The wear and degradation of tools applied in the high-pressure die casting of Al alloys induce significant financial losses. The formation of failures on the surface of mold parts caused by erosion, thermal fatigue, corrosion, and soldering negatively affects the surface quality of castings. In this study, the lifetime of inserts protected by physical-vapor-deposited coatings (TiN, TiAlN, and CrAlSiN) is examined under real manufacturing conditions while considering requirements for the castings’ surface quality (maximum average roughness Ra) defined by the customer. The goal was to identify the most suitable solution for HPDC in the foundry organization. After the deposition of PVD coatings on the inserts, the hardness (HRC) values increased from two to five depending on the coating used, and also the surface roughness was higher in the case of all inserts (Ra values increased from 0.24 to 0.36 µm). The lifetime of all PVD-coated inserts was higher compared to the uncoated insert. The highest lifetime was achieved by the application of a TiN coating, when 15,000 shots were achieved until the inserts’ wear negatively affected (increased) the surface roughness of castings, considering the customer requirements for the maximum Ra value. SEM analysis was used to identify examples of wear and degradation on the surface of the TiN coated insert.

The metallurgical sector, a key component of European industries, plays a crucial role both in advanced economies and in the infrastructure development of emerging nations. As environmental concerns increasingly influence global trade policies, the introduction of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAMs) becomes a pivotal factor, especially those affecting the steel industry. This study focuses on assessing the impact of CBAM implementation on the steel industry’s evolution until 2034, utilizing a combination of econometric models and scenario analysis.

This study presents the development of a novel material for a spherical impact pad for tundishes during steel production, focusing on improving steel cleanliness and flow optimization. Traditional low-carbon and ultra-low carbon concrete (LCC/ULCC) materials are replaced with a new cement-free mixture, utilizing a sol–gel method binder. This innovative approach leads to the creation of IPC TECAST BPV CST, a refractory concrete with enhanced resistance to corrosion and shape stability under extreme conditions. The material’s effectiveness is demonstrated through operational tests, showing remarkable durability and no erosion defects after extensive use in casting liquid metal. The sol–gel binder significantly reduces the carbon footprint and energy consumption during the drying process, compared to traditional concretes. This study concludes that the new material not only withstands the dynamic environment of liquid steel but also ensures consistent dynamic flow conditions throughout the steel casting process, marking a significant advancement in tundish impact pad technology.

The aim of the presented research was to optimize a pig iron desulfurization process through data-driven machine learning methods. Utilizing historical data, chemical analysis of pig iron and slag, and the thermodynamics of the process including simulations of the chemical reactions between individual phases, a neural network was trained for the predictive modeling of desulfurization efficiency. The accuracy of the model was enhanced by integrating Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs), which incorporate chemical reaction principles. The results show better performance of PINNs in comparison to the Feedforward Neural Network (FNN) in the generalization of the desulfurization process, bringing better reliability to the model.