The paper deals with the effect of heating of various prepared batch materials into semisolid state with subsequent solidification of the cast under pressure. The investigated material was a subeutectic aluminium alloy AlSi7Mg0.3. The heating temperature to the semisolid was chosen at 50% liquid phase. The used material was prepared in a variety of ways: heat treatment, inoculation and by squeeze casting. Also the influence of the initial state of material on inheritance of mechanical properties and microstructure was observed. The pressure was 100 MPa. Effect on the resulting casting structure, alpha phase distribution and eutectic silicon was observed. By using semisolid squeeze casting process the mechanical properties and microstructures of the casts has changed. The final microstructure of the casts is very similar to the microstructure that can be reached by technology of thixocasting. The mechanical properties by using semisolid squeeze casting has been increased except the heat treated material.

We investigated the effect of Cr thin film deposition on the thermal stability and corrosion resistance of hot-dip aluminized steel. A high-quality Cr thin film was deposited on the surface of the Al-9 wt. % Si-coated steel sheets by physical vapor deposition. When the Al-Si coated steel sheets were exposed to a high temperature of 500℃, Fe from the steel substrate diffused into the Al-Si coating layer resulting in discoloration. However, the highly heat-resistant Cr thin film deposited on the Al-Si coating prevented diffusion and surface exposure of Fe, improving the heat and corrosion resistances of the Al-Si alloy coated steel sheet.

This paper presents a preliminary report of Fusarium wilt of Roselle in the Nigerian savanna. Soil and plant samples were collected from eight experimental plots where plants showed Roselle wilt symptoms. Samples were analyzed for the presence of nematodes and wilt pathogens. The wilt causative organism Fusarium oxysporum was isolated together with nematodes of different genera. However, nematodes of the genus Helicotylenchus, Scutellonema and Hoplolaimus appeared to occur in higher densities than the others.

A new species of lichenized ascomycete, Massalongia olechiana Alstrup et Søchting, sp. nov. (Massalongiaceae) is described from the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. The species is distinguished by laminal isidia and 5–7−septate ascospores. The relationships with the other species of the genus are discussed. From Massalongia carnosa , recorded from both the Arctic and the Antarctic, the new species is distinguished by its lack of isidioid squamules and in having pluriseptate ascospores instead of 1−septate ascospores