The increasing relevance in the field of repair and restoration of machines and mechanisms is acquiring gas-thermal methods of applying functional coatings to the working surfaces of parts of machine assemblies. The purpose of gas-thermal coating methods is to provide and obtain special physical and mechanical properties of the surface of the part, as well as to restore worn-out components and mechanisms after their long-term and intensive operation. Plasma spraying of composite coatings is an effective method of gas-thermal treatment of the surface of a part. In this paper, a study was conducted on the optimal selection of material for plasma spraying of a part, taking into account its operational features and types of wear of working surfaces. In particular, the operating conditions of the screw of the conveying conveyor are analyzed. The technological features of the application of composite materials by plasma spraying technology are considered. The theoretical selection of a two-phase dispersed-filled composite for application to the working surfaces of the screw in order to restore and harden it has been carried out. Studies and analysis of one of the main indicators of the quality of the formed coating after plasma spraying – the magnitude of the resulting residual stresses (stretching and compression) have been carried out. Taking as a basis the kinematic modes and geometry features of the working surfaces of the screw, as well as the criteria for the formation of the thickness of the sprayed layer, the calculation equations for determining the residual stresses arising on the screw and cylindrical surfaces of the screw of the conveying conveyor are obtained. It is concluded that in order to achieve the required physical and mechanical properties of the coating, the volume fraction of the filler in the matrix of the PG-SR4 composite powder should be in the range of 20–25%. Therefore, it is possible to use in practice a particulate-filled composite of the NiСrВSiFе type with 20–25% reinforcing TiC filler particles in order to restore parts of machines and mechanisms.

At present, there are no reliable criteria for acceptable drying temperatures; so, a new approach is proposed to determine the range of acceptable drying conditions based on a joint solution of the equations that determine the drying kinetics and the kinetics of changes in the process characteristics of the product. For a given product quality, the logarithm of the maximum allowable drying time linearly depends on the reciprocal of the absolute temperature of the drying agent. The method for calculating the drying time is simplified based on a new product characteristic - equivalent moisture content. The criterion of acceptable conditions, which is the maximum temperature of the drying agent, is a function of the magnitude of the thermal effect, the parameters of the drying kinetics, and the kinetics of the process properties of the product.

The article considers the problem of population’s income inequality in the Russian Federation and detection of the factors affecting it. Population’s income differences demonstrate both intrinsic and unavoidable differences among individuals and their groups in terms of their participation in the social processes, and the governmental efforts aimed at reasonable and fair distribution of the national wealth among the citizens. The research objective was to identify the dynamics of the Gini index as acknowledged indicator for population inequality in terms of income and to analyze the factors defining such dynamics. The research was carried out based on the national statistical data. The authors detect close connection between the downturns in economy, especially decrease of the dynamics of average income per capita, and the level of population inequality in terms of income. However, contrary to expectation, the correlation is direct which means that during the periods of slowing of the income growth the values of Gini index being the avowed income inequality indicator also reduced. On the other hand, the authors point out that such connection exists only for time series. While studying the static populations’ income differences in various regions no correlation between the income size and difference values was found. Based on the research results the authors draw the conclusion about undesirability of violent fluctuations in the dynamics of the population’s effective earnings, as well as about justifiability of the efforts of national and regional authorities aimed at the improvements of the income policy.

In the context of modern market economy, successful performance of enterprises should be ensured by high quality and competitive produce. The modern processing industry is becoming increasingly dependent on enzyme preparations used in food production. The paper deals with some optimal production conditions for cathepsin-supplemented canned pond fish used for increasing the efficiency of technological processes to reduce the duration of salting and ensure quality canned fish that meet consumer preferences. A full-factor experiment in salting cathepsin-supplemented pond fish determined the magnitude of quantitative effects on the pH value and salt content in the product.