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The Centre focuses its efforts on all these aspects of activity in mechanics and materials science (education, promotion, research, conferences, etc.) which have a direct influence on the advancement of the existing knowledge and technological skill in the modern/advanced materials and structures.The fields of a special attention are the following:Composite materialsAt present, various types of composites are in use in engineering practice (e.g. fibrous composites, laminates and materials with more complicated geometry of reinforcements in the form of short fibres and particles of various properties, shapes and sizes). Nevertheless, there are still important open problems concerned with mechanics of such material structures (e.g. damage evolution and growth of cracks). Also, many problems related to design, fabrication, joining, maintenance and recycling of these new composite structures remain to be explored.Damage, fracture and fatigueA recognition of the basic principles of fracture and fatigue of engineering materials and their stiffness and strength degradation is today an important task in mechanics and materials science, especially in the context of composite materials. Modelling of the gradual evolution of such degradation under various loading conditions and microstructural geometry with the analysis of associated global effects constitute an important and challenging research field.MicromechanicsAnother research area of great importance for analysis and design of advanced materials is micromechanics. Its basic objective is to relate the information about properties and material morphology at micro-level with a macroscopic (overall) behaviour of the material. A micromechanical approach to modelling and analysis of the deformation is applicable to the majority of real materials, such as polycrystalline metals, ceramics and various composite structures, e.g. porous and granular materials.

Electronics and active materialsUsing these terms we have in mind materials applied in electronics devices. Although, in general, they are not designed to carry mechanical loads they are exposed on significant deformation and related stress fields caused, e.g. by thermal expansion, phase transitions, electromagnetic fields etc. Possible applications of such materials include sensors, microprocessors, optical fibres, etc.BiomechanicsBiomechanics is a rapidly developing and fascinating field of interdisciplinary research. Particularly important are: bone tissue modelling, functional adaptation of bone to loading (bone remodelling), orthopaedic, biomechanics (loosening of implants, bone-tissue interface), microbiomechanics, modelling of scoliotic spine and its implantation, cartilage as a multiphase porous material.Durability of structuresThe analysis and design of many civil, offshore, aeromechanical and other structures still requires new methods and solutions. The problems of recent research interest are, for instance, identification of the structural properties, dynamic phenomena (e.g. instabilities) caused by wind or water loads, crack propagation, stochastic structural dynamics and associated reliability assessment, optimisation and structural control.CoE AMAS has been established at IFTR PAS; http://www.ippt.gov.plPublications• Structural Control and Health Monitoring,

Lecture Notes 1, J. Holnicki-Szulc (Ed.), Warsaw, 2001.

• Biomechanical Techniques for Pre-clinical Testing of Prostheses and Implants, Lecture Notes 2, P. J. Prendergast, Warsaw, 2001.

• New Experimental Methods in Material Dynamics and Impact, in Series: Trends in Mechanics of Materials, vol. 3, W. K. Nowacki and J. R. Klepaczko (Eds.), Warsaw, 2001 (CD-ROM included).

• Selected Mechanical Problems in Structural Ceramics, Lecture Notes 3, D. Bigoni, Warsaw, 2002.

• Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures, Lecture Notes 4, Z. Mróz (Ed.), Warsaw, 2002.

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AMAS

Centre of Excellence for AdvancedMaterials and Structures

AMAS - Centre of Excellence for AdvancedMaterials and StructuresProf. Zenon MrózInstitute of Fundamental Technological ResearchPolish Academy of SciencesÂwi´tokrzyska 2100-049 Warszawatel. +48 22 828 74 79fax +48 22 828 74 80e-mail: amascoe@ippt.gov.plhttp://www.ippt.gov.pl/amas/

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Building of the Institute

Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Materials and Structures

for Optoelectronics and SpintronicsCEMOS

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The CEMOS was hosted by the Division of Solid State Physics of the Faculty of Physics of Warsaw University in Warsaw. The Division is the largest division in the Warsaw University with the largest number of researchers with the title of a professor. The Division is the only division in Poland located at University or Technical University working entirely on physics of semiconducting materials. The Division is to be a Marie Curie Host for the Transfer of Knowledge “Semiconductor Materials for Information Technology” (MTKD-CT-2005-029671, from the 1st June 2006).The existing competence and expertise of scientists of the Division can be grouped in following main areas:a) Optical properties of low-dimensional

semiconductor structures. Optical measurements have been a speciality of the Division for more than 30 years. Measurements of structures of lowered dimensionality (2-dimensional electron gas, quantum dots) have practically been started just after the first structures appeared with several important contributions published in international journals;

b) Exciton-and carrier spin phenomena in Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor (DMS) heterostructures. Physics of DMS has been a traditional speciality of these labs for over 20 years. DMS, containing magnetic elements in controlled quantities, offer additional means of control of energies in semiconductor quantum structures by a small magnetic field, which without perturbing the wave-functions of electrons and holes changes barrier heights, spin polarization, etc. This possibility is particularly valuable for the new emerging field of spin electronics, where not only the charge of the carriers but also their spins exploited for information transfer;

c) Semiconductor materials for spintronics. The key problem today with semiconductor spintronics is the lack of appropriate material

systems. The research covers studies of new systems such as two-dimensional magnetic heterostructures based on CdMnTe, and new materials such as III-V and ZnO-based magnetic semiconductors. In order to assess these materials, theoretical approaches are developed in this group with an expertise which is worldwide recognized;

d) Nitride optoelectronics. Growth (MOCVD) and investigation (optical and electrical) of nitride epitaxial layers have been developed in the recent years. Our technological work has recently been focused on improving the quality of AlGaN and GaN layers via reduction density of treading dislocations. A method of growth of low density GaN quantum dots on AlGaN surface has also been developed.

Members of the staff take part in numerous activities, which confirm their recognition by international community of semiconductor scientists. Prof. M. Grynberg, who co-ordinates activities of the Centre, works on International Editorial Board of Solid State Communications (Elsevier) and on Editorial Advisory Board of Materials Science and Engineering B (Elsevier).

The Institute of Experimental Physics is ranked among the best scientific institutions in Poland by the Polish Committee of Scientific Research. High quality of teaching has been recognised by granting the Faculty of Physics an accreditation of University Accreditation Commission. Young researchers from the Division have been awarded a prestigious Fellowships of the Foundation for Polish Science 12 times. Two Humboldt Fellowships were also granted to young researchers from the Division in 1998.

CEMOS - Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Materialsand Structures for Optoelectronics and SpintronicsProf. PhD Marian GrynbergWarsaw UniversityHo˝a 6900-681 Warszawatel. +48 22 628 76 49fax +48 22 621 97 12e-mail: Marian.Grynberg@fuw.edu.plhttp://www.fuw.edu.pl/~zfcs

MOCVD reactor for the growth of nitrides

Faculty of Physics, Warsaw University, main building

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The scope of main research activity of the Centre comprises: • research on methods of molten metal

treatment (purification, grain refinement, modification), developing technologies of aluminium and aluminium alloys casting, developing technologies of plastic forming of aluminium and aluminium alloys (rolling, extrusion, forging, drawing), research on surfacechemical treatment of aluminium and aluminium alloys products, investigations on influence of thermal treatment on the structure and properties of aluminium and aluminium alloys products.

The Centre also performs expertise solving current problems, which occur in the domestic aluminium industry. Apart of the research and development works, the Centre carries out an experimental and small-batch production and business activity for the aluminium industry needs.

In the Centre operates Laboratory of Physical Metallurgy and Chemical Analysis which became one of the leading laboratories in a scope of physical metallurgy and chemical analysis thanks to obtained grants from structural funds for purchasing of modern analysis equipment.

