K. Nowacki

Utilization of Metallurgical Waste in Non-Metallurgical Industry

The iron and steel industry is one of the largest sources of waste materials, primarily in the form of steelmaking dusts, sludge and slag. Those wastes are a serious threat to the environment. Main precondition for the protection of natural resources in the environment is to recover raw material and energy from waste. The use of waste as raw materials does not involve the storage and creates the possibility of closure of the existing landfill. The article presented utilization of same metallurgical waste containing 4-20 wt. % zinc in non-metallurgical industry. Performed chemical analyzes of pollutants contained in waste tested (dusts, sludge and slag) and in manufactured products (cement bricks, ceramic construction materials, colored glass products and slag for road construction). Aqueous extracts analysis results were compared with the maximum values for the sewage entering into water and soil. The performed research proves that proposed technologies (production of cement clinker, construction bricks, hollow glass, decorated glass) do not pose threat to environment. Harmful impurities are eluted from the products – clinker, constructions bricks and slag after the recovery of zinc recovery. Proposed technologies substitution of primary raw materials recyclable materials can reduce environmental degradation.

Improvement of the Ergonomic Quality of the Work Process

Abstract The improvement of production processes is currently one of the key elements of the companys competitiveness. In the pursuit of profit, the rationality of streamlined processes is not always taken into account, i.e. that both process needs and these of employees should be considered. Caring of the comfort of work, of adjusting the workplace to the employee is the main goal of ergonomic activity. On the level of implementation of ergonomic demands depends not only the quality and modernity of the products, but also the ergonomics of the workstation and the production process, forming the basis for better quality and more efficient work. The Improvement of the quality of the ergonomic workplace is possible on the basis of a properly conducted assessment, using a variety of tools. This article presents the evaluation and ergonomic analysis of the work process at four production workplaces, and then indicates the directions of changes. The analysis included elements of physical effort: energy expenditure, static load and traffic monotype. Traditional tools were used, such as OWAS, REBA, and also the use of quality assessment tools (Ishikawa diagram, Pareto-Lorenzo diagram) was proposed in order to suggest solutions to improve the ergonomic quality of the workstations under analysis.

Assessment of the Acoustic Properties in Octavo Bands for Selected Polyurethane Materials

The article presents the acoustic properties of selected polyurethane materials. The study involved a porous polyurethane foam primary and secondary, for whom assigned the value of sound absorption coefficients in the frequency range of 100 – 1250 Hz. The study was conducted in impedance tube Kundt.

The Properties of ZnAlMg Alloys for Batch Hot Dip Metallization

In the paper the melting point of Zn-Al alloys with the addition of Mg has been determined, based on solidification curves. The alloys used for the tests were alloys containing 7, 15, 23 and 31 wt.% Al with the addition of 3 or 6 wt.% Mg. It has been determined that the solidification temperature of the ZnAlMg alloy is a synergistic effect of the Al and Mg contents. In alloys with lower contents of Al (7, 15 wt.% Al) an increase in the content of Mg leads to an increase of the melting point. In baths with higher contents of Al (23, 31 wt.% Al) the addition of Mg causes a decrease of the melting point. It has been determined that the melting point of the Zn-31Al6Mg alloy drops to 438°C, due to which the alloy can be used for metallization in temperature conditions close to the temperature of traditional hot dip galvanizing.