The paper presents the study results of laser modification of Vanadis-6 steel after diffusion boronized. The influence of laser beam fluence on selected properties was investigated. Diffusion boronizing lead to formation the FeB and Fe2B iron borides. After laser modification the layers were consisted of: remelted zone, heat affected zone and substrate. It was found that increase of laser beam fluence have influence on increase in dimensions of laser tracks. In the thicker remelting zone, the primary dendrites and boron eutectics were detected. In the thinner remelting zone the primary carbo-borides and eutectics were observed. In obtained layers the FeB, Fe2B, Fe3B0.7C0.3 and Cr2B phases were detected. Laser remelting process caused obtained the mild microhardness gradient from the surface to the substrate. In the remelted zone was in the range from 1800 HV0.1 to 1000 HV0.1. It was found that the laser beam fluence equal to 12.7 J/mm2 was most favorable. Using this value, microhardness was relatively high and homogeneous.

The purpose of the research was to examine the influence of boron on the selected properties of low-alloy cast steels. The chemical compositions of the cast steels were designed especially for this study to contain different alloy elements. The first composition lacked significant alloying elements. The subsequent grades of cast steels had the addition of chrome, chrome with vanadium, and chrome with titanium. It was decided to investigate the influence of boron in the presence of such alloying additives on the temperature of phase transformations. On the basis of dilatometric curves, the characteristic temperatures of the phase transformations were determined. Additionally, to assess the influence of the cooling rate on the structure of cast steels, an analysis of their microstructure, after full annealing and quenching, was carried out.

The role of catalase in resistance to boron toxicity after melatonin application (MEL) was investigated in Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Col-0 and cat2-2 plants were exposed to 50 μM MEL followed by boron toxicity (BT) in a medium containing 10 mM H ₃BO ₃. Pigment loss and accordingly chlorosis were reduced by melatonin under BT conditions, while they were more prominent in cat2-2 mutants. Moreover, TBARS and H ₂O ₂ contents, which increased due to BT, decreased as a result of melatonin application and the levels of these parameters in cat2-2 mutants were higher than the values in Col-0. Antioxidant enzyme activity of SOD and SOD1 gen transcript were induced by MEL under BT. Conversely, APX4, PER10 and CAT1 transcripts were down-regulated by MEL under BT. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activities and their transcript levels were lower than those of Col-0. Thus, we suggested that MEL scavenged ROS directly under BT. Melatonin also reduced the accumulation of boric acid in leaf tissues of Col-0, but not cat2-2. Finally, even though melatonin application provided a degree of endurance, the cat2 mutation resulted in increased sensitivity to BT.

The aims of this study were to enhance electronic, photophysical and optical properties of molecular semiconductors. For this purpose, the isomers of the B-doped molecule (5,5′-Dibromo-2,2′-bithiophene) have been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) based on B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory. The isomers were first calculated using kick algorithm. The most stable isomers of the B-doped molecule are presented depending on the binding energy, fragmentation energy, ionization potential, electron affinity, chemical hardness, refractive index, radial distribution function and HOMO-LUMO energy gap based on DFT. Ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) spectra have been also researched by time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations. The value of a band gap for isomer with the lowest total energy decreases from 4.20 to 3.47 eV while the maximum peaks of the absorbance and emission increase from 292 to 324 nm and 392 to 440 nm with boron doped into 5,5′-Dibromo-2,2′-bithiophene. Obtained results reveal that the B-doped molecule has more desirable optoelectronic properties than the pure molecule.

The microstructure evolution of boron-bearing high speed steel roll materials after casting and tempering was investigated. The results indicate that as-cast boron-bearing high speed steel consists of martensitic matrix, retained austenite and different borocarbides. The as-cast alloy has a hardness above 64 HRC, and the borocarbides distribute along the grain boundaries. After RE-Mg-Ti compound modification treatment, obvious necking and broken network appear in the grain boundaries. The hardness of boron-bearing high speed steel roll materials reduces gradually with the increase of tempering temperature. Under the same conditions, the toughness of the modified roll material is higher than that of the unmodified roll material. Wear tests show that the wear resistance of boron-bearing high-speed steel modified by RE-Mg-Ti compound modification treatment is better.

Boron nitride (BN) reinforced Al6061 aluminum-based composites are synthesized by conventional stir casting method followed by exposure to hot extrusion. The optical images confirmed the distribution of BN nanoparticles in the aluminum alloy matrix. The concentration of BN is varied from (0.5, 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, and 9 wt%) in the composites and its effect on the tensile strength was investigated. The results revealed that both extruded and heat-treated composites specimens showed enhanced toughness and tensile strength by increasing BN nanoparticle concentration. The heat-treated composite samples showed lower flexibility of up to 40%, and further, it exhibited 37% greater hardness and 32% enhancement in tensile strength over the extruded sample. The tensile properties of Al6061-BN composites were evaluated by temperature-dependent internal friction (TDIF) analysis and the results showed that the as-prepared composite's strength increased with temperature.

The results of research on preparations of alloy Ni-B/B composite coatings produced by chemical reduction method on a carbon steel substrate are collected in this paper. The alloy Ni-B coatings were also investigated for comparative purposes. The produced coatings were subjected to a heat treatment process. The boron powder with the particles size below 1 µm was used as the dispersion phase. The structure of the coatings was examined by X-ray diffraction method. Boron powder particles as well as surface morphology and topography were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The roughness test, microhardness and corrosion resistance by potentiodynamic method and surface wettability tests were carried out. Analysis of the chemical composition by the EDS method showed that the boron powder particles were evenly embedded in the entire volume of the coating. Ni-B/B composite coatings are characterized by higher hardness than alloy Ni-B coatings. As a result of heat treatment, the Ni3B phase crystallized, which increased the hardness of the coating material. The incorporation of boron powder particles and heat treatment reduce the corrosion resistance of coatings. All produced coatings exhibited hydrophobic properties.