The Centre „CentrAl” was initiator and organizer of the Polish Aluminium Association (PCA). PCA associates about 60 economic entities representing the aluminium industrial enterprises operating in the territory of Poland. In particular, it unites the following industrial enterprises: plants responsible for aluminium

recycling, manufacturers of aluminium alloys, foundries making shape casts, foundries making ingots, processing plants - extrusion shops, rolling mills and forging plants, R&D Centres, other plants co-operating with the aluminium sector.

The International AluTrans Network was created on the initiative of the Centre of Excellence. The Research network associates 18 research Centres from Poland and other countries. The aim of the Network’s operation is to increase and spread the use of products made in aluminium alloys and composites based on aluminium materials in surface and waterborne transport, which should help obtain measurable effects of both economic and ecological nature.

The main aim of the present activity of the centre is creating Polish Aluminium Technological Platform and its participation in European Technological Aluminium Platform, established in Brussels on initiative of European Aluminium Association.

The Centre employs 42 people, including 28 scientists in the research departments. At present there are also 5 diploma students.

There is a possibility bringing education to the European standards, increase the interests of young people in the scientific career. Education of a new generation of scientists and engineers to the needs of small and medium enterprises in the aluminium industry.

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CENTRAL

Centre of Competence for Aluminium Modern Technology and Integrating of Aluminium Research Area

CentrAl - Centre of Competence for Aluminium Modern Technology and Integrating of Aluminium Research AreaMSc Tomasz StuczyƒskiPhD Marzena Lech-GregaInstitute of Non-Ferrous Metals in GliwiceLight Metals Division in SkawinaPiłsudskiego 1932-050 Skawinatel. +48 12 276 40 88fax +48 12 276 47 76e-mail: tstuczynski@imn.skawina.pl, mlechgrega@imn.skawina.plhttp://www.imn.skawina.pl/central/

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Grain revealed by Barker method

Atomic absorption spectrometer solar S4 – Thermo Electron Corp. UK

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Centre of Excellence of Photon,Electron and Ion Advanced Methods

for Natural ScienceCEPHEUS

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The research activity of the Centre has an interdisciplinary approach and concerns the comprehensive characterisation of matters: crystal structure, elements contents and distribution and electronic structure. Particular attention is put on detecting the trace and heavy elements contents and estimation of ionic state of elements which is crucial for their chemical activity. The numerous techniques investigating, on an atomic scale, the structure of matter have been developed. The knowledge of the atomic order at the nano-scale allows the physicists to describe with increasing precision the fundamental interactions and to explain the physical properties of new technologically important materials. The techniques based on radiation and particles interaction with matter are of special interest of the Centre.The Centre employs 42 staff members, among whom, 35 are directly involved in the research activity. The personal roster is the following: 1 full professor, 4 associate professors, 20 researchers with the doctor’s degree, 1 assistance, 9 PhD students and 7 technical staff. The research activity of the Centre concentrate on developing the modern methods of matter characterization. These methods are applied successfully to various problems in technology of modern materials, including nanostructures. The activity of the Centre attempts to bring together all important aspects of modern methods of sample characterisation. It was achieved by exchange and training of scientists from the CEPHEUS Centre and from the European institutes and universities and by organising international conference, symposia and workshops devoted to the particular techniques. During three years of the Centres activity four international meetings were organised. The International Conference on Experimental and Computing Methods in High Resolution Diffraction Applied for Structure Characterization of Modern Materials HREDAMM was organised in Zakopane. The topics covered new trends in high-resolution diffraction, computing methods, application to various types of materials like: bulk crystals, nanocrystals, quasicrystals, thin films and heterostructures.

The staffs of the Centre of CEPHEUS have a share in their experience in the domain (know-how) organising the mini-workshops dedicated to young researchers focused on Quantitative High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (QHRTEM) which starts to play an important role in characterisation of semiconductor nanostructures (photo). The Symposium on “Applications of Linear and Area Detectors for X-ray and Neutron Diffraction and Spectroscopy” was organised in the framework of the E-MRS Fall Meeting, in Warsaw. This meeting was successful as a forum where the materials and detector scientists could meet and discuss what materials science can do for detector development and how the progress in detector technology influences on the materials science. The other meeting was the Workshop on Advanced Methods for Interpretation of TEM, X-Ray and SIMS Measurements in Nano and Atomic Scale which was held in Warsaw. Beside the tutorial lectures, time at the workshop was reserved for discussions and computer exercises, in small groups. The main goal of the activity performed by the CEPHEUS is also to exchange information about modern equipment available in the leading Polish and European laboratories, and to improve and intensify links with chosen European research centres giving access to the unique facilities important for development of materials characterisation and technology, as well, to perform the research to increase the level of confidence of analysis. To achieve this goal the scientists from the Centre performed many visits to other European Centres which offered experimental equipment inaccessible in Poland. During these visits they attended international conferences, symposia and workshops, performed some experiments using the large facilities at the DESY Hamburg and the BESSY Berlin, Germany, Trieste, Italy and the ESRF Grenoble, France. To improve the knowledge and qualifications of the scientists from the CEPHEUS Centre and to increase a linkage of the Centre to several European Centres the researchers from abroad visited the Centre several times.

They presented the recent results of their works at the seminars and carried out fruitful discussions. The abstracts of the lectures, list of common publications and brief reports from visits can be found at the CEPHEUS Centre web page (http://info.ifpan.edu.pl/cepheus/).The Centre offers the possibility of training for scientists and PhD students in applying:• high-resolution transmission electron

microscopy (HRTEM);• high-resolution material research diffraction

(HRXRD);• secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS);• electron probe microanalysis (EPMA).

CEPHEUS - Centre of Excellence of Photon,Electron and Ion Advanced Methods for Natural ScienceAssoc. Prof. PhD Krystyna Ławniczak-JabłoƒskaInstitute of PhysicsPolish Academy of Sciencesal. Lotników 32/4602-668 Warszawatel. +48 22 843 60 34fax +48 22 843 09 26e-mail: jablo@ifpan.edu.plhttp://info.ifpan.edu.pl/cepheus/

The cross-sectional high resolution TEM image of correlated CdTe-ZnTe QDs. The colour overlay corresponds to strain component measured on this image

Reciprocal space map of AlGaAs layer on GaAs substrate

Group of X-ray spectroscopy and microanalysis at SIMS spectrometer

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The located at the Institute of Refractory Materials Centre activity comprises ceramics for high temperature application and wide spectrum of environmental problems, beginning with utilisation of ceramic materials after service (including refractory ones), through application of ceramic processes in utilisation and render harmless of industrial waste, to application of ceramic materials with specific properties in solving problems related to ecology (e.g. filters, products used for immobilisation of heavy metals, etc). The Institute executes work in full cycle: from scientific research, through applied research and research-development works for implementation. Research can be included to the following science disciplines: material science and methods of material research, material technologies, including ceramic materials and composites, chemical technology, heat engineering, ecology and natural environment protection, raw materials processing. Orientation of research within individual disciplines is decided by the Institute characteristics, expressing in the interest in ceramic materials, raw materials applied in ceramics and heat processes of all types that occur in industry.

