Recently there were many studies on the development of cast iron for increasing strength, thermal resistance and mechanical properties, etc. The effects on mechanical properties and variation of solidification structure of hypo-eutectic cast iron was investigated when Ni(Al) was added with a fixed quantity of Al(Ni) content. The conclusions are as follows. 1) Tensile strength was the maximum(over 41 kg/ $mm^2$) when Al is added about 0.72%. 2) Torsional strength and angle were increased with increasing Al content and represents maximum value, when Al and Ni content are 1.5 and 2.0%. 3) With increasing Ni content, tensile strength decreased because of the effect of graphite coarsening. But torsional strengths were increased with the appropriate addition of (Ni%+Al%) content because of the effect of strengthened matrix.

To investigate the grain refining mechanism of Al by the addition of Ti-B, the unidirectional solidifications of 99.9%Al and 99.7%Al were performed under the condition of varing the pouring temperature. The solidification modes of Al were studied by the cooling curve analyses, metallographic and microprobe examinations. The results were as follows: 1) Grains were most refined with an addition of 0.15wt.%Ti-0.021wt.%B but the grain size with 0.2wt.%Ti-0.028wt.%B was increased. 2) The grain size of 99.7wt.%Al was even more refined than that of 99.9wt.%Al with the same amount of Ti-B. 3) As the pouring temperature increased, the grain size of pure Al and an alloy with 0.lwt.%Ti-0.014wt.%B was increased. However, an alloy with 0.2wt.%Ti-0.028wt.%B did not show any effects of temperature. 4) TiC(Al-Ti) and (Al-Ti-C) were identified as nucleants for Al.

The influences of some factors on the variation of compression strength of $CO_2$ process were investigated with an attention given to use of high $SiO_2\;/Na_2O$ silicate, addition of organics and gassing operation. 1) Higher ratio binder offers faster rates of hardening with lower $CO_2$ consumption requiring more concentration for a good strength development. A mixture containing 4 percent of 2.7:1 ratio silicate produces the strength above $8kg\;/\;cm^2$ after 80 seconds gassing, but 5% and 6% respectively of 3.0:1 and3.3:1 ratio silicate are necessary to achieve equivalent levels of strength. 2) The correct water content in sand mixtures containing higher ratio silicates is necessary for the better strength properties to be obtained. The addition of 1% water to the sand mixtures bonded with 5%,3:1 ratio and 6%,3.3:1 ratio silicates maintains near-maximum strength on extended gassing. 3) When higher ratio silicates with 3:1 and 3.3:1 ratios are used,the addition of organic additives such as oil, sucrose and polyol results in considerable changes in strength. The presence of 1.0 to 1.5 percent of polyol produces a noticiable improvement 4) Gas diluted with air raises the efficiency of gas utilization. When gas contains 50 percent $CO_2$, the efficience is significantly increased with the best strength in the silicates having high ratios of 3:1 and 3.3:1. 5) The strength of molds is liable to change on storage with the reduction in water content. The magnitude of the strength change is determinded with the mole ratio. The presence of polyol in the mixture with 3.3:1 ratio silicate has a pronounced effect on maintaining the gassed strength.