Little did we know with respect to linearity of bevavior of the martensite start temperature in the particular valence electron range, which is somewhat omitted in the literature on this subject. Therefore in order to shed more light on this intriguing phenomena new set of alloys was prepared. The alloys were homogenised at 1000 degC for 6 hours. They were sealed in quartz ampules beforehand but unfortunately while in the oven three of the tubes broke. The alloys were therefore subjected to chemical analysis to estimate possible changes in composition and the effects of oxidation. The analysis performed in the bulk of the materials showed that no major compositional changes occured.

The object of study was a commercial pipe magnesium Mg 3% Al 1% Zn 0.2% Mn (AZ31), hot pressed out at 430 ° C with a degree of deformation equal 9th Tube having an initial wall thickness of 4.5 mm and a diameter of 20 mm was then subjected to the process of rolling pielgrzymowego plunger. Before rolling, the material is heated to a temperature of 200 ° C. During the rolling deformation gradually increased up to approximately 55% reduction in cross-section. It has been observed that above 51% reduction of the deformation section the material began to crack and crumble. Therefore selected for further study of the deformation of the material up to 50%. Texture layers lying in the middle of the pipe wall thickness (Fig. 1) was determined on the basis of incomplete pole figures reflections (0001), (​​10-10), (10-11), (10-12) and (11-20) are registered dyfrakometru using D8 Discover X-ray, using radiation CoKα series. Measurements were made in the measuring grid równokątowej of α: 0 - 75 ° with a step Δα = 5 °. During the measurements used mikrokapilarę limiting the measurement area of approximately 3 mm, with the center of the area to coincide exactly with the axis of the tube. LaboTexTM using software, using the method of ADC was calculated orientation distribution function. Research metalograficznie and microhardness measurements were performed on longitudinal zgładach (RD-TD plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe). In this figure also shows the accepted frame of reference.

This month I studied the books which I bought to the projekt:
1) Bulk Nanostructured Materials; Michael J. Zehetbauer, Yuntian Theodore Zhu, John Wiley & Sons, 2009;
2) Introduction to Texture Analysis: Macrotexture, Microtexture, and Orientation Mapping; Olaf Engler, Valerie Randle, CRC Press, wyd. 2, 2009.

In September I participated in session B courses organized as a part of European School on Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (ESONN'2012) in Grenoble - France. That was the ninth edition of three-week summer school aimed at providing training for PhD students in the field of nanotechnologies and nanosciences. The academic and practical courses covered aspects such as the elaboration, characterization and functionalities of objects in “nano” scale. The program was directed to highlight the fundamental and technological advances in Nanoelectronics (session A) and at the interface between Physics, Chemistry and Biology (Session B). This two sessions were run in parallel but all participants shared common lectures and practicals.

Lectures for session B (18 x 1h45):
- Advanced biophysics to study molecular systems – given by R. Hovius, J. Piguet, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Microfluidics for Lab-on-chips – given by J.B. Salmon, Bordeaux, France
- Nano-objects synthesis – given by M. Brust, Liverpool, UK
- Surface and molecular physico-chemistry – given by R. Richter, San Sebastian, Spain
- Mechanics of molecules and biological structures – given by B. Hoogenboom, London, UK
- Drug delivery by nanoparticles – given by B. Pitard, Angers and C. Passirani, Nantes, France

Common lectures (9 x 1h45):
- Near-field microscopies – given by H. Hug, Basel, Switzerland
- Self-assembled systems and materials – given by M. Boncheva, Geneve, Switzerland
- Technology of nanofabrication – given by G. Faini, Marcoussis, France
- From research to business with nanotechnologies – given by V. Mangematin, Grenoble, France

Practicals:
- “BioChips” Introduction to DNA microarray technology and application to comparative genomic hybridization
- Droplets for the study of membrane protein
- Atomic Force Microscopy
- Study of biomolecular interactions by surface Plasmon resonance biosensor analysis (BIAcore technology)\
- Initiation to Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy: An application to study the colocalization of adhesion cell proteins

Seminars:
- STMicroelectronics – given by D. Thomas
- Cytoo cell architects: scientific and commercial story – given by F. Chatelain, Cytoo
- An introduction to ethics: What role for ethical questioning in a scientific’s life? – given by N. Farouki, CEA Grenoble

In September we decided that KoBo extrusion / deformation experiments with high purity Zinc need to be repeated. Some of the previous samples have been analyzed after significant amount of time from original extrusion process. Some others were analyzed after much shorter time. Discrepancies in mean grain sizes observed in those two cases (much smaller grain in 'younger' sample), points to possibility of some recrystallization processes that might occur even in room temperature.
Therefore new samples of zinc after KoBo from now on are kept in liquid nitrogen in order to prevent uncontrolled recrystallization. New samples similarly to the old ones have been extruded from 40 mm diameter ingot to 1,8 mm wire in room temperature. During extrusion process, wire have been cooled with water, and immediately after extrusion samples have been cut and placed in dewar with liquid nitrogen.