A correlation between the electron structure (density of states at the Fermi level) and short-range atomic order in the iron-based solid solutions has been determined. It was established that the nitrogen-enhanced metallic character of interatomic bonds assists short-range atomic ordering in the distribution of nitrogen atoms, whereas prevalent covalent interatomic bonds cause clustering of carbon atoms.

It was shown that nitrogen in austenitic steels increases the concentration of free electrons at the Fermi level contributes to a short-range atomic ordering in distribution of the substitution alloying elements and, for this reason, in contrast to carbon, increases the thermodynamic stability of the solid solutions, which is the main physical criterion for the development of high-strength corrosion-resistant steels.

The high fracture and impact toughness of nitrogen steels was explained by the enhanced metallic character of interatomic bonds. Physical mechanisms of abnormally high strengthening of austenitic nitrogen steels at cryogenic temperatures, grain boundary and strain hardening of nitrogen steels were determined.

Based on studies of the electron structure, a new concept of the austenitic steels alloyed with the combination of nitrogen and carbon was developed, allowing to create the cost-saving stainless austenitic steels. On this basis, the high strength austenitic steel characterized by the high ductility and toughness, intensive strain hardening and resistance to impact wear (corrosion resistant analogue of Hadfield steel) was ab initio developed.  

The electron concept of hydrogen embrittlement was developed. The base of this concept is constituted on the ab initio calculated and experimentally confirmed hydrogen-caused increase of the state density at the Fermi level and the corresponding increase of the concentration of free electrons in the solid solutions. This change in the electron structure results in the reduction of the stress for the start of dislocations sources and the decrease in the specific energy of dislocations (line tension), increasing thereby their mobility.    

As a result of these studies, the idea of alloying the austenitic steels with elements reducing the concentration of free electrons aiming to increase their resistance to hydrogen embrittlement was proposed and practically realized.

A new physical phenomenon, magnetic creep in the Heusler alloys possessing magnetic shape memory was revealed, the essence of which amounts to the time evolution of the martensite structure and, correspondingly, the induced by magnetic field deformation at constant values of the applied field and temperature. An analogy between the magnetic and mechanical creep was found.    

A new type of shape memory was found in Ni–Mn–Ga ferromagnetic alloys: 100 % of magneto-thermal shape memory effect.

Within the frame of the program “Nanocrystalline materials”, the department has fulfilled the researches of the crystal structure and hyperfine interactions in the mine coal as a natural nanomaterial, which allowed to determine a physical mechanism for formation of the coal methane. It was shown, that, due to existing in the coal iron compounds, the concentration of not compensated electron spins, i.e. the dangling bonds on the carbon atoms, increases, which are filled with the hydrogen atoms. The found mechanism of methane formation was modeled using the mixture of ultrahigh iron-free graphite, two- and three-valence iron compounds and hydrogen-containing medium (e.g. a water solution of the acids). Based on these results, an industrial method for methane production from the coal was proposed.