The continuous increase in the consumption of aluminium and its alloys has led to an increase in the amount of aluminium scrap. Due to environmental protection, and to reduce the costs of manufacturing aluminum in recent years, a lot of research is devoted to recycling of aluminum alloys. The paper presents the results of research concerning the possibility of manufacturing standardized alloy 2017A from commercial and post-production scrap by continuous casting. Obtained from recycling process ingots were subjected to analysis of chemical composition and intermetallic phase composition. Based on the results of light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy + electron dispersive spectroscopy (SEM + EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) the following phases in the as-cast state were identified: θ-Al₂Cu, β-Mg₂Si, Al₇Cu₂Fe, Q-Al₄Cu₂Mg₈Si₇, and α-Al₁₅(FeMn)₃(SiCu)₂. During solution heat treatment most of the primary precipitates of intermetallic phases, like θ-Al₂Cu, β-Mg₂Si, and Q-Al₄Cu₂Mg₈Si₇, were dissolved in the solid solution α-Al, and during natural and artificial aging they precipitate as strengthening phases θ-Al₂Cu and Q-Al₄Cu₂Mg₈Si₇ with high dispersion. The highest hardness—150.3 HB—of 2017A alloy was obtained after solution heat treatment from 510 °C and aging at 175 °C. In the static tensile test the mechanical (R_m and R_p0.₂) and plastic (A₅) properties were determined for 2017A alloy in the cast state and after T4 heat treatment. The highest strength properties—tensile strength R_m = 450.5 MPa and yield strength R₀.₂ = 268.7 MPa with good relative elongation A₅ = 14.65%, were obtained after solution heat treatment at 510 °C/6 h/water quenching and natural aging at 25 °C for 70 h. The alloy manufactured from recycled scrap is characterized by relatively high mechanical properties.

Materials were obtained from commercial zirconium powders. 1 mass%, 2.5 mass% and 16 mass% of niobium powders were used as the reinforcing phase. The SPS method and the extrusion method classified as the SPD method were used. Relative density materials of up to 98% were obtained. The microstructure of the sintered Zr-xNb materials differs from that of the extruded materials. Due to the flammability of zirconium powders, no mechanical alloying was used; only mixing of zirconium and niobium powders in water and isopropyl alcohol. Niobium was grouped in clusters with an average niobium particle size of about 10 μm up to 20 μm. According to the Zr-Nb phase equilibrium system, the stable phase at RT was the hexagonal α-phase. The tests were carried out for materials without the additional annealing process. The effect of niobium as a β-Zr phase stabilizer is confirmed by XRD. Materials differed in their phase composition, and for both methods the β-Zr phase was present in obtained materials. A very favorable effect of niobium on the increase in corrosion resistance was observed, compared to the material obtained from the powder without the addition of niobium.

Copper matrix composites with zirconium diboride (ZrB₂) were synthesised by ball milling and consolidated by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). Characterisations of the ball-milled composite powders were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, and measurement of the particle size distribution. The effect of the sintering temperature (1123 K, 1173 K, and 1223 K) and pressure (20 MPa and 35 MPa) on the density, porosity, and Young’s modulus was investigated. The relationship between the change of Orb content and physical, mechanical, and electrical properties was studied. Experimental data showed that the properties of Cu–Orb composites depended significantly on the SPS sintering conditions. The optimal sintering temperature was 1223 K with a pressure of 35 MPa. Composites exhibited a high degree of consolidation. For these materials, the apparent density was in the range of 93–97%. The results showed that the higher content of Orb in the copper matrix was responsible for the improvement in Young’s modulus and hardness with the reduction of the conductivity of sintered composites. The results showed that Young’s modulus and the hardness of the Cu 20% Orb composites were the highest, and were 165 GPa and 174 HV0.3, respectively. These composites had the lowest relative electrical conductivity of 17%.

Magnesium based alloy containing 9 wt. % Li, 1,5 wt. % Al, composed of  (hcp + bcc) phases was cast under argon atmosphere and extruded at 350oC as bars of cross section 12x12 mm. Twist Channel Angular Pressing TCAP deformation was applied at a temperature of 160oC using BC rotation of samples in the following passes. TCAP tool consisted of helical part in horizontal area of the channel with an angle of lead γ = 30° to simulate back pressure and thus to increase the extrusion force. The initial grain size of the hexagonal  phase estimated at 30 m decreased in the following passes down to 6 m and that of bcc  phase decreased after TCAP from initial 12 m, down to 5 m. TEM studies after TCAP passes showed higher dislocation density in the  region than in the  phase. Crystallographic relationship (001)  || (110)  indicates parallel positioning of slip planes of both phases due to activation of slip. Electron diffraction indicates increase of grain misorientation with a number of TCAP passes. Stress/strain curves measured at temperature of 200oC show superplastic forming after 1st and 3rd TCAP passes with better superplastic properties with increasing number of passes. Values of strain rate sensitivity coefficient m were calculated at 0.31 after 1 TCAP pass using flow stress values from step strain increase curves. The sample after 3 TCAP passes showed increase of m value up to 0.47 for the strain rate range 10-5 – 5 x 10-4 s-1. Obtained values are slightly lower than those reported in the literature, however increase of a number of TCAP passes has a positive effect on superplastic properties due to fine grains and increase of their misorientation.