Achievement of IRM during 52 years of its activity is expressed by a number of about 4690 research and expertise works and other technical elaborations. IRM staffs applied 650 inventory projects, and received more than 230 patents and many utility patterns. The Institute has played an important role in the development of domestic industry of refractory materials, it has obtained many awards and prizes on international arena and the country, including: gold and silver medals set awarded on the World Fairs of Inventions

and Innovation Brussels Eureka 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004. On 49 World Fairs of Invents and Innovation “Brussels Eureka 2000” the Institute was awarded Knight Cross of Invention Order, awarded by highest Committee of Awards of the Kingdom of Belgium Silver medal for invention of biceramic complex form. In recent years international contacts have taken place mainly by participation in conferences which allowed for familiarising latest achievements in the field of refractory materials in Europe and for presentation of IRM achievements on broad European forum. Since 1983 the Institute has been organising a cyclic international conference on refractory materials. The purpose of this conference is to present latest achievements in the field of production, application and tests methodics of refractory materials applied in different processes.

Recently there is direct cooperation with research Centres in Germany and Lithuania.

The permanent staff of the Centre consists of 13 scientists (incl. 2 full professors, 5 senior scientists, 6 scientists), 54 engineers and technicians. At present there is also 3 PhD students and 3 postgraduate students. There is a possibility for foreign students to take part in practices in the Centre.

In past scientific workers of many countries visited Institute and carried out their scientific-research works, among them scientists from: India, Egypt, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Germany, Czech, Slovakia, Russia, Hungary, Switzerland, Brazil, Holland, Zimbabwe, Finland. There is still possible for foreign students to make their practices in the Centre.

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CERMEP

Centre of Competence Ceramics for High-Temperatureand Environment Protection

CERMEP - Centre of Competence Ceramicsfor High-Temperature and Environment ProtectionDr Eng. Jerzy CzechowskiInstitute of Refractory MaterialsToszecka 9944-101 Gliwicetel. +48 32 270 19 19fax +48 32 270 19 34e-mail: imo21@imo.gliwice.pl

CERM

EP

Microstructure of the magnesia-spinel-carbon refractory material with antioxidant agent

Spectrometer of X-ray fluorescence type WDXRF PW 2424 MagiX, PANalytical

Emission spectrometer ICP (24-sequentional) (Jobin Yvon)

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Centre of Structural IntegrityCESTI

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The main research focus of the Centre concentrates on the subject of Structural Integrity. The Centre conducts researches in the main fields: • fatigue, damage and fracture of materials

and mechanical structures; • identification of dynamics characteristics of

materials and structures;• fatigue tests of standard and new materials

under proportional and non-proportional, cyclic or random tension-compression, tension-torsion and bending-torsion;

• fatigue life prediction of materials and structures under multiaxial service (random) loading;

• energy based criteria for fatigue life assessment of materials;

• fracture mechanics description with use of the J-integral model;

• development of mechatronic systems based on strength machines for material testing;

• thermomechanical models of flows in capillary-porous materials.

Particular achievements of the Centre can be formulated as follows: • Generalisation of stress, strain and energy-

based multiaxial fatigue failure criteria to random loading;

• Home made unique fatigue stands for tests under biaxial random loading;

• Building digital control system for strain energy density parameter control with use of Matlab and LabVIEW;

• New thermomechanical models of flows in capillary-porous materials.

The scientific staff of the Centre consists of members of the National Advisory Board (8 professors), members of the International Advisory Board (13 professors) and staff of

the Department of Mechanics and Machines Design and Department of Material Physics - the total number: 30 people among which are professors, assistant professors, doctors, lecturers, administrative staff and technicians.The Centre offers MSc, PhD and post-graduate studies at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, summer schools, workshops, seminars and thematic conferences on Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics and Problems in Civil Engineering.

Within the CESTI activity the stands and software of CAD/CAM Laboratory and Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics Laboratory at DMMD TUO were modernised. Two prototypes of the strength machines for fatigue tests of materials under combined bending with torsion loading and four digital control systems for fatigue stands have been made. Two hydraulic fatigue stands were equipped with control systems with possibility of fatigue process control in the closed loop system by the new strain energy density parameter.

CESTI is collaborate with AMAS NoE (Institute of Fundamental Technological Research PAS - Warsaw) and ProNet Technical University of Wroclaw.

In the 3 years of evaluation of the CESTI, scientists from the CESTI published 17 books and monographs, 17 proceedings of conferences and schools, 197 papers and 1 patent were published. Moreover, 24 laboratory manuals and 14 reports with experimental data have been elaborated, as well as 2 patent applications were sent to the Polish Patent Office. The web site on CESTI (www.cesti.po.opole.pl) is active, where detailed information about the Centre is presented.

CESTI - Centre of Structural IntegrityProf. Ewald MachaTechnical University of OpoleMikołajczyka 545-271 Opoletel. +48 77 400 61 34fax +48 77 400 63 43e-mail: emac@po.opole.plhttp://www.cesti.po.opole.pl

Stand for fatigue tests under combined bending with torsion

Fatigue stand for tests of cruciform specimens under independent biaxial random tension-compression

Technical University of Opole, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

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“COMBAT” is the Centre of Excellence granted by European Union Commission (FP5) at Warsaw University of Technology, based on 7 research groups from 3 different departments. The Centre activity is focused on design, fabrication, modeling and testing of microsensors, microactuators, microsystems and dedicated signal processing and control. The members of the Centre are interested in broad co-operation with other laboratories in the subjects listed in Main Activity.

The Centre LeadersProf. R. S. Jachowicz, Head of COMBAT and Leader of Sensors Research GroupDr M. Baszun, Leader of Piezo Microsystems GroupProf. R. B. Beck, Leader of Microelectronic and Nanoelectronic Devices Technology Group

Prof. Z. Brzozka, Leader of Chemical Sensors Research Group Prof. Z. Drozd, Leader of Division of Precision and Electronics Products TechnologyProf. M. Kujawinska, Leader of Optical Engineering Division Prof. J. Ogrodzki, Leader of Analog Electronic Circuits Group.

Main Activity • Silicon sensors - humidity, moisture,

pressure;• Thin films and semiconductor sensors,

sensors modeling;• Semiconductor dew point detector,

hygrometers, medical applications;• Moisture contents in solid, capacitive

methods in radio frequency range;• Semiconductor capacitive pressure sensor

and FET pressure sensor;• Smart Sensors: ASIC-s, sensors with

standard LonWorks network interface, wireless interfaces.

Piezo-microsystems• Actuators, stack and bimorph type;• Actuators for rotary movements;• SAW sensors, especially SAW

chemosensors, SAW biosensors;• SAW remote sensors;• Microsensors based on bulk

piezoresonators.

CAD for microsystems and circuits• Mathematical modeling of chemical sensors; • Mathematical modeling of mixed-domain

systems and microsystems; application of HDLs;

• Numerical methods, algorithms and program development for systems and microsystems;

• Computer-aided design;• Developed simulators: OPTIMA, SWITCH,

SYMULAK and CAD tools: SCAD, GOSSIP, EXTRA, PRE.

Microsystems Packaging Technology• SMT assembly and lead free soldering; • COB C&W technology;

• Flip Chip technology; • Microsystems packaging reliability.

Microsystems testing and reliability analysis:• full-field static and dynamic interferometric

studies of microsystems;• opto-numerical analysis of MEMS

and MOEMS;• design and manufacturing of measurement

instrumentation for microsystems.

Chemical Sensors• Design of modern analytical systems for

environmental monitoring;• Application of miniaturized chemical

sensors; • Integrated micro total analysis systems

(uTAS).

Microelectronic and Nanoelectronic Devices• Modeling of semiconductor devices;• Semiconductor devices manufacturing;• Characterization of materials and

semiconductor structures; • Application of non-classical materials

of silicon and wide-bandgap materials technology.

