The thermodynamic amount of the pressure-induced solid transition between the wurtzite phase and the rocksalt phase and the melting thermodynamic amounts of the metastable rock-salt phase for CdSe nanocrystals are considered based on known thermodynamic data of the wurtzite phase. Moreover, the static hysteresis width of the above solid transition is also determined. The predictions are found to be reasonable and are in agreement with the present theoretical and experimental results.

A simple model, without any free parameter, is introduced to predict the size-dependent melting temperature of noble metals in this contribution. It is found that the model predictions for the melting point depression of both Au and Ag nanoparticles correspond to the experimental and computer simulation results well.

The cast pipe joint of the Fe-15Mn-5Si-8Cr-5Ni-0.25C alloy was manufactured (the numbers in the composition denote the weight percentage of the elements while the weight percentage of Fe is the balance). The corresponding microstructure and shape memory effect are compared with those of a forged alloy. The results show that the cast joint has a good shape memory effect and may be industrially applied while the cast joint keeps jointing under a tensile force of 20 kN and a sealing pressure of 5 MPa. Moreover, it is found that the addition of nitrogen in the alloy doesn’t evidently improve the shape memory effect of the alloy.

General equations for the size-dependence of solid–liquid interface energy, grain boundary energy and the intrinsic interface stress without free parameters are derived. The predicted results correspond to computer simulation results, the first principles calculation, the modified embedded-atom-method potential results and experimental results. In addition, the possible physical background of positive or negative interface stress is analyzed.

Finite size e!ects of organic particles on glass transition temperature and heat capacity di!erence of glass and liquid at glass transition temperature are considered by our phenomenological model. As size of the organic particle decreases, its glass transition temperature and heat capacity di!erence decrease. However, this size e!ect is much weaker than that of the melting transition. The model predictions are in agreement with available experimental results of o-terphenyl and benzyl alcohol nanoparticles.