The methods of scanning, transmission electron microscopy were used to study the redistribution of carbide phases and carbon atoms in the cross section of the head at distances of 0, 2, 10 mm from the surface along the rounding radius of the fillet and along the central axis of 100-meter differentially hardened rails after extremely long term operation (rassed tonnage with 2013 1770 million gross tons).

The work is related to the study of external influences on the deformation behavior of metallic materials. On the basis of literary sources, the effects accompanying the passage of a pulsed current and related structure changes in the metals and alloys are briefly considered. A special role in the contribution of each effect belongs to the current mode (direct, pulse) and regimes (density, off-duty factor), as well to the material. The results of our own studies of the interaction of pulsed current with a large off-duty factor (Q ≥ 10³) and plastic deformation by quasi-static tension in materials of different physical nature are presented: pure metals (titanium and aluminum), shape memory TiNi alloys with reversible martensitic transformation (stoichiometric and behind stoichiometric composition), ferrite-pearlitic (ST3) and stainless austenitic (0Kh18N10T) steels. A pulsed current with a density above the critical and high off-duty factor is used, which makes it possible to observe the electroplastic effect in the form of stress drops with a minimum thermal effect. In contrast to the well-known classical manifestation of the electroplastic effect in the form of a decrease in flow stresses and an increase in plasticity, a manifestation of anomalous strengthening from several tens to hundreds of MPa is demonstrated. It is assumed that the reasons of visible effects are external and internal factors - high off-duty factor, thermomechanical cycling, change in the dislocation mechanism of deformation, martensitic transformation, structure refinement, dissolution of particles of excess phases. With a decrease in the off-duty factor (increasing the frequency of the pulsed current to 10³ Hz) and transition from single pulse to multi-pulse current, the hardening effects are replaced by the traditional decrease in flow stresses due to the thermal effect of the current.

A software implementation of an instrumental system for calculating the thermodynamic functions of individual substances, chemical reactions and the equal state of a complex multicomponent heterogeneous system is presented. An overview of existing databases and software products is provided. An algorithm for calculating the basic thermodynamic functions of a substance (specific heat capacity, enthalpy, entropy and reduced Gibbs energy for both a fixed temperature and a change in the temperature range) is considered. A database has been created for 2500 individual properties. A calculation block has been developed to determine the basic thermodynamic parameters. An algorithm for calculating changes in the thermodynamic functions of chemical reactions based on Hesse's law is implemented programmatically. The method of calculating the equilibrium state of a complex multicomponent heterogeneous system based on the principle of maximum entropy, which is implemented in the third module of the instrumental system, is considered.

The results of an analytical review on the current state of iron ore agglomerate production technology in Russia are presented. The dynamics of agglomerate production over the past 30 years, the situation of input/output of sinter production capacities are described. The main aspects of the technology operating in Russia, the agglomerate production schemes are summarized and structured: preparation of charge materials and their caulking on an agglomeration machine, cooling and processing of the sinter. The trends of sinter plants in the development of digital technologies and the solution of environmental issues are reflected.

The nature of the interfacial interaction of aluminum melts with exogenous reinforcing components in the production of aluminum matrix composite materials by foundry-metallurgical methods can be significantly changed by adding various alloying elements. In this regard, consideration of the influence of alloying of matrix alloys on the thermodynamic activity of components in melts can be treated as one of the criteria for choosing alloying elements during designing the compositions of cast aluminum matrix composites. At the same time, experimental estimates of the thermodynamic activity of the components of complex systems are associated with significant time and material resources, are characterized by high labor intensity and a large spread of the obtained values. The development and verification of computational models for predicting the thermodynamic behavior of multicomponent melts can be considered as a fairly effective approach to determining their thermodynamic characteristics. In the present work, an assessment of the thermodynamic activity of alloying components of matrix aluminum alloys in the production of cast composite materials based on the Al – Si – X ternary system (where X = Si, Cu, Mg, Zn, Mn, Ni, Ti, Fe) was carried out using the Wilson equation and calculated values of adjustable parameters according to the extended Miedema model. The calculation forms of the equations for determining the activity coefficients of the components are implemented in the MS Excel software package. The results obtained can be useful in predicting the chemical stability of exogenous reinforcing components in matrix aluminum melts.

Aluminium (Al) based alloys are used in aerospace and automotive industries due to their high specific stiffness and high specific strength. To enhance their performance, often their mechanical properties are improved by making composites via incorporation of ceramic particles as reinforcement. For requirements, such as high wear resistance, high surface hardness is essential, and therefore making of their ‘surface composites’ suffices. Friction stir process (FSP) is an effective technique to produce surface composites. By varying tool rotation speed, microstructure can be controlled to achieve high hardness. In this work, aluminium alloy Al6061 based surface composites containing silicon carbide and alumina microparticles were made by FSP method. Surface composites were produced at three tool rotation speeds (rpm: 600, 800, 1000). Composites were characterized for their microstructure, i.e. grain size, at four distinct zones, namely, nugget zone (stir zone), heat affected zone, thermo-mechanically affected zone and base metal. Microhardness was measured for the composites at their nugget zone (stir zone) and for the base metal. Hardness of the composites was higher than the base metal, due to recrystallized microstructure i.e. reduction in grain size, and uniform distribution of ceramic particles and their strengthening mechanisms. With increase in tool rotation speed, the grain size in the composites decreased and consequently their hardness increased, such that, at the highest speed (1000 rpm), the grain size at the stir zone was smaller by an order of magnitude and the hardness was three times higher, compared to those of the base metal. Dependence of grain size (and concomitant increase in hardness) on tool rotation speed provides an effective route for microstructure control and hardness enhancement during processing of surface composites, without resorting to post-fabrication secondary processes.

The characteristic of the innovative component of the tools for the sustainable development of a mining enterprise is given. The specific industry features are considered, possible industry risks, features and types of innovations in the mining industry are determined. Due to the specifics of the work, it is proposed to supplement the assessment of the sustainable development of the enterprise with an integral indicator of innovation sustainability, the main indicators affecting innovation sustainability are formed.

The analysis of the problems of the territorial organization of the higher education system of the Kemerovo region is carried out. The relevance of the study of this issue is emphasized in the context of modern trends in the development of the higher education system of the Russian Federation, taking into account the technological transformation and digitalization of the country's economy. The object of the study is the regional system of higher education of the Kemerovo region; the subject is the territorial aspects of the spatial distribution of levels of education and areas of training between the leading universities of the Kemerovo region; The empirical basis is the documents presented on the official websites of higher educational institutions, reflecting the specifics of the levels of education and training areas implemented in the universities of Kuzbass. Research methods: theoretical review and generalization of scientific data, analysis of documentary sources. When processing the results, graphic image methods were used. We used systematic and structural-functional approaches to the study of the specifics of training young specialists in universities of the Kemerovo region, taking into account regional peculiarities. The actual state of the higher education system in the region is analyzed. The spatial distribution of educational levels and training directions between the leading universities of the Kemerovo region has been studied. The shortcomings of the spatial distribution of levels of education and training directions in the territorial organization of the higher education system of Kuzbass are revealed. A causal relationship has been established between the educational migration of school graduates and the organization of the higher education system. Conclusions are drawn about the need for a balanced approach to the spatial distribution of education levels and training areas in Kuzbass universities, taking into account the peculiarities of intraregional socio-economic development.