The department is engaged in four research areas: 

• physical principles for development of nitrogen steels;
• hydrogen in engineering materials;
• magnetic plasticity;
• formation mechanism of coal methane.

Within the framework of the first direction, the electron structure of multicomponent solid solutions based on the iron-nitrogen system and its effect on the phase transitions, crystal lattice defects, mechanical and physical-chemical properties are studied.

A physical nature of hydrogen embrittlement of iron-, nickel-, titanium-based structural materials is studied. Within this field, the electron concept of hydrogen embrittlement of structural materials was developed. On this basis, optimal chemical compositions for hydrogen-resistant structural materials are developed.

The physical character of the magnetic plasticity effect, i.e. plastic deformation induced by the magnetic fields in Heusler Ni-Mn-Ga alloys is studied since 1998. Functional materials with a shape memory induced by a magnetic field or magneto-thermal impact are developed. 

A mechanism of methane formation in the coal is studied since 2008. Its continuous formation in the coal at presence of 2-and 3-valent iron compounds has been proved.