The binary Ni-Bi alloys as well as multicomponent materials comprising systems like Ni-Bi-Sn, Ni-Bi-Sb etc. are recently considered as prospective for design of lead-free solders. For that reason various authors focused their attention to the Ni-Bi system thermodynamics. The studies identified five phases in the above system. Two of them (i.e., (Ni) and liquid), were treated as disordered substitutional solutions. The phase NiBi 3 is stoichiometric and a standard two-sublattice model was repeatedly applied to describe its Gibbs free energy, while for the nonstoichiometric NiBi phase, a three-sublattice model was retained. The pure bismuth phase ((Bi)) is stoichiometric as well. The results are discussed and compared to literature thermochemical and topological data. In liquid state, strong repulsions between nickel and bismuth atoms are anticipated in the nickel rich-side, but no data about a liquid phase miscibility gap is available yet. Therefore, the stability of the liquid phase has to be reassured, in spite of positive deviations from ideal behaviour.

The present study evaluates the oxidative stability of refined echium oil supplemented with Sophora japonica L. extract (200 ppm). Commonly used synthetic antioxidants (butylated hydroxytoluen (BHT), ascorbyl palmitate, and quercetin) are used as reference additives. The plant extract is evaluated to possess better in vitro antioxidant potential than BHT, and comparable to that of quercetin. The degradation kinetics at 6, 25, and 60°C with and without antioxidants is studied, as well as the progress of oil oxidation. The temperature dependence of oxidation is expressed with the Arrhenius equation in addition to reaction rate constant (k) and activation energy (E a) also determined using Arrhenius equation. Enthalpy of activation (H ‡), entropy of activation (S ‡), and Gibb's free energy of activation (G ‡) are calculated according to the Eyring equation. It is established that the rate constant increased with the temperature of storage. The lipid oxidation reactions are established to follow a zero-order kinetic model for peroxide value. The oxidation reaction is determined as exothermic and non-spontaneous. In conclusion, S. japonica extract is evaluated with high antioxidant potential and can be used as a promising oil stabilizer. It can successfully be added to prevent lipid structure oxidation while providing health benefits to consumers. Practical Applications: The application of natural antioxidants in edible oils in order to substitute synthetic additives is a matter of research interest. The present study aims to compare commonly used synthetic antioxidants with natural ones. Ascorbyl palmitate has the greatest ability to stabilize echium oil at 6, 25, and 60°C, but the Sophora japonica L. extract possesses good potential for retarding the oxidation. The results of this study outline the potential of the natural extract of S. japonica, which needs to be further studied.

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The objective of this study is to elucidate the phase equilibria of the Sn–Zn–Ni system. For this purpose, ternary alloys were synthesized using quartz ampoules and annealing. The samples were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, optical and scanning electron microscopy and microhardness measurements. The results show relatively significant solubility of tin or zinc (about 10 at.% roughly) in Ni–Zn and Ni–Sn phases, respectively. Moreover, evidence of the presence of two formerly unknown ternary compounds denoted as T1 and T2 was found. The first one has a composition (mole fraction) of about: XSn = 0.38 ± 0.04, XNi = 0.36 ± 0.02, XZn = 0.26 ± 0.03 while the approximate composition of the second is XSn = 0.26 ± 0.03, XNi = 0.55 ± 0.00, XZn = 0.19 ± 0.03. Three unidentified compositions were observed: U1 (XSn = 0.26 ± 0.07, XNi = 0.29 ± 0.03, XZn = 0.45 ± 0.04), U2 (XSn = 0.55 ± 0.01, XNi = 0.21 ± 0.00, XZn = 0.24 ± 0.01), and U3 (XSn = 0.48 ± 0.05, XNi = 0.08 ± 0.00, XZn = 0.44 ± 0.05) but there was still a lack of evidence to categorize any of them as a ternary compound. A tentative isothermal section of the Sn–Zn–Ni phase diagram at 600 °C was constructed.

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) essential oil-ethanol-water system was investigated. The surface tension, density and refractive index of clary sage essential oil + ethanol (70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, and 95%) solutions were measured. The chemical composition of solutions (ratio 1:5, 1:6, and 1:7) was determined using GC/MS analysis. According the experimental results ternary phase diagrams were constructed. Comparative revue between experimental and calculated surface tension data was done. After analyses good correlation between two surface tension values was observed