The three primary steps in the production of tungsten carbide WC and titanium carbide TiC powders are the preparation of the green mixture, carbidization by furnace annealing, and ball milling of the annealed products. This work performed a comprehensive parametric investigation of these three steps. The impact of several factors was examined including the carbon precursor, the mass and diameter of the milling bodies (balls), the milling time and speed, the temperature and length of the annealing process, the height of the powder in the furnace boats, and the rate at which the furnace boats move. Regression models for every stage of the process were verified by 10-fold validation and used to optimize the synthesis sequence, resulting in high-quality WC and TiC with a grain size below 2 microns and a content of free carbon below 0.1%. Additionally, solid solution (W,Ti)C was fabricated by mechanochemical synthesis from the elemental mixtures; however, further modification of this technique is necessary because of the observed relatively high concentration of residual free carbon (0.2–0.8%) and contamination by Fe.

Investigations of the synthesis of multicomponent coatings and their subsequent application to metal substrates to increase the wear resistance of materials is relevant for industry. Nickel compounds obtained from oxidized magnesia-iron nickel ores with a desorption rate of more than 94% were used to create Ni-MoO₃-WO₃ electroplating. Such composite samples formed from an aqueous alcohol solution reduced the content of sodium and ammonium chlorides. The annealing and dehydration of samples at a temperature of 725 °C in an air atmosphere made it possible to achieve the highest level of crystallinity. In this case, an isomorphic substitution of W atoms by Mo occurs, which is confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy studies. The invariance of the shape of the EPR spectrum with a sequential increase in microwave radiation power revealed the stability of the bonds between the particles. The surface morphology of Ni-MoO₃-WO₃ films deposited on an Al substrate is smooth and has low roughness. In this case, an increased degree of wear resistance has been achieved. Thus, a recipe for the formation of an electroplating with stable bonds between the components and increased wear resistance was obtained.

This study investigates the effect of zirconium on the superplastic properties of titanium alloys at various temperatures and strain rates. It has been established that zirconium significantly influences the strain rate sensitivity coefficient (m), mechanical stability, and plasticity. At elevated temperatures, zirconium-containing alloys exhibit a stable m-value within a specific strain rate range, followed by a sharp decline. In contrast, zirconium-free alloys show a gradual decrease in m as the strain rate increases. The optimal temperature-strain rate conditions for superplastic deformation depend on zirconium content. Alloys with lower zirconium concentrations demonstrate high plasticity at moderate temperatures and intermediate strain rates, whereas alloys with higher zirconium content require lower strain rates to achieve uniform deformation. Beyond a certain threshold, an increase in zirconium content results in reduced plasticity and strain localization. Additionally, zirconium increases flow stress, while higher temperatures contribute to its reduction; however, this is accompanied by grain coarsening, which negatively affects mechanical properties. Microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy revealed that after superplastic deformation, all investigated alloys develop a fine-grained structure consisting of equiaxed α- and β-grains. The average grain size increases compared to the initial state, indicating dynamic recovery and recrystallization processes. The results confirm the feasibility of using these titanium alloys in superplastic forming technologies. The identified correlations provide a basis for optimizing thermomechanical processing parameters to achieve a balance between high plasticity and mechanical stability, which is crucial for industrial applications.

Until recently, the main reducing agent in ferroalloy smelting was coke nut, but its quality characteristics often do not meet technological requirements, and the shortage of small coke grades and the expected deterioration of its properties increase the need for alternative reducing agents. Kazakhstan has significant reserves of non-coking coals with low ash and harmful impurities, which makes them a promising raw material for the production of special coke for the ferroalloy industry. At the same time, current standards often do not reflect the actual performance of reducing agents under specific smelting conditions, so their suitability is finally confirmed only by industrial tests. This study is aimed at studying the possibility of obtaining a carbon-containing reducing agent from coal deposits in Kazakhstan and assessing its effectiveness for smelting ferroalloys.

The article presents the results of a comprehensive investigation into the extraction of high-purity zinc from condensates formed during the electric smelting of low-grade, hard-to-enrich polymetallic raw materials from the Shalkiya deposit, accompanied by the production of ferrosilicon. The relevance of the research lies in the growing need to develop technologies for processing industrial waste containing valuable metals, particularly in light of the depletion of easily accessible rich ore reserves. The aim of the work was to develop a pyrometallurgical method for extracting zinc and lead using controlled atmospheric and vacuum processes. It was established that at temperatures up to 1100°C in an inert atmosphere, zinc distillation is negligible due to the low vapor pressure of its oxides. However, secondary distillation in a reducing atmosphere at the same temperature resulted in more than 95% recovery of zinc, though still contaminated with lead. A final purification step conducted under vacuum conditions (10 Pa, 800°C, 1 hour) yielded high-purity zinc with a residual impurity level below 0.01%. The results obtained dismantle the technological possibility of efficient extraction and purification of zinc from storage facilities formed during the processing of poor raw materials, which opens up prospects for the industrial implementation of this technique for the integrated use of manmade resources.