This month I spent most of my time on microscopic observations of PEMs modified by nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles were introduced by in situ nucleation method from salt solution in three different pH values to obtain various particles density. Further cytotoxicity experiments were performed. I have also carried out in situ visualization of smooth muscle cells migration on the surface functionalized by migration channels.

In August I have participated in ICOTOM 17 (International Conference on Textures of Materials) and attended to Grain Boundary Engineering tutorial both organized in Dresden, Germany. In weeks before conference I helped prepare the article to be published in conference proceedings, as well as attended to my own endeavors concerning measuring hardness and collecting EBSD maps from KoBoed titanium samples at different stages of recrystallization/grain growth. Additionally another successful KoBo deformation of titanium sample have been performed at AGH, this time with lower temperature (350 C) and higher extrusion ratio (λ = 25).

Application of a free volume model to binaries both displaying tendency to compound formation and phase segregation. Analysis of the relationship between thermodynamic and two microscopic functions. It allowed to detect a significant mismatch which we tried to understand and explain. Postulated explanation come from assumption and observation noticed under comparison with other semi-empirical models and molecular dynamics simulations.

The deformation at 0.039 true strain resulted in enhanced mechanical {10-12} twinning (Fig. 3c). Lenticular-shaped twins formed several parallel boundaries inside the parent grain. They can be easily distinguished by the red colour, which denotes that c axes of crystallite is parallel to extrusion axis. Contrary to deformation of 0.002 true strain, the tensile 10-12 twinning undergoes Schmid law, preferring the variants with the highest SF

In sunny and hot July I spent most of time working on microbiological experiments of my beloved PEMs. Of course the main idea is to prevent bacteria's settlement at the materials surface but how to obtain such effect??? At first it is necessary to check if adhesion occurs at all. I have already done it and now I can indicate which films are the most promising for future research. In the next step adhesion kinetics will be assessed, so the microb’s story has just begun…