In this work, we present an extensive investigation of the effect of Al2O3 decoration on the morphological, structural and opto-electronic properties of a porous Si (Sip)/Cr2O3 composite. The Sip layers were prepared by the anodization method. Al2O3 and Cr2O3 thin films were deposited by physical vapour deposition. The morphological and micro-structural properties of Sip/Cr2O3/Al2O3 were studied using the scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. It was found that Al2O3 decoration with different concentration strongly affects the Sip/Cr2O3 microstructure mainly at the level of porosity. Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry demonstrates a strong correlation between optical constants (n and k) of Sip/Cr2O3/Al2O3 and microstructure properties. Dielectric properties of Sip/Cr2O3/Al2O3 such as electrical conductivity and conduction mechanism were explored using impedance spectroscopy over the temperature interval ranging from 340 to 410°C. A semiconductor to the metallic transition has been observed at high frequency.

Metallurgical slag is often treated as a material which could be used in the waste management, especially for production different kinds of aggregate. So it is necessary to know that material not only considering technical properties, but also its mineral and chemical composition. Such researches could deliver many valuable information during the waste utilization. Researches were made for samples of the metallurgical slag after steel and Zn-Pb production. Samples were taken from chosen dumps localized in the Upper Silesian District. Beside metallic aggregates, silicate and oxide phases, glaze is one of the main component of the metallurgical slag. The following stages of the glaze devitrification were presented; from not transformed and isotropic glaze pieces to the strong weathered glaze. Transformed glaze is red or brown with the cracks on the surface. Cracks are often filled by the metals oxides, which can be liberated during the glaze devitrification. On the base of researches executed using the electron microprobe the chemical glaze composition was presented. The chemical composition of the glaze is variable what is connected with the kind of the metallurgical slag. The following main elements were distinguished in the metallurgical slag: Si, Al, Fe, Ca and Mg. Slag after steel production contains also Mn, P, S and the slag after Zn-Pb production contains: As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti, Zn, Na, K, P and S.

Anisotropic rotor configurations influenced by the presence of a large number of geometrical parameters in a permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance (PMASR) motor pose design challenges in obtaining a robust geometry satisfying the requirements of reduced torque ripple and high torque density. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to perform detailed geometrical sensitivity analysis of a 36 slot/4 pole permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance (PMASR) motor using h-indexing and level sensitivity analysis in order to specify a guideline for designers to prioritize the design variables for optimization. Systematic multi-level design optimization for multiple objectives is implemented by an NSGA-II algorithm aided by the finite element analysis tool, hardware prototyping and experimental validation. The optimized designs also exhibit better structural and thermal characteristics.

Jolanta Kolbuszewska: Some words about the most recent russian textbook of theory and methodology of history. The article is a presentation of two russian textbook published in Moskwa.