On 10th of February I have given a seminar on subjects regarding my previous work on maters thesis and also my plans connected to development of my PhD project.

As for my master’s thesis, significant part of my work time was devoted to building ad development of a specialized research tool for Laboratory of Analysis and Nondestructive Investigation of Heritage Objects of National Museum in Krakow. This device called “microfadometer” is capable of performing accelerated lightfastness tests of foto-degradable materials in order to identify fugitive colorants, determine objects behavior in specific lightning conditions etc. Test is performed by focusing high intensity visible wide-spectrum light on small area of specimen surface. Under conditions of intense illumination examined area of specimen is faded. Reflected spectra from illuminated spot are collected and recorded in short time intervals with included spectrometer. Based on recorded spectral data, color of sample test is calculated, and therefore color change can be associated with specific dose of light that has been applied to sample.
Thesis contains description of color measurement fundamentals, chemical and physical aspects of fading, construction and working principle of microfadometer, and collection of data from lightfastness tests performed with this device.

PhD part of my speech was associated with problems related to production of new generation of dental implants. Those new implants have complicated structural design and therefore require materials stronger than those used conventionally. One approach to this problem is to utilize pure titanium strengthened by severe plastic deformation methods. Implants constructed from such material poses all sort of advantages: biocompatibility, ability to osseointegrate, corrosion resistance, low weight, low electric conductivity and paramagnetism. Also usage of this material isn’t associated with risks that are present in case of alloyed materials such as inflammatory conditions caused by vanadium or neurologic diseases caused by aluminum.
Methods used for strengthening of titanium by severe plastic deformation that are suitable for implant production are ECAP and Hydrostatic Extrusion. KoBo method show some promising results when applied to hexagonal materials but there are no reports of titanium processed with this technique.
In my research I will be focusing on KoBo and HE methods for titanium processing. Processed materials will be investigated with modern techniques of Orientation Microscopy in SEM and TEM which will allow for precise quantitative microstructural description. Callorymetric tests also will be carried out as the material is going to be subject to heat treatment during implant production process. Other tests such as mechanical strength and corrosion tests along with wetability tests are also going to be carried out.