Iron reserves in the female body and susceptibility to colds

Levels of temporary invalidity because of catching cold were analyzed in 101 working women over two years and these women's levels of serum iron, total iron-binding capacity of the serum, transferrin saturation with iron, serum ferritin, and red cell ferritin measured. Women with stable iron reserves in the body virtually have no sick leaves because of catching cold, whereas in those with iron deficiency susceptibility to catching cold is increased, and if iron metabolism intensity in the body grows, invalidity periods are much longer. Normalization of not only iron reserves in the body, but correction of iron metabolism as well should be regarded as a factor exerting a favorable effect on body resistance to catching cold.     

Laws of Formation of Electrospark Coatings from Alloys of the Ni – Cr – Al – Y System

The main parameters of electrospark alloying of steel 45 with anodes made from Ni – Cr – Al – Y alloys have been investigated. The anodes were fabricated by casting and hot pressing. The highest values of the mass transfer coefficient were observed in the case of electrospark alloying with hot-pressed alloys. Microstructure and x-ray phase analyses of electrospark coatings revealed the presence of solid solutions based on nickel, iron, chromium as well as intermetallic compounds. Coatings obtained by electrospark alloying with hot-pressed alloy are more wear-resistant than are coatings obtained by alloying with cast alloys.     

Mo/Ni and Ni/Ta–W–N/Ni thin-film contact layers for (Bi,Sb)<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript>-based intermediate-temperature thermoelectric elements

We have examined the possibility of utilizing thin-film contact layers for producing reliable Ohmic contacts to proposed intermediate-temperature (Bi,Sb)₂Te₃-based thermoelectric materials with improved thermoelectric properties, which allow the working temperature range to be extended to 600 K. Three contact configurations have been produced by ion-plasma magnetron sputtering: a single Ni layer, Mo/Ni bilayer, and Ni/Ta–W–N/Ni three-layer system. It has been shown that reliable contacts can be produced using Mo/Ni and Ni/Ta–W–N/Ni layers, which prevent interdiffusion between the materials to be joined and ensure good adhesion to the thermoelectric element.     

Electric-spark alloying of steels with WC-Co hard metals

Conclusions A study was made of the electroerosion and cathode weight increase accompanying the ESA of steels with WC-Co hard metals and of some properties of resultant alloyed layers. In ESA the best results are obtained with VK20 alloy under soft conditions and with VK15 alloy under hard condition. The optimum alloying time is 5–10 min/cm² in process No. 2 and 3–5 min/cm² in process No. 5. Under these conditions ESA by the soft process (with VK20 alloy) ensures the formation of a hard (2200 kgf/mm²) white layer of the same thickness (40 m).Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 8(212), pp. 67–71, August, 1980.     

Formation of carbon nanotubes on an amorphous Ni<Subscript>25</Subscript>Ta<Subscript>58</Subscript>N<Subscript>17</Subscript> alloy film by chemical vapor deposition

It is shown that it is possible to grow carbon nanotubes on the surface of an amorphous Ni–Ta–N metal alloy film with a low Ni content (~25 at %) by chemical deposition from acetylene at temperature 400–800°C. It is established that the addition of nitrogen into the Ni–Ta alloy composition is favorable for the formation of tantalum nitride and the expulsion of Ni clusters, which act as a catalyst of the growth of carbon nanotubes, onto the surface. From Raman spectroscopy studies, it is found that, as the temperature of synthesis is raised, the quality of nanotubes is improved.     

Investigation of the transition layer in 3C-SiC/6H-SiC heterostructures

Transmission electron microscopy and the cathodoluminescence method are used to study the transition region in 3C-SiC/6H-SiC heterostructures. It is shown that this region is, as a rule, constituted by alternating 3C-SiC and 6H-SiC layers with the possible inclusion of other silicon carbide polytypes. An assumption is made that this structure of the transition region can be explained in terms of the model of spinodal decomposition.     

Paper‐Derived Bioactive Glass Tape

Porous bioactive glass (BaG) structures were manufactured applying novel preceramic paper process. Preceramic papers were produced for aqueous suspensions loaded with different contents of pulp fiber and BaG filler. Pressure loading was applied in order to increase the packing density in the paper sheets. The paper sheets were sintered at 630 °C for 1 h. The porous glass–ceramic specimens were characterized for density, porosity, composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties. A pronounced volumetric shrinkage was observed, but no surface flaws or inhomogeneous areas were detected. The mechanical strength using the ball on three balls test and elastic modulus of sintered specimens vary between 21 and 33 MPa and 0.30–0.85 GPa, respectively.     

Abnormal propagation of EMW through below cutoff holes and intrinsic oscillations of waveguide objects and periodic structures

Spectral theory is used to explain the effect of propagation through below cutoff holes. Intrinsic oscillations of the corresponding waveguide and periodic open resonators are studied. Their influence on the frequency characteristic is demonstrated for various structures: from waveguide to array.     

Thermomechanical treatment of high-carbon wire rod in the 150 high-speed wire mill at Belorussian Metallurgical Plant

The introduction of a reduction and calibration unit at a wire mill is recommended for the production of high-carbon wire rod subjected to thermomechanical treatment with controlled rolling and cooling. By this means, the fluctuation in the mechanical properties may be reduced. In addition, the decarburized layer will be thinner and uniformly distributed over the perimeter of the wire rod. As a result, the plasticity of the wire rod in subsequent processing is improved, while the formation of quench structures at the wire surface in high-speed drawing is practically eliminated.