We offer• Research and industrial cooperation

in modeling, design and fabrication of microsystems and microsensors;

• Digital and wireless sensors interferences, microsensors and microsystems packaging;

• Implementation of microsensors and microsystems into medical application, environment protection, industrial application;

• Automated tested of microsystems and microsensors operation, their mechanical parameters and geometrical dimensions, temperature distribution;

• Design of distributed sensors systems;• Courses on microsystems technology

for specialist from industry and research laboratories.

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COMBAT

Centre of MicrosystemsDesign and Technology

COMBAT - Centre of Microsystems Design and TechnologyProf. Ryszard S. JachowiczWarsaw University of TechnologyNowowiejska 15/1900-665 Warszawatel. +48 22 825 98 13fax +48 22 825 23 00e-mail: rsjach@ise.pw.edu.plhttp://srg.ise.pw.edu.pl/combat/

CO

MBAT

Semiconductor Sensors and Microsystems Technology Laboratory at Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology

Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology

Grating laser extensometer - LES at Faculty of Mechatronics

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Environment Friendly Chemical Processes with Computer-Aided Modelling,

Design and ControlCOMODEC

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ABOUT OUR CENTRE:The COMODEC Centre of Excellence is based at the Faculty of Chemistry of Rzeszów University of Technology, in the South-East of Poland. It carries out both basic and applied research in a number of fields related to applied chemistry and chemical engineering.

SELECTED AREAS OF INTEREST:• chiral inorganic catalysts for induction of

asymmetry - Prof. Stanisław Wołowiec;• activation of dioxygen and peroxides in

the sustainable chemistry and chemical technology - Prof. Andrzej Sobkowiak;

• e-learning (www.e-chemistry.pl), computer-aided information retrieval from chemical databases - Prof. Barbara D´bska;

• modelling of polymerisation reactions leading to macromolecules of various architectures and distributions - Prof. Henryk Galina;

• advanced thermal analysis (Advanced THermal Analysis System - ATHAS; www.prz.rzeszow.pl/athas) - Dr Marek Pyda;

• biochemistry and biotechnology - Prof. Ewa Wałajtys-Rode;

• process integration and optimisation to reduce pollution - Prof. Jacek Je˝owski;

• application of adsorption, chromatography and related techniques for production of very pure products - Prof. Krzysztof Kaczmarski;

• reactions of oxyalkylation in the synthesis of novel monomers and precursors of reactive oligomers, including chemosetting resins - Prof. Jacek Lubczak;

• synthesis, modification and recycling of polymeric materials with optimisation of processing aided by computer modelling - Prof. Piotr Król.

HUMAN RESOURCES:All employees of the Faculty of Chemistry (over 100) participate in the different initiatives of the COMODEC Centre of Excellence, with 58 researchers being directly involved in carrying out the research, development and networking activities of the Centre.This

includes 13 professors, 26 assistant professors, and 19 assistants. Furthermore, 15 technicians, one administrative worker and seven students actively participate in the scientific activities and in the overall running of the Centre.

STUDYING AND TRAINING POSSIBILITIES:We welcome students wishing to pursue their education in the Centre at both MSc and PhD level. Our institution fully complies with the European Credit Transfer System.

SCIENTIFIC CO-OPERATION:COMODEC co-operates with a number of international scientific partners in terms of common research and exchange of junior and senior scientists, also as a result of common projects co-financed by the European Commission. Some of our international scientific partners include scientists from:• Technical University of Vienna, Austria;• Catholic University of Applied Science

- KaHo St Lieven, Gent, Belgium;• Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry,

Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic;

• University of Bordeaux, France;• CEA Grenoble, France;• Otto-von-Guericke University and Max-

Planc Institute for Polymer Research, Magdeburg, Germany;

• Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany;

• Berlin Technical University, Berlin, Germany• University of Veszprem, Hungary;• Delft University of Technology, Delft, The

Netherlands;• University of Oviedo, Spain;• Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm,

Sweden;• The University of Uppsala, Sweden;• Kiev Technical University, Ukraine;• Lviv Technical University, Lviv, Ukraine;• Ivano-Frankivsk State Medical Academy,

Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine;• University of Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; • University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA;• Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan.

COMODEC co-operates with a number of national partners. This includes co-operation within an agreement signed with five Centres of Excellence based in Cracow.Our Centre is very much interested in new international and national co-operation opportunities.

CO-OPERATION WITH INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS:The Centre co-operates closely with various industrial partners in Poland. We provide training and consultations and carry out research applicable and/or requested by the industry, resulting in numerous industrial implementations, patents, expertise reports, etc.

OTHER INFORMATION:The city of Rzeszow, where the COMODEC Centre of Excellence is based, is the capital of the Podkarpacie Region (part of the Carpatian Euroregion). COMODEC is the only Centre of Excellence based in the Podkarpacie Region.The Region is particularly rich in chemical industry. At the same time, it manages to retain much of the ingenuous, unspoiled beauty of its natural environment.

CONTACT:If you are interested in co-operating with our Centre or if you would like to receive more information about our work, please, contact us at the address, telephone number or e-mail provided. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

COMODEC - Environment Friendly ChemicalProcesses with Computer-Aided Modelling, Design and ControlProf. Henryk GalinaDanuta D´bska, MARzeszów University of TechnologyFaculty of ChemistryW. Pola 235-959 Rzeszówtel. +48 17 865 17 50fax +48 17 854 36 55e-mail: comodec@prz.rzeszow.pl, hgal@prz.rzeszow.pl, http://www.comodec.prz.rzeszow.pl

Chemistry - the colourful science

Campus of Rzeszow University of Technology

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The activity of the Centre is focused on scientific researches in the field of corrosion protection, particularly related to the selection and estimation of the quality of anticorrosion systems, protective coatings and problems with corrosion of metals. These areas were determined by our research interests that were fortunately consistent with tasks under consideration of the other European Centres. These are in particular:

1. European corrosion monitoring.2. Nanostructural coating materials for

protective and functional applications.3. Chemical and electrochemical surface

treatment of high-strength light alloys, with special focus on transport applications and low environmental impact.

4. New composite materials obtained by thermal spraying on ferrous and non-ferrous surfaces.

5. New research methods combining corrosive as well as mechanical impact like tribology, fatigue and temperature.

The following priorities have been assigned to our activity:• implementation of “green technologies”;• promotion of the concept of integrated

systems;• implementation of quality systems.As a result of the activity of the Centre very close contactc between CORPROT team and Technische Universität in Chemnitz, Germany, Instituto Superior Tecnico in Lisbon, Portugal, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Metalurgicas (CENIM) in Madrid, Spain, Sheffield Hallam University, UK, University of Erlangen, Germany, Helsinki University of

Technology, Finland and many others were established.The Centre creates also a platform between EU and Third States, particularly Eastern Europe countries, especially with this institutions whose field of interest covers the future researches planned with EU partners. A joint research was carried out and still is in progress with Physico-Mechanical Institute from Lviv, Ukraine. Attempts were also made to initiate discussions with scientists from the Institute of Physical Chemistry in Moscow, Russia.The Centre participates in joint research proposals due to the excellent equipment and qualified personnel. In the activity of the Centre 42 persons were engaged: 3 professors, 5 doctors, 19 engineers and 15 technicians.The Centre is an organizer of the following training courses for representatives of small and medium enterprises:“Thermal sprayer for corrosion purposes”;“Corrosion inspector”.Experts from industry as well as the scientists from universities and research institutes participate also in the conferences, workshops and seminars covering anticorrosion technologies, protective coatings and materials and standards.The results obtained during the activity of the Centre are published in the journal “Surface Engineering” edited by IMP as well as in books and monographs concerning corrosion protection and surface engineering.The Centre is also involved in the international and European standardization, especially is active in the technical committees: ISO/TC 107, ISO/TC 156, CEN/TC 240, CEN TC/262.

