex components using surface modeling tools. As a test case, a geometrically intricate component – the VM-sinus mandrel for mold sleeves with a 125×125 mm cross-section – was selected. These copper sleeves play a crucial role in the primary cooling of molten metal within the crystallizer, ensuring the formation of a precisely shaped ingot. Given these functional demands, the mandrel requires exceptional accuracy and geometric precision. Due to the complexity of its structure, surface modeling (SM) tools represent the most practical and efficient approach to its digital design. In this study, various surface modeling tools available in both software systems were assessed, with the most suitable and functionally comparable tools selected for direct comparison. The 3D model was successfully created in both CAD environments, allowing for an objective assessment of interface usability and computational performance under identical conditions. The findings reveal several key insights: SOLIDWORKS demonstrated a simpler and faster approach to model creation, the user interface of SOLIDWORKS was more streamlined and intuitive, offering a superior user experience compared to KOMPAS-3D, in terms of computational performance and stability, both software packages exhibited equally high efficiency when handling surface modeling tasks.

This study demonstrates the appearance of ground surfaces of ferrous and non-ferrous metal alloys when the defective layer from sectioning is incompletely removed. The defects resulting from insufficient grinding and polishing at various stages of sample preparation, as well as the impact of “edge rounding” on the accuracy of metallographic analysis, are discussed.

Standard GOST 3443–87 used in metallurgical practice does not permit an accurate quantitative assessment of the content of pearlite and ferrite in the structure of cast iron while specialized software for computer image analysis is rather expensive, are not available to all enterprises and, moreover, require highly qualified staff.

In this work, a new, simple technique is proposed for determining the amount of ferrite and pearlite in cast iron using a special etchant that provides a high-contrast image, and standard computer image processing programs, which permit obtaining a grayscale histogram where the shades of gray vary from black to white in the range from 0 to 255. Then, an additional binarization is performed to convert the image into black and white only. In the resulting histogram, the height of black peaks is directly proportional to the content of perlite in combination with graphite, while that of white peaks is proportional to the content of ferrite. The amount of graphite inclusions preliminarily determined on the unetched metallographic section permits determining the exact ratio of pearlite and ferrite in the alloy.

In recent years, issues related to chemical pollution of the biosphere have become increasingly urgent. A significant volume of various types of waste, particularly galvanic sludge, is being generated, containing heavy metal compounds such as Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Cd, and Sn.

The rapid expansion of industrial production has led to a substantial increase in waste generation, with galvanic sludge being a major contributor to environmental pollution. This is due not only to inefficiencies in technological processes but also to the accumulation of vast quantities of these hazardous materials, which complicate efforts to ensure ecological safety in surrounding areas. Galvanic sludge is known to be a highly unstable compound; even minor fluctuations in pH or exposure to atmospheric moisture can lead to the delocalization of contamination, causing affected areas to expand far beyond their original disposal sites.

Currently, the Republic of Belarus has approximately 200 large landfills covering 900 hectares, along with 3,710 smaller disposal sites occupying nearly 3,000 hectares. Annually, around 200,000 tons of wastewater sludge are generated and accumulated in storage reservoirs and bioponds near urban treatment facilities. The heavy metal content in these sediments is largely determined by the industrial specialization of each city and the composition of its wastewater. For example, Mogilev’s sludge is rich in zinc, while Minsk has the highest concentrations of chromium and copper. Additionally, biopond sediments in Novopolotsk contain elevated levels of zinc, manganese, copper, and chromium.

Geochemical studies of landfill sediments have identified a broad range of elements, with heavy metals being the predominant contaminants. Many of these elements exist in highly soluble forms, with concentrations of water-soluble salts 2 to 3 orders of magnitude higher than in unpolluted soils. The chemical composition of these salts varies, with ammonium, potassium, and sodium being the most common cations, while chlorides and sulfates dominate among the anions. The leaching of these chemical elements by atmospheric precipitation and groundwater leads to the formation of leachates, which serve as primary carriers of pollutants beyond landfill boundaries.

This study focuses on analyzing the composition, structure, and chemical properties of chromium compounds, providing a foundation for optimizing waste processing strategies to recover valuable chromium-based materials. Furthermore, considering the impact of economic sanctions and the increasing prices of chromium and stainless steels (grades 20X13–40X13), which are widely used in the medical, food-processing, and metallurgical industries, the need to develop domestic resources in Belarus has become particularly pressing.

Developments in electronics and electronic device manufacturing technologies including smartphones, computers and electric cars are significantly affecting demand. About half of the world’s tin is used in the production of solder, and the increasing number of consumers of electronics is driving up tin prices. It should be noted that the existing methods of lead recycling do not pay attention to the main impurities in the composition of the metal, which include arsenic, selenium, tellurium, bismuth, antimony, silver, copper, nickel, zinc and tin. However, they are valuable products in their own right, as their recovery during lead recycling is much more cost-effective than their extraction from ore materials. The addition of chromium in the steel manufacturing process is known to increase the corrosion resistance of steel. These steel alloys are known as stainless steel, which accounts for most of the commercial use of metallic chromium. Chromium electroplating, commonly known as chromium plating, is the other major application of chromium. In connection with the sanctions and rising prices for chromium and stainless steels of the 20Х13–40Х13 range used in the production of medical, food equipment and hardware, stop valves for the oil and gas industry, the issue of using domestic resources of the Republic of Belarus is acute. From the above data, it can be seen that over the period from 2020 to 2023, Sn prices have increased by 25.4 to 46.4 times, Pb by 1.28 to 2.9 times, Cr the period from the period from 2016 to 2023 by 2,08 to 31,9 times.