In August I did:
- microhardness measurement for selected samples of AA3004,
- preparing samples for annealing of Al-Zr,
- continued analysis of global textures measured by X-ray diffractometer,
- preparing a presentation for a meeting summarizing the academic year 2012/2013,
- finished writing and sent the article for the 41th School of Materials Science and Engineering which will be held in 24-27.09.2013 in Krynica (Poland). Below its abstract:

MICROSTRUCTURE AND TEXTURE EVOLUTION DURING ANNEALING
OF AA1050 ALUMINIUM ALLOY PRE-DEFORMED IN ECAP
J. Poplewska, H. Paul, A. Tarasek, K. Berent
Abstract
The main aim of the experiment was to analyze the microstructure and texture evolution during recrystallization of commercial AA1050 aluminum alloy. The samples were processed by ECAP in six passes along route A and then annealed for 1 hour at temperatures ranging from 100°C to 350°C. Studies carried out using scanning electron microscopy equipped with local orientation system and X-ray diffractometer. The obtained results showed that at lower annealing temperatures, the material retains ultra-fine grain structure formed by ECAP. At higher temperatures rapid grain growth appears and transformation of flattened grains into nearly equiaxed was observed. The results showed that obtaining the fine-grained and homogeneous structure of equiaxed grains, is problematic.

Keywords : AA1050 Aluminium alloy; ECAP; Recrystallization; Grain growth; EBSD

Again I tried etched the porous silicon layer and again nothing. So I took the simulations to see how it should be in case of reflectance for textured surface and textured with porous layer. Surprisingly, the real sample reflect less light than the simulated one. Moreover, the porous layer in the simulations worsen the reflectance. You have yet to see it. This must be checked.

I prepared samples with silver nanoparticles obtained by metal island film (MIF) method.
Samples annealed at the 400 Celsius degrees revealed reduction of reflection of Si wafer and change in position of reflection minima due to the change in plasmon resonance for different samples. Highest reflection reduction was obtained for 17 nm initial Ag layer.

By SEM observations average paricles size was found:
120 - 135 nm for inintial 11nm,
130 - 140 nm for initial 14nm,
150 - 170 nm for initial 17 nm,
180 - 200 nm for initial 20 nm.

This corresponds with optical properties of the prepared samples

During August I have tried to finish my next article entitled: "Effect of Ti, Zr and Hf addition on microstructure and properties of rapidly solidified Al-Mn-Fe alloy”. I also prepared poster: “Quasicrystalline phase in Al-Mn-Fe-X melt spun ribbons – structure and stability” for the next conference: The 12th International Conference on Quasicrystals (ICQ12).

In July I have started corrosion experiments in HBSS salts solution in 37 st. C. First results of Mg-3Zn, Mg-3Ca, Mg-3Zn-2Ca and Mg-3Zn-3Ca wt. % are very promissing. Mass percentage loss varies among the samples as predicted.