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CORPROT

Centre of Competence in Integrated Technical and Quality Systemsfor CORrosion PROTection

CORPROT - Centre of Competencein Integrated Technical and Quality Systems for CORrosion PROTectionDr Lech KwiatkowskiInstitute of Precision MechanicsDuchnicka 301-796 Warszawatel. +48 22 560 28 46fax +48 22 663 43 32e-mail: corprot@imp.edu.pl, lech@imp.edu.plhttp://www.imp.edu.pl/corprot/

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The result of corrosion on the steel surface. Advanced corrosion on steel

Equipment for electrochemical measurements

CORPROT Centre’s Headquarters – the main building of the Institute of Precision Mechanics in Warsaw

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Centre for Unconventional Processes and Production TechnologiesCUPPT

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There are the following research fields, which are developed in the Centre of Excellence CUPPT:• unconventional shaping methods with

a special emphasis on developing new hybrid machining methods (such as electrodischarge and electrochemical machining supported by electrode ultrasonic vibrations;

• machining of workpieces with small dimensions (Micromachinig, Microfinishing) and made from materials difficult for cutting (e.g. composites, advanced special materials);

• manufacturing of special tool materials with a special emphasis on developing advanced special tool materials for cutting (i.e. high speed turning, grinding);

• advanced special tool materials for unconventional and hybrid unconventional methods;

• special methods of measurements for technological process indicators estimation with a special emphasis on developing shape and surface roughness measuring methods, special in case of small elements used in micromachining, including the problems of three dimensional analysis (3D);

• environmental protection in unconventional production technology with specially emphasis on developing the constructional solutions for decrease in the harmful influence of the unconventional processes and providing the investigations in order to use the fluids which are environmental friendly;

• the other group of measurement methods, which are very important in estimation of the process indicators, are the methods for testing the surface layer characteristic.

Through the development of unconventional methods the Centre is able to supply the scientific community the prototypes of machine tools to realize process machining investigations. The CUPPT is prepared to solve complex, scientific and technological problems, which require new machine tools,

advanced materials and special measurement equipments for their estimation.

CUPPT Centre operates as a part of the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology in Cracow (previously IOS). The recent achievements of IAMT and the Centre of Excellence CUPPT have been documented in numerous research articles. There are about 80 original research papers published every year in journals of international circulation by research groups of CUPPT. It is very important to underline that the papers showing the results of IAMT investigations are published in many foreign journals e.g.:• Journal of Materials Processing Technology;• International Journal of Electrical Machining;• Ceramics International Diamond and

Related Materials;• International Journal of Refractory Metals

and Hard Materials;• Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology

A - Vacuum Surfaces;• Journal of the European Ceramic Society,• Optica Applicata.

They are also published in the following selected Polish journals e.g.:• Archiwum Budowy Maszyn;• Mechanik;• Post´py Technologii Maszyn i Urzàdzeƒ;• In˝ynieria Materiałowa;• Przeglàd Techniczny;• Szkło i Ceramika.

During the last nine years over 500 papers have been published. IAMT with CUPPT also organizes large international conferences gathering about one hundred participants from all over the world (www.ios.krakow.pl/mmss).

The CUPPT employs 80 persons; about 70 are involved in researches. This group consists of: 7 senior staff members (title of professor or (DSc) habilitation), 17 senior scientists with PhD degree, 5 PhD students, 42 engineers and technicians. Approximately 60% of the scientific staff of the Institute IAMT is directly

engaged in the activities of the Centre.There is a possibility for foreign students to take part in the research works in the Centre - both on MSc and PhD levels.

Scientific co-operation: IAMT cooperates with institutes in the whole Poland and in the world. The cooperation with Polish Universities e.g. Warsaw Technical University, Cracow Technical University, mainly concerns theoretical investigations, mathematical modelling, process simulation and sometimes, special materials investigations. IAMT has signed cooperation agreements e.g. with PHILIPS - Netherlands, Fraunhoffer Management - Germany, University of Nebraska - USA. The Centre cooperates also with universities in Europe e.g. Edinburgh University and Glasgow Caledonian University in United Kingdom, Magdeburg University and Düsseldorf University in Germany.

Co-operation with industrial partners: There are established permanent links with the domestic and foreign industrial partners, however the Centre is open for co-operation with other companies and SME’s.

CUPPT - Centre for Unconventional Processesand Production TechnologiesProf. PhD Eng. Adam RuszajThe Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology(previously IOS – The Institute of Metal Cutting)Wrocławska 37a30-011 Krakówtel. +48 12 631 72 40fax +48 12 633 94 90e-mail: adam.ruszaj@ios.krakow.pl SekretariatZNTP@ios.krakow.plhttp://www.ios.krakow.pl/zntp

Module electrodischarge sinking machine tool MEDIOS 30

The Insitute of Ad-vanced Manufactur-ing Technology (pre- viously IOS - The Institute of Metal Cutting) – The Resi-dence of the CUPPT – Centre for Uncon-ventional Processes and Production Tech-nologies

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The Centre employs about 140 people involved directly in research including 11 professors (4 of them being members of the Polish Academy of Sciences), 10 scientists holding DSc degree (habilitation) and about 50 PhD’s. About 30 graduate students participate in the five-years graduate school programme. The Centre has the right to grant scientific degrees of PhD since 1975 and DSc (habilitation) since 1992.

Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies founded in 1972 carries a basic research in the area of heteroorganic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry as well as polymer chemistry and physics. The work carried out within research groups of the Centre focuses on the problems of molecular and macromolecular engineering including new approaches to regio- and stereospecific synthesis of complex organic molecules of biological interest, new methods of stereospecific synthesis of biomacromolecules such as modified oligonucleotides for genetic engineering and antisense therapeutic strategies, methods of controlled synthesis of polymers with controlled structure and methods of assembling of synthetic polymers into nano- and macroscopic structures. To carry out the research in the areas ranging from modern organic chemistry to material science the combination of research methods and tools is required allowing analysis of the materials and processes on the molecular (macromolecular) level as well as on the macroscopic level. The approaches used by research teams of the Centre include majority of the modern experimental and analytical techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (200 MHz, 300MHz and 500MHz equipment), Mass Spectroscopy including MALDI TOF, Atomic Force Microscopy and other techniques including UV, IR, CD spectroscopy, HPLC and CPC chromatography, electrophoresis, light scattering, differential thermal analysis and differential thermal mechanical analysis methods.

Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies conducts basic research in the area of heteroorganic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry and polymer science. In those areas the Centre has achieved international recognition. International cooperation in the past, however, was based mainly on bilateral cooperation agreements concerning specific, rather narrow, projects. Within the framework of Centres of Excellence scheme we aimed primarily at the transformation of those bilateral cooperation into participation in larger research consortia carrying out research in priority areas set by 5th, 6th and 7th Framework Programmes. Therefore we have been mainly involved in dissemination of knowledge in order to build up of networking and twinning activities as well as in participating in FP5 and FP6 projects and proposals.

Our project: Designed Molecules and Macromolecules; their Assemblies and Biological Functions (DESMOL) involved 14 work-packages within which research teams from our Centre carried out specific research projects jointly with European partners. In addition 8 workshops gathering from 25 to 110 participants has been organized. Within 4 year period of the project above 100 foreign scientists visited our Centre for a short-term visits and 26 foreign scientists worked for a longer time (3 - 15 months). Similar number of our staff members and PhD students visited partners laboratories.

Those activities led to increasing participation of our research teams in European research programmes. The most important effect of our participation on CoE scheme is a change from occasional bilateral international cooperation on specific, relatively narrow projects to more permanent participation in larger research projects in the priority areas defined in Framework Programmes.

