This study was undertaken to obtain an improved understanding of the effects of alloying elements on the residual amounts of Mg in the melt and on the resultant microstructure of compacted vermicular graphite cast irons, and the influence of alloying elements and cooling rates during solidification on the formation of phosphide eutectics, and on the mechanical properties of compacted vermicular graphite cast irons containing copper, tin, molybdenum for producing pearlitic matrix, and also containing phosphorus and boron for increasing wear resistance were evaluated.

Effects of high Si-P addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of thin ductile cast iron have been investigated. The amount of silicon addition have fixed on 4.0wt% and the amounts of phosphorus addition and thickness of specimen have been varied from 0.05 to 0.8wt% and ${\phi}13mm$, ${\phi}10mm$ and ${\phi}6mm$, respectively. As the casting thickness decreased, the average diameter of spheroidal graphite was decreased and the hardness of the cast iron increased. By adding P, the average diameter of spheroidal graphite was increased and the count of the spheroidal graphite was decreased continuously. And the tensile strength and the elongation was decreased, and the hardness was increased. With the P added more than 0.2wt%, the abraded amount was decreased significantly. The addition of P improved the wear resistance and the hardness of thin ductile cast iron.

In this study, the microstructural characteristics such as primary silicon, eutectic silicon, $SiC_p$ dispersion behavior, compound amount and Si solubility in $Al/SiC_p$ composite fabricated by the squeeze casting under various conditions were investigated systematically. As applied pressure(MPa) increases, cooling rate and compound amount are increased. In gravity casting, the cooling rate of hypereutectic composite is slower than of hypoeutectic composite by exothermic reaction of primary Si crystallization. But the cooling rate of hypereutectic composite is faster than that of hypoeutectic composite fabricated by same applied pressure, because amount of primary Si crystallization in hypereutectic composite was decreased, on the contrary, primary ${\alpha}-Al$ in hypoeutetic composite was increased due to increase of Si solubility in matrix by applied pressure. The crystalized primary silicon in hypereutectic composite fabricated by squeeze casting become more fine than that in non-pressure casting This is because mush zone became narrow due to increase of Si content of eutectic composition by pressure and time for growth of primary silicon got shorter according to applied pressure. It is turned out that eutectic temperature and liquidus are decreased by the increasing of squeeze pressure in all the composite due to thermal unstability of matrix owing to increasing of Si solubility in matrix by the increasing of applied pressure, as indicated in thermal anaiysis(DSC) results.

The $SiC_p-reinforced$ preforms fabricated by spray casting process were hot-extruded and subsequently T6-treated, and the morphology of the silicon phase and the grain size for these preforms and extruded samples were examined by Image Analyzer. Experimental observation revealed that with increase in volume percent of SiC particles, the grain size and silicon phase of the $Al-Si/SiC_p$ composites become finer, the shape of Si phase is changed from blocky to granular type, and aspect ratio of Si phase tend to become unity. Wear-tests with various sliding velocities, show that the wear resistance of spray cast specimen is increased remarkably compare to the permanent mold cast specimen at the sliding velocity range of $1.98{\sim}2.38m/sec$.. Microstructural observations for the worn surfaces of specimens revealed that wear resistance of Al-Si alloys at certain sliding velocities could be improved not only by the fine grain size of aluminum matrix but also the fine size and granular shape of silicon phases. The wear resistance of $SiC_p$ reinforced aluminum composites was found to be sensitive to the volume percentage of the reinforcing particles. The worn surfaces with various sliding velocities, show that change in wear mechanism seems to occur at the sliding velocity of near 2m/sec for all samples, and such a change in mechanism is delayed with increase in $SiC_p$ volume fraction.

SiC particles reinforced Mg-Zr, Mg-Zn and Mg-Zn-Zr composites were manufactured by Rheocompocasting method. Effects of Zn, Zr addition on microstructures and hardness were investigated by using the micro Vickers hardness tester, the optical and scanning electron microscopy. By the Zr addition to the pureMg/SiCp composites, SiC particles become more homogeneously dispersed and grain refined so that the micro hardness of the composite increased. In case of Zn addition, although grain refinement and homogeneous dispersion effects of SiC particles were not obtained, hardness was more increased than the only Zr added composite by the formation of many Mg-Zn intermetallic compounds at grain boundary. In the Mg-Zn-Zr/SiCp composite, the highest value of hardness was obtained by triple effects such as grain refining, dispersion hardening of SiC particles and Mg-Zn compounds.

${\gamma}-TiAl$ 금속간화합물에 크롬과 질소첨가의 영향을 관찰하기 위하여 첨가량에 따른 열처리 전후의 미세조직과 기계적 성질을 비교 분석하였다. 그 결과 질소첨가량이 증가할수록 결정립이 미세화되고 항복강도가 증가되었으며 크롬과 질소의 동시첨가의 경우가 이들의 효과가 현저하였다. 또한 이들 원소의 첨가로 $Ti_2AlN$이 제3상으로 생성되어 열처리시 ${\alpha}_2/{\gamma}$층상조직의 안정화를 보였으며 첨가량을 다량으로 하였을 때 결정립의 크기가 급격히 감소함에도 상온연성이 감소되는 것은 $Ti_2AlN$의 크기에 기인한 것으로 판단된다. 적정량의 크롬과 질소를 동시첨가하여 열처리시 상온연성 및 항복강도가 향상되었다.

Austenitic stainless steel castings using expandable polystylene(referred to hereafter as EPS) patterns are often affected by distinctive defects associated with incomplete decomposition of the EPS as the molds are filled with metal. The quality of the castings, with particular reference to carbon pick-up in austenitic stainless steel is further influenced to a significant extent by such factors as reduced pressure, the additive by adding $Na_2CO_3$ in coating. The steel composition and microstructure were examined at the surface layer of castings, at depths of 1mm, by taking successive layers of swarf and analysis. In experiments, the carburizing atmosphere was neutralized, showing that the coating performed efficiently by decomposing almost instantly on heating and liberating $CO_2$. The upper parts of castings obtained using EPS patterns were slightly higher in carbon pick-up than other parts. Comparing the 316L and 304 stainless steel castings, qualitative and quantative differences could be found between the carbon pick-up behaviours as influence of the carbon content and alloying elements. Carbide former such as Cr makes carbon more soluble in the steel. This must make carbon pick-up in the surface layer but at the same time richer in carbon especially in the 304 stainless steel castings.