Research profile
The team comprises of research workers focusing on the analysis of metallic materials for special applications, mainly iron, nickel, titanium and aluminium alloys. The team possesses many years of experience concerning fundamental investigations and evaluations in the fields of selecting materials, process parameters and accessing the causes of damage. The basis of the analysis is the thorough knowledge of the material and advanced microstructural analysis techniques based on scanning and transmission electron microscopy, light microscopy and diffraction analysis (XRD). Additionally, material evaluations are carried out on mechanical and physicochemical properties. Moreover, these are supplemented by a wide range of possible sample preparations for microstructural investigations, from mechanical polishing to advanced techniques of selective FIB ion beam etching. Methods of automatic measuring of crystallographic orientations and phase composition are also being developed, within the range of single nanometres, based on the transmission kikuchi diffraction of thin foils and specimens.
Kompetencje
The facilities of the Academic Centre for Materials and Nanotechnology enable us to i.a.: analyse macro, micro and nano structures based on light and electron microscopy. Especially TKD investigations (Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction, t-EBSD), allowing for phase mapping and determining crystallographic orientation of thin films and specimens in the form of nanoparticles, with a possible resolution of 5-10 nm.
Reliable analysis is possible thanks to a fully equipped sample preparation laboratory for the above mentioned techniques, with the possibility of preparing metallographic samples, chemical and electrochemical etching. An undeniable asset is the extensive experience in revealing the microstructure of iron, nickel, titanium and aluminium alloys, via selective or standard chemical etching. This allows for a quick analysis of materials, as well as the possibility of carrying out investigations based on quantitative metallography.
Microstructural analysis is supplemented by comprehensive investigations on mechanical and physical properties. These are carried out via the following measuring techniques:
- Calorymetric investigations for analysing melt point temperature and other phase transformations up to 1500 °C.
- Macro and micro hardness testing, with the possibility of testing the hardness of coatings and microstructural components via nanoindentation.
- Heat treatment such as annealing/aging in a vacuum oven at a maximum temperaturę of 2200 °C. Possible element heat treatment, including long-term.
- Investigating the coefficient of thermal expansion of metallic materials.
Head of the group
- dr hab. inż. Piotr Bała, prof. AGH
Group members
- dr hab. inż. Aimo Winkelmann
- dr hab. inż. Tomasz Tokarski
- dr inż. Marta Gajewska
- dr inż. Jakub Kawałko
- dr inż. Marianna Marciszko-Wiąckowska
- dr inż. Grzegorz Cios
- dr inż. Rafał Pastuszek
- dr inż. Wiktor Bednarczyk
- mgr inż. Maria Wątroba
- mgr inż. Łukasz Rychłowski