Processing of Special Castings (FSI-PLI)

Academic year 2025/2026
Supervisor: doc. Ing. Antonín Záděra, Ph.D.  
Supervising institute: ÚST all courses guaranted by this institute
Teaching language: Czech
Aims of the course unit:
 
Learning outcomes and competences:
 
Prerequisites:
 
Course contents:

The technology of producing castings of heat-resistant alloys of nickel and cobalt, titanium alloys. Fundamentals of vacuum metallurgy, application of vacuum induction melting, vacuum arc remelting, electron-beam remelting. Electroslag remelting and casting process. Direct solidification, manufacturing of single crystal castings.
Teaching methods and criteria:
 
Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes:

Condition of awarding the course-unit credit: participation in exercises. Examination: the knowledge of physical-chemical foundations of vacuum metallurgy, practical application of vacuum metallurgy, and controlled crystallization of special castings will be tested. It is a written and oral examination.
Attendance in lectures is recommended, attendance in exercises is obligatory. In case of absences, the garant of subject will enter the topic of a separate written work.
Controlled participation in lessons:
 
Type of course unit:
    Lecture  13 × 2 hrs. optionally                  
    Laboratory exercise  6 × 2 hrs. compulsory                  
    Computer-assisted exercise  7 × 2 hrs. compulsory                  
Course curriculum:
    Lecture

1. Basic characteristics of gaseous mixtures in the region of low gas pressures.
2. Thermal dissociation of gas compounds, equilibrium gas pressure.
3. The process of carbon reaction in vacuum.
4. Dissolution of gases.
5. Degassing in vacuum.
6. Evaporation of alloy components.
7. Casting in induction and electron beam vacuum furnaces.
8. Theoretical foundations of controlling the crystallization of metals.
9. Production of castings with equiaxial grains, controlling the grain size.
10. Castings with oriented columnar grains, single crystals castings.
11. Cobalt alloy castings, cobalt alloys and their production.
12. Production of castings of titanium alloys in vacuum furnaces.
13. Production of castings by electroslag remelting.
    Laboratory exercise 1. Basic design nodes of the vacuum furnace, valves, sealing (laboratory for vacuum metallurgy)
2 Practical application of vacuum gauges, limit pressure of vacuum pumps (laboratory for vacuum metallurgy)
3. Viewing visit to the foundry of special castings. Preparation of ceramic shell moulds, vacuum induction furnaces for metallurgy and foundries
4. Practical demonstration of the progress of melting in vacuum induction furnaces (laboratory for vacuum metallurgy)
5. Creep test of heat-resistant alloys (creep laboratory)
6. Hot isostatic pressing of castings at high temperatures (HIP laboratory)
    Computer-assisted exercise 1. Methods for obtaining vacuum, basic types of vacuum pumps
2. Basic types of vacuum gauges used with melting vacuum furnaces
3. Determination of dissociation tension of oxides and nitrides, practical applications
4. Possibility of blocking the carbon reaction in vacuum
5. Thermodynamics and kinetics of the formation of bubbles
6. Calculation of vapour pressure of alloy components, estimate of changes in chemical composition
7. Raw materials for the charging stock. Charging stock calculation for vacuum induction furnaces
Literature - fundamental:
1. Choudhury, A.: Vacuum Metallurgy. 1. ed. Materials Park: ASM International. 1990
2. Davis, J.R. ed.: Metals Handbook. 1st ed. Materials Park: ASM International. 1998
3. Davis, J.R. ed.:ASM Specialty Handbook "Heat-Resistant Materials". 2nd ed. Materials Park: ASM International. 1998
Literature - recommended:
1. Zemčík,L.: Speciální slévárenské procesy. 2. vyd. Brno: VUT Brno.1987
2. Zemčík,L.: Speciální slévárenské procesy-návody do cvičení. 1. vyd. Brno: VUT Brno. 1990
The study programmes with the given course:
Programme Study form Branch Spec. Final classification   Course-unit credits     Obligation     Level     Year     Semester  
N-SLE-P full-time study --- no specialisation -- Cr,Ex 4 Compulsory 2 2 W