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Designed Molecules and Macromolecules, Their Assembliesand Biological Functions

DESMOL - Designed Molecules and Macromolecules,Their Assemblies and Biological FunctionsProf. Dr Marian Mikołajczyk, Prof. Dr Przemysław KubisaDr Józef KowalskiCentre of Molecular and Macromolecular StudiesPolish Academy of SciencesSienkiewicza 11290-363 Łódêtel. +48 42 680 33 02fax +48 42 684 71 26e-mail: pkubisa@bilbo.cbmm.lodz.pl, cbmm@bilbo.cbmm.lodz.plhttp://www: cbmm.lodz.pl/en/int_desmol.html

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Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies PAS. Main building

Prof. Dr Marian Mikołajczyk. Director of the Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies PAS

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High-tech Textile CoCHTT

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During the forty five years over 1200 scientific and research works have been performed at the Institute, of which almost 820 have been implemented in industry. The Institute has taken a total of 120 patents and 60 copyrights for utility models, many of which have been implemented in industry with good economic results.

In the years 1996-2001 IAT has carried out 8 grants, 13 target projects and 19 research and development works which the unit was commissioned to do by economic subjects. Each year ca 20 own projects are carried out; the results of most of them are a basis for taking up new grants, target projects or they become an offer of a technology or a product for industrial plants. The scientific and research staff of the Institute participate in numerous conferences (e.g. in Japan, Portugal, Russia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Germany, USA, China, Slovakia, Great Britain, Egypt, Hungary, Greece).

Every year, the IAT scientists publish their original articles and reviews in international scientific magazines (e.g. Textile Research Journal, International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Fibres and Textiles in Eastern Europe, Melliand Textilbrichte, L’Industrie Textile).

A total of 68 persons are employed at the Institute; in conversion to full-time posts - 63.24: directly at the research and development activity - 40.3, including:• with a professor’s title - 2 full-time posts;• with an assistant professor degree - 2 full-

time posts;• with a doctor’s degree - 2.3. full-time

posts;• the rest with a university degree - 17 full-

time posts;• with secondary education - 17 full-time

posts.

Development of the scientific staff at the Institute having regard to the necessity of the scientific staff ’s development and raising qualifications,

5 employees attend the doctoral studies at Lodz Technical University. At present, 4 workers have started their doctoral degrees. IAT organises:• the design seminars for technologists,

artists, tradesmen from all the branches of light industry;

• seminars for heads of plant laboratories and quality services.

Within the co-operation with Technical University of Lodz, the Faculty of Textile Engineeting and Marketing, laboratory classes with students are conducted at the Laboratory of Textile Tests and Certification of IAT.

The conferences organised by the IAT, started in 96, and covering the area of innovatory expertise of textile architecture have already gained recognition and are transforming into a regular international event of the ArchTex cycle which have been attended by scientists both from the EU countries (France, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Holland, Denmark, Spain) and from Latvia, Russia, Lithuania, Romania, Czech Republic, Yugoslavia as well as from the USA, Canada and Egypt. Awards for the IAT at international and domestic exhibitions and fairs: 1. A medal for “The Family of Modules

of Spinning Machines” at the INTERTECHNOLOGY’98;

2. A medal for “Anti-static finish of textile products” at the INTERTECHNOLOGY’99;

3. Distinction in the category of new technologies for “Strong technical fabrics with continuous fibres” at the INTERTECHNOLOGY 2000;

4. The gold medal with distinction for “Anti-static finish of textiles” at the 49th World exhibition - Brussels EUREKA 2000;

5. The gold medal for “Method to confer anti-shrinking properties to woollen textile products” at the 50th World Exhibition - Brussels EUREKA 2000.

HTT - High-tech Textile CoCPhD, DSc Iwona FrydrychDSc Ma∏gorzata MatusiakInstitute of Textile ArchitecturePiotrkowska 27690-950 ¸ódêtel. +48 42 681 00 70fax +48 42 684 23 00e-mail: iat@iat.com.plhttp://www.iat.com.pl

Institute of Textile Archtecture

AFIS system

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The Krakow Research Centre for Ion Engineering “IONMED” develops interdisciplinary research of surface processing by ion methods (IBAD, IBSD, ion mixing, ion implantation) CVD and laser techniques. All applied researches are oriented for High-Tech industry and medical purposes.

IONMED consists of: The Henryk Niewodniczaƒski Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Cracow University of Technology, AGH University of Science and Technology, Jagiellonian University, The Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (previously The Institute of Metal Cutting), OPTICON Ltd company, PREVAC Ltd (Pecision and Vacuum Technology).

The main fields of the research activities: — Application of ion, laser and CVD methods for creation and modification of thin complex coating layers. Especially the dual beam Ion Beam Assisted Deposition (DB IBAD) and Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) techniques are applied for creation:

• bioactive coatings layers. As coating layers the carbon based coatings and HAP are preferred;

• corrosion resistive coatings;• wear resistive coating based on carbon

(e.g. DLC, SiC).

— Interaction of ions with solid materials – experimental study and computer assisted modeling and design of coating layers and thin films:

• Investigation of material structures and properties, especially: phase transformation (Raman spectroscopy);

• depth distribution of elements (nuclear technique: RBS, NRA, ERDA, Channeling, PIXE, PIGE);

• modification of material structures properties by energetic ion beams and laser beams;

• fundamental theoretical and experimental study of friction and wear processes;

• thermomechanical modeling and simulation of friction and wear of materials;

• smart materials in surface engineering; • micro - and nanomechanical tests of

properties of the surfaces and coatings; • wear resistive coatings; • piezoelectric polymer composites; • biotribology and biomaterials, particularly

for endoprosthesis of joints; • friction and lubrication in human joints.

In the “hard core of CoE IONMED” are working of 7 professors, 4 doctors with group of PhD students.The IONMED Centre consists of many scientific groups from different Universities and Institutes. Each group realizes a special program for master and PhD students.The number of research projects granted in 2000-2005 to our Centre exceeds 20 and they are scheduled in the frame of 5th and 6th EU Framework Programmes, Erazmus and Socrates Programmes.

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Krakow Research Centrefor Ion Engineering

IONMED - Krakow Research Centre for Ion EngineeringPhD Bogusław RajchelInstitute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of SciencesRadzikowskiego 15231-342 Krakówtel. +48 12 662 83 74e-mail: Boguslaw.Rajchel@ifj.edu.plhttp://www.ionmed.agh.edu.pl

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Materials Recycling Centreof ExcellenceMAREC

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The Materials Recycling Centre consists of four branch units, thus combining research performed at four faculties of Wrocław University of Technology: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Microsystem Electronics and Photonics, Faculty of Civil Engineering. The themes of research include respectively: applied mechanics, materials engineering, machine design, vehicles engineering, automation, production management, polymer engineering, plastic waste management, optoelectronics, electronic microsystems, vacuum technology, ion techniques, civil engineering, hydro-engineering, underground structures. Specific research agenda combines projects performed on: materials of special properties (metals, plastics), nanomaterials, in-situ composites, anisotropy in heterogeneous materials, recycling of plastics and composites, fracture mechanics and fatigue of materials (metals, plastics), high-pressure plastic containers for gas storage, municipal waste and selective waste recovery system, recycling of vehicles.

