In this paper, three commercial cermet powders, WC-Co-Cr, WC-Co and WC-Cr₃C₂-Ni, were sprayed by the High Velocity Oxy Fuel (HVOF) method onto magnesium alloy AZ31 substrate. The coatings were investigated in terms of their microstructure, phase analysis and residual stress. The manufactured coatings were analyzed extensively using optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Based on microstructure studies, it was noted that the coatings show satisfactory homogeneity. XRD analysis shows that in WC-Co, WC-Co-Cr and WC-Cr₃C₂-Ni coatings, main peaks are related to WC. Weaker peaks such as W₂C, Co_0.9W_0.1, Co and W for WC-Co and W₂C, Cr₃C₂ and Cr₇C₃ for WC-Cr₃C₂-Ni also occur. In all cermet coatings, linear stress showed compressive nature. In WC-Co and WC-Cr₃C₂-Ni, residual stress had a similar value, while in WC-Co-Cr, linear stress was lower. It was also proved that spraying onto magnesium substrate causes shear stress in the WC phase, most likely due to the low elastic modulus of magnesium alloy substrate.

The paper presents the results of the crystallisation process of cast magnesium alloys based on the thermal-derivation analysis. The effects of aluminium content and cooling rate on the characteristic parameters of the evaluation of magnesium dendrites during solidification at different cooling rates were investigated by thermal-derivative analysis (TDA). Dendrite coherency point (DCP) is defined with a new approach based on the second derivative cooling curve. Solidification behaviour was evaluated via one thermocouple thermal analysis method. Microstructural evaluations were characterised by light microscope, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. This research revealed that utilisation of d²T/dt² versus the time curve methodology allows for analysis of the dendrite coherency point.

Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells are one of the most promising energy conversion technologies for both automotive and stationary applications. Scientists are testing a number of solutions to increase the durability of cells, especially catalysts, which are the most expensive component. These solutions include, among others, the modification of the composition and morphology of supported nanoparticles, the platinum–support interface, and the support itself. A detailed understanding of the mechanism of platinum degradation and the subsequent improvement of the durability of the entire cell requires the development of methods for effectively monitoring the behavior of catalytic nanoparticles under various cell operating conditions. The Identical-Location Transmission Electron Microscopy (IL-TEM) method makes it possible to visually track structural and morphological changes in the catalyst directly. Because the tests are performed with a liquid electrolyte imitating a membrane, they provide better control of the degradation conditions and, consequently, facilitate the understanding of nanoparticle degradation processes in various operating conditions. This review is primarily intended to disseminate knowledge about this technique to scientists using electron microscopy in the study of energy materials and to draw attention to issues related to the characterization of the structure of carbon supports.

The aim of this work was to observe the changes in the magnetomechanical properties of composite materials with different Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Fe_1.9(Terfenol-D) powder particle-size distributions and varying volume fractions in the polyurethane matrix. The results show a direct relationship between the properties and the particle size of the Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Fe_1.9powder: the increases in the particle-size distribution of the Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Fe_1.9powder in the matrix amplify the magnetostrictive responses and the compressive modulus values. Moreover, it was found that the key role in efficiency of the transformation of magnetic energy into mechanical plays the initial compressing pre-stress.