In this study, investigations were conducted on the grain refinement performance of cast aluminum by grain refiners containing (Fe_1-xV_x)₃Al heterogeneous nucleation site particles, which have good lattice matching with respect to aluminum but do not coexist with aluminum. As the (Fe_1-xV_x)₃Al particles, Fe₃Al crushed particles, Fe_2.7V_0.3Al crushed and atomized particles and Fe₂ VAl crushed and atomized particles were selected and were sintered with pure aluminum particles by spark plasma sintering (SPS) to obtain Al-10vol% (Fe_1-xV_x)₃Al refiners. No reaction between the (Fe_1-xV_x)₃Al and the aluminum matrix in the refiners occurred at the interface, even though the refiners were fabricated by a sintering route. Limited grain-refining performance was observed for the (Fe_1-xV_x)₃Al particles. This is because the strong decomposition phenomenon of the (Fe_1-xV_x)₃Al phases may occur when the refiners a added the molten aluminum.

  A simple vibration flask for sand molding in expendable pattern casting to which vibrating motors were directly attached, was developed. The sand compactability using this simple vibration table was similar to the conventional vibration table. The vibration flask was applied as a vibration coat tank. The vibration acceleration at the pattern in the coat slurry was up to approximately six times that of the flask wall. The vibration of the coat tank was effective for the degassing. Although the vibration decreased the adhesion of the coat to the expendable pattern it significantly increased the wettability.

  Currently, castings and die-castings with ductility are needed. For this reason, modification treatment is necessary. However, no theory of modification mechanism has been established to date. Therefore, in the present study, Al-7%Si molten alloy added with Sr was water quenched as the starting point for developing the technique for improving the Si phase of the eutectic crystal. Furthermore, we summarized information on conventional representative theory and recent knowledge about the growth mechanism of the eutectic crystal.