Each branch unit adds its own results to the overall performance of the Materials Recycling Centre. They are of different kind, including approx. 650 papers published by MRC members up to now, 7 books and approx. 300 unpublished reports. Most recent Publications: book “Electron Optics”, “Handbook of Electronic Engineer”, book “Introduction into Plastics Recycling”, book “Diagnostics of Vehicles”, publication of 1-2 books each academic year, contributions to more than 10 publications annually. Scientific level of the MRC staff has been confirmed by invitations to the Editorial Board of the following international and local scientific journals: “Archives of Environmental Protection”, “Environment Protection Engineering”, “Journal of Polymer Engineering”, “Polymer Network and Blends”, “Plastics and Chemistry”, “Building Kaleidoscope Magazine”, “Recycling Review”. Staff of the Materials Recycling Centre participate regularly at international networks and associations, of which the most

important are: Central European Network on Polymer Engineering and Recycling, European Thematic Network on Microelectronic Packaging and Interconnection, European Thematic Network Adhesives in Electronics, European Association for the Science of Air Pollution, European Association of Materials Forming, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, WP 4.2.1, International Microelectronics and Packaging Society. MRC covers 4 branch units, each composed of the core staff, PhD and MSc students. Each team consits of 10-15 members. Every staff member has spent at least 1 year period abroad at renown universities in Europe, US, Israel or Japan. The branch units are: packaging (3 professors, 3 assistant professors, 6 PhD students), electronics (2 profesors, 1assistant professor, 3 PhD students), vehicles (1 professor, 1 assistant professor, 2 PhD students) and buildings (1 assistant professor, 2 PhD students).MSc and PhD students from Poland and abroad are accepted to the thematic labs:• Polymer Engineering and Recycling

Laboratory;• Laboratory for Vehicles Diagnostics;• Laboratory for Technology of Electronic

Devices;• Laboratory for Atmospheric Pollution

Monitoring;• Laboratory for Building Materials Testing.

Coordinator of the Materials Recycling Centre of Excellence has been coordinating since 1999 the Central European Network on Polymer Engineering and Recycling (CEEPUS project) with 6 partners from Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovak Republik, Croatia. MRC has organized 3 international conferences on Plastics Recycling (1998, 2000, 2002). In 2004 MRC has co-organized World Congress REWAS in Madrid, Spain, coordinating attendance of 45 participants from Central and Eastern Europe. In 2005 the Summer School on Materials Recycling (in English) has been organized in Poland MRC of Excellence is organizing series of seminars

and workshops devoted to dissemination of knowledge on waste management technologies, solving problems of logistics, recycling technology etc.

MAREC - Materials Recycling Centre of ExcellenceProf. PhD Eng. Marek KozłowskiWrocław University of TechnologyWybrze˝e Wyspiaƒskiego 2750-370 Wrocławtel. +48 71 320 62 16fax +48 71 328 29 80e-mail: kozlowski@immt.pwr.wroc.plhttp://www.recykling.pwr.wroc.pl

HAAKE ROTOVISCO RT20

Wrocław Universityof Technology

HAAKE RHEOCORD 9000

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The scientific activities of the MEM comprise the microstructural analyses of various functional and structural materials, especially materials for power engineering (superalloys, steels), high temperature materials, intermetallics, biomaterials, nanomaterials, magnetic materials, hydrogen storage materials. These include quantitative characterisation of material microstructure by means of advanced electron microscopy accomplished by analytical methods (electron nanodiffraction, convergent beam electron diffraction, energy dispersive X- ray spectrometry), high resolution imaging and image contrast interpretation as well as X- ray diffraction and neutron diffraction analyses. Quantitative metallography combined with fractal modelling and image analysis enables quantification of materials microstructures and their modelling. The other types of investigations comprise laser surface treatment, laser synthesis of nanomaterials, mechanical alloying, determination of mechanical and physical properties of materials, magnetometry, measurements of nuclear magnetic resonance and muon spin rotation, application of digital signal and image processing for materials examinations, non-destructive techniques of materials testing, crystallographic texture analysis and modeling.

The MEM is based on the one of the first Polish groups dealing with the application of electron microscopy in materials science. During over 40 years of its existence, the MEM has become one of the Polish leading Centres in this field. The very broad field of interests finds a reflection in a close bilateral cooperation with many world-famous universities and laboratories as well as in participation in EU and NATO programmes. During the last ten years our researchers participated in about

fifty international projects. Out of 432 papers published during the last three years (1999-2001), 88 papers were indexed by the ISI. The recognition of the scientific value of the research carried out in the MEM, and of the scientists themselves, may be measured by the number of citations provided by the reputable ISI Web of KnowledgeSM. The total number of citations of the publications written by the Faculty staff approaches a few hundreds since 1996. The staff members are frequently invited to co-organise the international congress, as members of the advisory boards, chairmen, invited speakers. They are also invited as visiting professors to teach courses in other universities in Poland and aboard. The scientific activity of our Centre is particularly evident from the number of MSc and PhD thesis defended by young graduated students: 359 MSc and 21 PhD theses were defended in the years 1995-2002. Six out of the PhD theses were awarded by the Prime Minister of Poland for their excellent scientific quality.

The permanent staff in the MEM consists of 62 scientists (incl. 7 full professors, 7 associate professors, 49 scientists with PhD), 7 technicians and 5 persons of administration. At present, there are also 28 PhD students in the MEM.The Centre offers graduate and post-graduate studies in materials science and electron microscopy. The international cooperation enables graduate and post-graduate studies in other institutions, also abroad. It allows students to be educated by eminent international specialists, as well as provides opportunities for practical work in different laboratories. The Centre organizes regular courses and schools on materials characterisation, especially by electron microscopy.

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MEMCentre of Excellence for Materials Characterisation by Electron Microscopy

MEM - Centre of Excellence for Materials Characterisation by Electron MicroscopyProf. PhD Aleksandra Czyrska-FilemonowiczAGH University of Science and TechnologyAl. Mickiewicza 3030-059 Krakówtel. +48 12 617 29 29fax +48 12 617 31 90e-mail: czyrska@agh.edu.plhttp://www.coemem.agh.edu.pl

MEM

Analytical Transmission Electron Microscope JEM-2010ARP

TEM specimen preparation laboratory

Main fields of the CoE-MEM activities

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Centre of Excellence for Magneticand Molecular Materials for Future ElectronicsMMMFE

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The Centre of Excellence for Magnetic and Molecular Materials for Future Electronics (MMMFE) was established in 2002 at the Institute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznan, Poland. The strategic aspects of MMMFE include: search for future applications in electronics, international research and organization of scientific meetings, education and promotion of young physicists. The activity of the Centre is based on a jointly executed programme consisting of 6 work packages:• Nanostructures for Magnetoelectronics;• Enhancing Experimental and Theoretical

Efforts in Search for New Magnetic Materials;

• Molecular and Nanostructured Materials for Advanced Applications;

• Physics and Engineering, Dielectric Materials for Advanced Technology;

• Liquid-Crystalline Materials For Advanced Technology;

• Auxetics and related materials.

All the work packages contain tasks for enhancement of co-operation and integration with European Research Area. The work of the Centre is coordinated by B. Bułka and J. Tritt-Goc. In the years 2003-2005 the scientists of the Centre published 104 papers and organized 7 scientific meetings which gathered more than 400 participants from Europe and Poland. The expansion and intensification of our ties to the European Research Area is an important objective, which is achieved through the exchange of the research staff, teachers, and students. In the three year period 32 scientists from different European countries visited our Centre and 56 scientists from the MMMFE visited different European research laboratories. At present 11 different research grants in the 6th Framework Programme or other programmes

are running in the Institute, 6 other projects have been submitted just recently. Young scientists fully take the advantage of the Centre activities to improve their skills and increase their knowledge. Some of them participate in the Marie Curie Research Network “Fundamentals of Nanoelectronics”, whose Polish node started in 2004. The research carried out in the Centre is strongly connected to the scientific activities of the Institute of Molecular Physics. The strategic development plan for the Institute requires the combining of high-level fundamental research with applied research and technology implementations as well as educational tasks.

