AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEM OF THE CONVERSION OF STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING COMPONENTS MANUFACTURED BY CASTING TECHNIQUES

Modern development of technology features not only dynamic changes aimed at improving the performance characteristics of structural components through the optimum selection of materials, adjustments in design, or upgrade of manufacturing processes, but also the increase of the economic impact resulting from these changes. All of these processes occur under one common name of conversion and have a simple or – more often complex character (due to the vast scope of changes introduced). This article examines some basic definitions related to the concept of conversion and its association with innovative and intelligent solutions currently applied in materials engineering. Due to a variety of problems, attention was focused on the core notions related to conversion. Basing on our own experience (i.e., on the experience of the Foundry Research Institute and AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow) and also on foreign achievements in this particular field of knowledge (mainly coming from the US), the most interesting examples of the conversion of materials and design (in the authors’ opinion) were discussed with reference to the methods of manufacture and possible interactions.