International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

This paper deals with the possibility of renovating exterior plastic automotive components using adhesive bonding technology. The research focuses on the evaluation of the shear strength of adhesive joints formed using adhesive systems commonly applied in automotive repair practice. The experimental investigation was carried out using selected adhesives, and the shear strength of the bonded joints was evaluated. To simulate real operating conditions of vehicles, accelerated laboratory tests were performed in which the bonded joints were exposed to various degradation environments. Subsequently, changes in the shear strength of the adhesive joints were evaluated after their exposure to these conditions. The study also examined the influence of road de-icing agents commonly used in winter road maintenance on the quality and integrity of the adhesive joints. Based on the analysis of fracture surfaces, the failure mechanisms of the joints were identified and classified as adhesive or cohesive failure. The obtained results provide a basis for assessing the applicability of adhesive bonding technology for the renovation of exterior plastic automotive components and contribute to the optimization of repair procedures used in automotive maintenance practice.

Tribological properties of functional surfaces are a key factor influencing the durability, reliability and efficiency of mechanical systems. One of the progressive approaches to surface modification is laser surface microtexturing, which allows for the precise creation of controlled microstructures capable of modifying contact conditions and lubricant retention at tribological interfaces. This article focuses on the application of laser-induced surface microtexturing to improve the tribological performance of hard nanocomposite coatings nACRo³ and nACRo⁴. The experimental part of the research is dedicated to the preparation of microtextures on the substrate surface using a pulsed laser system, followed by the deposition of nanocomposite coatings nACRo³ and nACRo⁴. The created microstructures are characterized in terms of their geometry, distribution and influence on the contact properties of the coated surfaces. The wettability of the microtextured surfaces was evaluated based on the measurement of the contact angle. Optimizing surface microtexture is an effective way to increase wettability and potentially improve lubrication conditions during technological processes of forming or tribological loading of materials.
Keywords: laser surface texturing, tribology, nanocomposite coating, wettability, contact angle, PVD coating, tool steel, die casting

This paper investigates the efficacy of generative artificial intelligence in automating the creation of technical documentation for non-destructive testing (NDT). The research focuses on a comparative performance analysis between a specialized AI agent, built on the Gemini 3.1 Flash platform, and certified human NDT Level 2 experts. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted using three distinct industrial forging products. Both the AI agent and two human experts were tasked with generating Visual Testing (VT) work instructions based on a 14-point framework derived from the STN EN 13018 and ISO 9712 standards. The outputs were evaluated by a blind-reviewing Level 3 expert using a modified HEAT (Expertise, Accuracy, Trust) rubric, focusing on regulatory compliance, technical precision, and readability. he results demonstrate that the AI agent achieved a 98.4% reduction in generation time, averaging 54.5 seconds per instruction compared to 57.3 minutes for human experts. While the AI agent consistently outperformed humans in text clarity and structural consistency (scoring 5.0 in usability), it exhibited “conservative technical hallucinations,” such as prescribing unnecessary magnification tools and incorrect defect-coding standards (ISO 6520-1 instead of CSN 421240). Furthermore, cloud-based API instabilities (HTTP 503 errors) were identified as a critical reliability risk for real-time industrial deployment. The study concludes that while AI agents are highly effective as rapid drafting tools, they cannot currently replace certified personnel due to lack of situational engineering judgment and legal accountability. A “Human-in-the-loop” model remains mandatory, where a certified Level 2 or 3 professional must verify and approve all AI-generated NDT documentation to ensure industrial safety and regulatory compliance…

The article presents the results of research aimed at assessing the quality of forgings depending on the forging parameters used. The forging and subsequent heat treatment processes revealed the occurrence of cracks in the forgings. The article examines the possible causes of cracks, which can be caused by carburizing annealing and loss of plasticity during stress relaxation. Tool wear and damage during forging also affect the formation of cracks. These factors were identified as key factors contributing to the formation of non-metallic oxide inclusions, the transfer of surface defects and the formation of lamellar propagation during subsequent heat treatment. The findings highlight the influence of tool conditions and process parameters on the quality and reliability of steel forgings..

The article presents the results of research aimed at applying selected optimal topography modification procedures to critical areas of shaped parts of molds in order to increase their service life. Molds for high-pressure casting of aluminum alloys were evaluated. The microgeometry of the sample surface was modified by low-energy laser radiation microtexturing. Lattice and stochastic textures were created by laser radiation. The integrity of the sample surfaces after the formation of ablation craters was checked by scanning electron microscopy. The dimensions of the random texture craters on which duplex PVD coating nACRo4. The tribological properties of surfaces with different microtextures were evaluated using the pin-on-ball method.

