This paper presents an investigation into effect of nitrogen content of shielding gas mixture on weld geometry, microstructure and hardness of pulsed laser welded 2205 duplex stainless steel. Full penetration autogenous welding was performed on 2 mm thick plates using a low power pulsed Nd: YAG laser. light and scanning electron microscopy were used to study the resulting microstructures. It is observed that 2 mm full penetrated joint decreases to 1.8 mm by dominating nitrogen in argon-nitrogen mixture. Different morphologies of austenite phase as well as an increase of 8% of its content can be observed in pure nitrogen shielded welds. Average weld grain size in sample which is welded in nitrogen atmosphere stands at approximately 41 μm which is smaller than that of argon atmosphere which is about 51 μm. Micro-hardness test reveals that hardness values increase from 280 HV in base metal to 307 HV in weld center line and the shielding gas mixture does not significantly influence the weld hardness.

The effectiveness of 7 fungicides ( Amistar 250 SC, Bayleton 5 WP, Bumper 250 EC, Discus 500 WG, Folicur BT 225 EC, Folicur Multi 50 WG, Score 250 EC) and 2 bioproducts (Biochikol 020 PC and Biosept 33 SL) in the control of Puccinia pelargonii-zonalis was tested on pelargonium cv. Pulsar F1 Salmon. Additionally, their influence on plant growth, size of pustules, percentage of germinated spores and phytotoxicity were assessed. Plants were sprayed 4 times at weekly intervals. Among tested compounds the most effective in suppressing new uredia formation were Amistar 250 SC, Bayleton 5 WP, Biosept 33 SL, Bumper 250 EC, Folicur BT 225 EC and Score 250 EC. Furthermore, some fungicides inhibited germination of urediospores on PDA medium. Fourteen days after the last spraying more than 76% of germinating urediospores were found on control leaves. At the same time spores collected from plants protected with Amistar 250 SC, Bayleton 5 WP, Folicur BT 225 EC and Folicur Multi 50 WG germinated sporadically in 1.5 to 4.0%. In the next part of experiment, plants with visible sporulation of P. pelargonii-zonalis were sprayed with tested compounds. After 1, 7 and 14 days of incubation, total number of spores and number of germinating spores were counted. After 1 or 7 days, urediospores collected from untreated plants germinated in more than 80% whereas from plants sprayed with tested fungicides except Amistar 250 SC in 20–66.6%. Amistar 250 SC was the most effective in suppressing urediospore germination. All fungicides used in protection of young pelargonium plants, except Amistar 250 SC and Biochikol 020 PC, decreased plant growth. None of tested compounds showed phytotoxicity toward tested pelargonium cultivar.

In the paper, the mathematical model of coupled electromagnetic and thermal phenomena in the pulse transformer taking into account the magnetic hysteresis is presented. For the mapping of magnetic hysteresis, Jiles-Atherton model is applied. In order to solve field equations, the finite element method (FEM), "step-by-step" procedure and Newton-Raphson algorithm are used. Software elaborated on this basis is used for analysis of hysteresis loss in the core. Selected results of investigations are shown.