D. F. Chernega, the Head of Subdepartment of the Faculty of Physical and Chemical Theory of Metals Technology, corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Technical Sciences (DTS)
A prominent scientist, metallurgist, Honoured Science Worker of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, was twice a laureate of the State Prize of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Doctor of Technical Sciences, professor Volodymyr Ivanovych Javoiskyi was born on the 10th of February 1910 in Ustiuzhensk (Novgorodsky province).
On the 12th of April 1950 he defended his dissertation “Slag of the Steel-smelting Processes as Protective Environment and their Influence on the Content of Gases in the Metallic Tank” in Moscow University and also his degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences was approved.
In summer 1950 the Dean of Metallurgical Faculty of KPI professor K.I. Vaschenko suggested V.I. Javoisky to apply for the vacancy of the Head of the Steel Metallurgy and Industrial Furnaces Subdepartment of KPI. This Subdepartment had been managed by the member of the USSR Academy of Sciences M. M. Dobrohotov since 1944 and in September 1949 he was appointed a director of Gas Usage Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
After the contest for the vacancy in question according to the warrant #848 (valid from 29.08.1950) held by the Chief Polytecnical Instututes Directorate of the Ministry of Higher Education of the USSR, V.I. Javoisky was transferred from the Ural Polytecnic Institute in KPI and approved for the position of acting Head of the Subdepartment (since 16th of October 1950). At that time such associate professors as M.V. Groshev, L.I. Rostovtsev, A.F. Chizhsky,
V.S. Kocho and also academician M.M. Dobrohotov.
V.I. Javoisky had been in charge of the work of the mentioned Subdepartment for 6 years till September 1956. There are amazing achievements as for such a short period. Under his leadership scientific and educational laboratories studying the problem of detecting the content of gases and nonmetalics in steel were organized as well as the physical-chemical process of steel manufacturing investigation was carried out. A lot was gained while working over the economic plan through the cooperation with plants and factories of Zhdanov, Zaporizhia, Kyiv. Closer ties were fostered between educational and scientific institutions of both Ukraine and Russia. The Subdepartment staff took active part in joint economical-budgetary projects with institutes of Material Science within the USSR Academy of Sciences.
A particular consideration was given to the study of the Hydrogen performance as a component of liquid metals under the direct current. Under the assumption, that Hydrogen as a component of metals appears to be a group of positively-charged ions, i.e. protons, he is expected to shift under the negative pole – cathode. The Donetsk metallurgical works put into practice the electrolytic refining (using the direct current) of huge amount of steel placed in casting ladles (volume – 125 tons).
A number of researches were carried out: the reduction of Hydrogen percentage in the silicium alloy with the help of different link couplings of the direct current (at the plant “Bilshovyck” in Kyiv); the removal of Hydrogen from steel 60C2 during crystalisation in iron moulds when connected to electrodes situated in the main part of negative pole ingots; the estimation of rolled iron quality after the slag heating using the graphitic electrodes and slag nourishment of consumable electrodes on the industrial base of Metallurgical integrated plant named after Volodymyr Illich Lenin in Zhdanov and also at Zhdanov plant of heavy machinery construction. The performance of Hygrogen in liquid cast iron and in solid iron samples of different chemical composition was also actively studied.
In 1953-1956 the change of gases content as a result of fusion and teeming of different steel samples in open-hearth furnace at Donetsk metallurgical works and integrated plant “Zaporizhstal”.
There was a vacuum furnace for metals fusion assembled in the Subdepartment, vacuum units of different structure used for estimation of the Hydrogen content in the steel sample by means of vacuum heating. The students` interest to scientific growth was actively encouraged.
Scientific workshops were regularly organised with the help of active participants – representatives from academic and educational institutes, metallurgical and heavy machinery plants of both Ukraine and Russia.
Being very friendly by nature, Volodymyr Ivanovych was easily accepted into the teaching staff of Kyivan polytechnichs. He appeared to be a man of great erudition, was a gifted lecturer and showed thorough knowledge of methodological practice.
Volodymyr Ivanovych proved to be very responsible about any task he was in charge of especially when it comes to the education of young steel makers and engineers. He was very respectful and diligenced in his attitude to students and they were very grateful in return. It was a real pleasure for everyone to see that tall, slim, tidily dressed young professsor. His lectures were so interesting, that students didn`t want to leave the lecture hall when the class was over. He renewed the course material on Steel Metallurgy annually, introducing the latest achievements I the global steel-smelting industry. The recent news he had been getting while taking active part in scientific conferences and workshops on metallurgy all over the USSR.
In 1955 Volodymyr Ivanovych according to the Head`s of the Board of Ministers of USSR deputy – I. F. Tevosian – warrant worked as a member of government-appointed commission which studied new methods of steel steeming. He left for Gorkyi, Izhevsk, Stalingrad, Tyla. These years were marked by his monographs published: Gases in Steel-smelting Tanks (1952) and Gases and Inclusions in Steel Ingot (1955).
In June 1955 Volodymyr Ivanovych applied to the principle of KPI with the following request: “Due to to the closure of steel industry specialization in this university and also due to the fact that I was offered to occupy a position of Head of the Subdepartment in Moscow University of Steel and Alloys named after I.V.Stalin, I am asking you to acquit me of my job responsibilities from the 1st os September in the current year.”
Having departed to Moscow from KPI Volodymyr Ivanovych kept in touch with his colleagues from Metallurgical (then – Physico-engineering) Department. Common state projects had been carried out, scientific articles had been published, cooperative presentations and reports had been made at different conferences. At times he delivered lectures for students and consulted his colleagues. Being capable of working hard he was nevertheless a buoyant man, cheerful and easy-going; he was a perfect narrator and derived pleasure from both сlassical literature and short stories about life. His eyes were always sparkling as heralds of contagious laughter. He admired mountains, sea, tumultuous and calm rivers. He was incredibly friendly. Those ones who had at least once speak to him retained a good memory of him.
During 1960-1961 V.I. Javoisky had been working as a prorector (in charge of educational process); during 1961-1965 – as a principal of the Moscow institute of Steel and Alloy. Under his guidance more than 150 Candidate's dissertations were prepared for defence. He also consulted 20 Dphils. Both alone and with students he published 550 scientific articles, 13 monographs. The textbook “Metallurgy of Steel” was meant for students of the Ferrous Materials Metallurgy specialization and was written by representatives from different educational institutions under the editorship of V.I. Javoisky and G.N. Oiks; he was awarded the State Prize of USSR). In 1975 he was be decorated with the order of October revolution, two orders of Red Labour Banner (Trudovyi Chervonyi Prapor), medals.
Volodymyr Ivanovych was a man of particularly strong will. He continued working even struggling with a grave disease for the the last 7 years of his life. He did not cancelled his work with post graduates. V.I. Javoisky died in September, 1988. He was buried in Mitinsky cemetery in Moscow.
The memory of Volodymyr Ivanovych is revered in our university: there are his portraits on the walls in cabinets and lecture halls, Polytechnical Museum, his name is often mentioned within special courses. In 2000 Physico-engineering Department organized International Scientific Conference named “The Steel Industry in XXI century. Forecast, processes, technology, ecology”. It was devoted to the V.I. Javoisky 90th anniversary. In 2010 the Scientific Conference devoted to his 100th anniversary is planned. The most diligent students of the Physico-engineering Department (Ukrainian abbreviation IFF) who have chosen the “Special Metallurgy” specialization are awarded a scholarship named after professor V.I. Javoisky.
Translated by Nikitina Viktoriia, LA-02