The dynamic properties and thermal history of Fe40Al at.% intermetallic particles have been estimated. The parameters of the gas detonation process for the investigated mixture have been calculated using thermochemical code, and the motion parameters as well as thermal history of the analyzed powder particles have been assessed using computational fluid dynamics software and self-developed algorithms. The appropriate models allowed for determination of the melted volume (mass) fraction of a certain analyzed single particle, which is dependent on a particle diameter ranging from 10 to 160 μm. The results show that only particles with a diameter lower than 80 μm melt under the investigated conditions. Moreover, the estimated radial distribution of the temperature inside the particle is almost homogenous due to relatively high FeAl thermal conductivity and relatively low thermal conductance of the surface heat transfer. The calculated final velocity of particles has been referred to some experimental and literature data from previous studies by other researchers, and the results were found to be in agreement.

The complex thermophysical property of temperature-sensitive paint (TSP) research is discussed. TSP is used for visualization of the surface temperature distribution in wind tunnel aerodynamic tests. The purpose of this research was to provide reliable, experimental, thermophysical data of the paint applied as a coating. As TSP is applied as thin surface layers, investigation of its final properties is challenging and demands the application of non-standard procedures. At present, most measurements were performed on composite specimens of TSP deposed onto a thin metallic film substrate or on TSP combined with a cellulose sheet support. The studies involved gravimetric,, thermogravimetric, and microcalorimetric analyses, transversal thermal diffusivity estimation from laser flash data and in-plane effective thermal diffusivity measurements done by the temperature oscillation technique. These results were complemented with scanning electron microcopy analysis, surface characterization and the results of dilatometric measurements performed on the TSP bulk specimens obtained from liquid substrate by casting. Complex analysis of the obtained results indicated an isotropic characteristic of the thermal diffusivity of the TSP layer and provided reliable data on all measured thermophysical parameters—they were revealed to be typical for insulators. Further to presenting these data, the paper, in brief, presents the applied investigation procedures.

Purpose: The paper aims to discuss the inverse heat conduction methodology in solution of a certain parameter identification problem. The problem itself concerns determination of the thermophysical properties of a thin layer coating by applying the laser flash apparatus. Design/methodology/approach: The modelled laser flash diffusivity data from the three-layer sample investigation are used as input for the following parameter estimation procedure. Assuming known middle layer, i.e. substrate properties, the thermal diffusivity (TD) of the side layers’ material is determined. The estimation technique utilises the finite element method for numerical solution of the direct, 2D axisymmetric heat conduction problem. Findings: The paper presents methodology developed for a three-layer sample studies and results of the estimation technique testing and evaluation based on simulated data. The multi-parametrical identification procedure results in identification of the out of plane thin layer material diffusivity from the inverse problem solution. Research limitations/implications: The presentation itself is limited to numerical simulation data, but it should be underlined that the flake graphite thermophysical parameters have been utilised in numerical tests. Practical implications: The developed methodology is planned to be applied in detailed experimental studies of flake graphite. Originality/value: In the course of a present study, a methodology of the thin-coating layer TD determination was developed. In spite of the fact that it has been developed for the graphite coating investigation, it was planned to be universal in application to any thin–thick composite structure study.