Paper presents results of an investigation aimed at determining optimum properties of the additive materials used. Laser welding technology was used for the creation of the clads. Single-layer clads with additive materials Dievar (1.2343), Dratec (1.6356) and UTPA 702 (1.6356) were realized on plates of Dievar material which were heat-treated to a hardness of 45-48 HRc. Their chemical compositions differed in the contents of C, Si, and Mn. The primary objective was to verify the possibilities of innovative use of additive materials based on maraging steels. The quality of the maraging agents was evaluated by stucture and EDX analysis in each selected maraging agent spectra. Due to the influence of the used surfacing technology and parameters, there was only minimal mixing of the surfacing metal with the base material, which is in agreement with the measured HAZ values. Using the energy beam laser welding method, there was no burning of the elements during their transfer to the filler metal, as occurs with arc methods. No oxidation or contamination of the additive metal due to insufficient protection of the cladding site was observed.

The paper presents the results of an investigation focused on the analysis of the wear of moulds for high-pressure casting with Al alloy. In order to repair and refurbish the mould parts of moulds for high-pressure casting of aluminium alloys, samples of experimental welds were prepared on the base material of grade 1.2343 (Dievar) of dimensions 150x130x30 mm refined to the hardness value of 44-48 HRC. A TruDisk 4002 solid-state disk laser with BEO D70 focusing optics was used for surfacing. Mat.No.1.2343 (Dievar), Mat.No.1.6356 (Dratec) and Mat.No.1.6356 (UTPA 702 and NIFIL NiCu7/Dievar) wires were used as additional material. Light microscopy technique was used to inspect the microstructures on the cross-sections of the welds. Microhardness measurements were performed with a Vickers indenter at a load of 500 g and a mutual indentation distance of 0.4 mm between the indenter impressions.

The paper presents the results of research focused on the application of innovative procedures for surface topography modification. The experimental work was aimed at adjusting the microgeometry and surface topography of new and renovated shaped parts of molds for casting aluminium alloys under high pressure. In the phase of experimental verification of suitable surface topography, a group of samples from Dievar material was prepared. A multilayer nanostructured PVD coating of the 4th generation duplex nACRo4 was deposited on part of the experimental samples. The surface of the samples was ground and polished. The microgeometry of the surface of the samples was modified by low-energy laser radiation – microtexturing. The maximum interval was chosen to create a stochastic texture, also called a random texture crater distance up to 200 μm. The aim of this surface treatment was to analyze the adhesion effect of commercially used ones of lubricants in the technology of treatment of shaped parts of molds when casting aluminium alloys under high pressure on machines with a cold filling chamber. In the run-in of the mold, after the first cycles of spraying with a separating agent, a compact layer was created to increase the technological life of the shaped parts of the molds.

The paper presents the results of research aimed at determining the quality of renovation layers using laser technology. In order to repair and renovate shaped parts of molds for casting aluminum alloys under high pressure, samples of experimental welds were prepared on the base material quality 1.2343 (Dievar). The renovation layers were created using additional materials Dievar, UTP A 7002 and NIFIL NiCu7 res. NiCu7 with Dievar combination. The microstructures on the cross-sections of the deposits were checked using the light microscopy technique. The technique of scanning electron microscopy and semi-quantitative EDX microanalyses were analyzed distribution of alloys in deposits. The microhardness of the deposits was determined.

The paper presents the results of research aimed at determining selected tribological properties of PVD nanocoatings. PVD nanocoating of the 4th generation duplex nACRo4 was applied to the surface of shaped parts of molds and cores for high-pressure aluminium casting. The surfaces were laser textured with a random texture. The tribological properties of the coating were determined by measuring the friction coefficient using the Pin on Disc method at a temperature of 300 °C. Confocal microscopy was used to determine the parameters of the microgeometry of surfaces with random texture topography. The aim of this surface treatment was to analyse the adhesion effect of commercially used ones of lubricants in the technology of treatment of shaped parts of molds when casting aluminium alloys under high pressure on machines with a cold filling chamber. By checking the integrity of textured surfaces with deposited with the duplex PVD coating of the 4th generation nACRo4, no damage to the integrity of the deposited material was detected PVD coating. Elements forming the PVD coating were detected on the surface by semiquantitative EDX microanalysis.

The paper presents the results of research focused on the renovation of worn surfaces. Four progressive welding technologies were used – Cold Metal Transfer, MIG Pulse, TOP-TIG and laser technology. The layers were evaluated by non-destructive tests – visual, capillary and ultrasonic methods. The layers were evaluated under dry-friction adhesive wear conditions by the Ball-On-Disc method. A Si3N4 bead was used. Analyzes confirmed the impact of the renovation method on the quality of the resulting surface.

The paper presents the results of research aimed at determining surface wettability. The research was focused on microtexturing by low-energy laser irradiation of the surface of molded parts using innovative engraved surface treatment methods (LBT and EBT) to ensure a smooth distribution of the separation agent on the surface of high-pressure Al castings. The basic material was Uddeholm Dievar, which is used to make molds. PVD coatings were applied to the base material. The effect of laser texturing surfaces on the contact angle size was determined. Contact angle was evaluated on the base material, on PVD coatings without surface treatment and with the use of two types of separating agents.