The last month started from the Fool’s Day like it takes place every year. I am an ideal candidate for being a victim of cruel jokes of fate. Therefore at the beginning of the month every step in my studies was a complete disaster. Fortunately there was light somewhere at the end of the tunnel...
I focused on evaluation of the results of polyelectrolyte films micro-hardness measurements. I also prepared a series of samples to study thermal stability of the coatings. This experiment was carried out using the differential scanning calorimetry and the microscopic analysis of endothelial cell growth kinetics. Moreover I’ve started working on the production of alginate microcapsules that could potentially find application as carriers located within the scaffolds which could ensure the gradual release of factors that promote cell growth and differentiation.

The most interesting event this month was the „FEI DualBeam Users Club Meeting” in Eindhoven. I took part in it to have a look into the direction of development of the latest equipment. During the meeting I have received answers to few questions concerning 3D EBSD measurements and data processing. Rest of the month was spend on investigation of samples received from IOD.

In april I took part in the 16th Seminar „COMPOSITES 2012 - Theory and practice” (Poraj, 18-20 of April 2012). I gave a presentation there entitled “Microstructure and mechanical properties of AA7475/AlN compacts with varied reinforcing particles size”. That’s why, last month I mainly focused on preparing my speech.

My research carried out in April:
- preparing the surface of the AA3004 aluminium alloy for EBSD/SEM measurements: grinding on abrasive papers (it was need to take off 1 mm of the surface)and polishing using diamond pastes and electropolishing.
- obtaining EBSD orientation maps for the AA3004 aluminium alloy after processing through ECAP die and recrystallised in conditions:
a) 1h - 250°C;
b) 1h - 150°C;
c) 1h - 100°C;
d) for the deformed state.
I also organized travel and accommodation in connection with the desire to participate in the 'Oxford Instruments' Symposium and Workshops in May in Germany.

In April I continued the study of stability of homogeneous Zn(II)-Mo(VI) citrate solutions, the study of electrochemical properties of citrate complexes presented in examined solutions and the study of the kinetics and mechanism of electroreduction of Zn and Mo citrate complexes, by cyclic voltammetry method. I conducted research in the different hydrodynamic conditions, in solutions containing various concentrations of sodium citrate and sodium molybdate. The voltammetric measurements were performer in a tree-electrode cell , by means of potentiostat PARSTAT 2273 or PGSTAT302N. A copper disc was the working electrode (surface area 2.83 cm2). A platinum sheet (5cm2) was used as the counter electrode. The working electrode potentials were referred to the saturated calomel electrode (SCE) and were ohmic drop, as measured by the current interrupt method, was compensated for. Also I lead the processes of potentiostatic and galvanostatic deposition of alloy layers, from the same solutions.