The paper presents the results of research on microstructure and impact strength of AlSi13Cu2 matrix composite reinforced by Ni-coating carbon fibers (CF) with a volume fraction of 5%, 10% and 15%. The composite suspensions were prepared using by stirring method and subsequently squeeze casted under different pressures of 25, 50, 75 and 100 MPa. As part of the study, fiber distribution in aluminum matrix was evaluated and variation in impact strength of composite as a function of the carbon fibers volume fraction and pressure applied were determined. It has been found that the presence of Ni coating on carbon fibers clearly improves their wettability by liquid aluminum alloy and in combination with the stirring parameters applied, composite material with relatively homogeneous structure can be produced. Charpy's test showed that the impact strength of composite reaches the highest value by carrying out the squeeze casting process at 75 MPa. In the next stage of research, it was found that the impact strength of composites increases with the increase of carbon fibers volume fraction and for 15% of fibers is close to 8 J/cm2. Observations of fracture surfaces have revealed that crack growth in the composites propagates with a quasi-cleavage mechanism. During the creation of the fracture, all fibers arranged perpendicular to its surface were sheared. At the same time, the metal matrix around the fibers deformed plastically creating characteristic ductile breaks. The fracture surface formation through the fibers indicates a cohesive and strong connection of the reinforcement with the matrix. In addition to the phenomena mentioned, debonding the fiber-matrix interfaces and the formation of voids between components were observed on the fracture surface.

Fractography of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of 20% cold worked Type 304 H stainless steel containing δ-ferrite was studied using a compact tension (CT) specimen in oxidizing primary water with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD). The stress corrosion crack propagated mostly in transgranular stress corrosion cracking (TGSCC) mode and sometimes in intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) mode. TGSCC paths were along the {111} plane with both high resolved shear stress and high resolved tensile stress. IGSCC preferentially propagated along the grain boundary perpendicular to the loading axis. The findings in this work suggest that TGSCC proceeds through formation of a weakening zone at the head of the crack tip by interaction of slip and corrosion and then cracking of the weakened zone by tensile stress.

The kairomone, ethyl (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate, a potent attractant of both males and females of Cydia pomonella in regions of the USA, was tested alone and together with the synthetic sex pheromone in apple orchards of Bulgaria in 2002 and 2003. No female moths were caught in any trap containing kairomone as a lure or lure component. Furthermore, traps baited with kairomone caught only low numbers of males. Greatest numbers of male moths were caught in traps baited with the “combined-lure,” comprised of pheromone and kairomone together.

The paper discusses the possibility of improving resistance of heat exchangers made of gray cast iron with flake graphite to hightemperature corrosion by providing them with metallic coatings. A metallic coating containing 76.9% Ni, 19.8% Cr, 1.7% Si, 0.9% Fe, and 0.9% Mn was applied by means of the plasma spraying method and subjected to cyclically variable thermal loads in the atmosphere of solid fuels combustion products (oxygen, sulfur, chlorine, and sodium). In a 30-day thermal load test held at temperature 500°C it has been found that thickness of the metallic coating decreased from the initial (240 ± 6) μm to (231 ± 6) μm. The depth to which sulfur, chlorine, and sodium penetrated the coating was about 30 μm. Increased oxygen content occurred along the whole coating depth. In the coating area adjacent to the substrate surface, the content was twice as high compared to this observed in the initial coating material. Although presence of oxygen was found within the whole depth of the coating, i.e. (231 ± 6) μm, no signs of susceptibility of the sprayed metallic layer to separation from substrate of gray cast iron with flake graphite were found.