Important achievements of the Institute are documented in numerous research articles and monographs. On an average each year more than 120 articles are published in international journals and about 200 papers are presented at national and international conferences. In the past 25 years scientists from our Institute organized 75 scientific conferences and symposia. The Institute of Molecular Physics is ranked among the best scientific ones by the State Committee for Scientific Research (KBN).

The Institute employs 110 staff members, of these 18 are professors, 16 associate professors, 31 doctors, 10 engineers and technicians, 2 librarians and 33 persons of the administrative and service personnel. Moreover, as a result of an agreement with the Poznan Technical University, 10-15 undergraduate students are associated with the Institute each year. Teaching at the MSc level is offered to students of the Faculty of Technical Physics in two specialized fields: solid state physics and construction of scientific equipment.

The Institute is authorized to award the doctor’s degree in Physics and run a doctoral degree programme which takes 4 years, combining research work with a series of specialized lectures. There is a possibility for foreign scientists to carry out part for their PhD studies in the Institute.

MMMFE - Centre of Excellence for Magneticand Molecular Materials for Future ElectronicsProf. Bogdan BułkaInstitute of Molecular PhysicsPolish Academy of SciencesSmoluchowskiego 1760-179 Poznaƒtel. +48 61 869 51 52fax +48 61 868 45 24e-mail: centre@ifmpan.poznan.plhttp://www.ifmpan.poznan.pl/mmmfe.php

Institute of Molecular Physics PAS in Poznan

Ultra-high vacuum sputtering system equiped with X-ray Photoemission Spectrometer (XPS) and Auger Electron Spectrometer (AES)

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NAMAM CoE has been created as a new research unit within the Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The Centre was established to expand research capabilities of the Institute and to intensify information exchange as well as the education and training at the advanced international level in the field of materials science and engineering. The Centre itself has the following more specific objectives:• enhancement of the research potential

in the field of advanced structural and functional materials;

• further development of highly specialized techniques of investigation of material properties and their behavior in service conditions;

• improvement of existing and development of new links with research institutes and universities over Europe;

• promotion of knowledge on materials science by enlarging the training centre for PhD students and introducing new research techniques.

The Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science of the Polish Academy of Sciences (www.imim.pl), which hosts the NAMAM is one of the leading research centres in the field of fundamental and applied materials science. The research activities correspond to the priorities of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Polish Academy of Sciences and the FP6. The research is performed based on long-term co-operation with large number of scientific institutions in Poland and all over the world. In recognition of its scientific achievements, the Polish State Committee for Scientific Research systematically, in every-four-year assessments, awards the Institute the highest possible grade. The Institute employs 86 persons, including 43 scientific staff: 8 professors, 8 associate professors (with DSc), 23 assistant professors (with PhD) and 4 research assistants (stand for January 2005).

The Institute is authorized to confer PhD and DSc degrees in the field of metallurgy and materials engineering. During last 4 years (2002-2005) the researchers from IMMS PAS published almost 400 scientific papers in the high rank journals, 10 books, reviewed papers and chapters in the monographs as well as 350 conference presentations. The Institute, in co-operation with Department of Mechanics of the Cracow University of Technology, holds the Regional PhD Courses in the field of materials engineering.Testing Laboratories located at the Institute have been authorised by The Polish Centre for Testing and Certification and obey ISO standards. The laboratories have recently been awarded by the certificate of conformance with Polish and European standards PN-ISO/IEC 17025:2005 for testing methods in the field of mechanical and structural properties of metals and alloys. The research staff has been involved in various international bodies, such as Societé Française de Metallurgie ET de Materiaux, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde, Materials Research Society, European Microbeam Analysis Society and The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society. The State Committee for Scientific Research has supported 70 individual research projects supervised and conducted by the Institute staff. Moreover, the Institute has maintained close links with industry by participating in 9 national-solicited projects sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and supervising 3 of them. The Institute contributed also to structuring Polish Research Area as a member of the Centre of Advanced Materials and Technologies CAMAT, which has been approved officially by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The Institute presently participates in four projects of the FP6, three COST and one INTAS projects.

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NAMAM

Centre of Excellence in Nano-and Microscale Characterizationand Development of Advanced Materials

NAMAM - Centre of Excellence in Nano- and MicroscaleCharacterization and Development of Advanced MaterialsProf. Jan PospiechDr El˝bieta BielaƒskaInstitute of Metallurgy and Materials Science,Polish Academy of Sciences,Reymonta 2530-059 Krakówtel. +48 12 637 42 00fax+48 12 637 21 92e-mail: nmbielan@imim-pan.krakow.plhttp://www.imim.pl

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Nanocrystalline Materials-Fabrication, Structure, Modelling,

Properties and ApplicationsNANOCENTRE

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The NanoCentre was established at the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering at Warsaw University of Technology. The research in the Centre was organised around three areas: processing, modelling and characterisation of the structure and properties of nanomaterials. The structure of nanomaterials is widely investigated with many experimental techniques, the most important of which are transmission electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis, X-ray diffractometry and thermal analysis. A variety of equipment is used to evaluate the functional properties of materials. Specialized equipment for nanomaterials characterization as well as vast expertise of the staff were the Centre’s most important assets. The research on processing was carried out in the areas of permanent magnet materials, soft magnetic materials, intermetallics, aluminiumbased structural materials, nanocomposites, superhard coatings, etc. The applied processing techniques were, e.g., mechanical alloying, rapid solidification, severe plastic deformation, CVD, PVD, impulse plasma deposition. Modelling is an area of growing interest. Recent developments in this field include: modelling of texture formation in nanocrystalline permanent magnets and modelling of crystallographic structure of nanocrystalline materials.

The Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering is the smallest faculty at Warsaw University of Technology in terms of the number of undergraduate students (329) and number of academic staff (38). However, the Faculty has outstanding achievements in scientific activity. The total number of papers published by the staff of the Faculty was 337 in 2004, 143 of which were published in internationally recognized scientific journals. The research potential of the Faculty is reflected in a great number of realized and ongoing research projects financed by the State Committee for Scientific Research (KBN) and the European Union. PhD students, currently numbering 83, play an active role in the research activities.

The activities of the NanoCentre focused on the improvement of knowledge of nanomaterials among undergraduate students, young and senior researchers. In order to disseminate the knowledge and latest results of scientific research in the field of nanomaterials, the NanoCentre organized 1 conference, 3 workshops, 8 seminars (just to mention the major events) as well as numerous lectures

and courses for PhD students. The scientific events were organized with the participation of lecturers from leading national and foreign research centres. Apart from activities related to strictly scientific issues, the NanoCentre organized several events devoted to European research promotion scheme and the possibilities of European Funding for graduate and postgraduate students, as well as brokerage events. The Centre maintained successful co-operation with the National Contact Point. Several joint seminars related to NMP priorities in FP6 were organized at the Faculty. Numerous brokerage events were held to transfer know-how on how to act adequately and successfully in European RTD programmes.

During the 3 years of project duration, representatives of the NanoCentre undertook numerous actions to develop international cooperation among scientific centres in Eastern and Western Europe. Two domestic scientific networks were created: “Magnetic Nanomaterials”, linking 45 partner research centres, and “Nanomaterials”, linking 33 partner research centres. These networks constituted a basis for the creation of a European network operating within the European Research Area (ERA). The NanoCentre was one of ten European partners who founded the “Network for Nanostructured Materials of ACC (NENAMAT)”, supported by the EC under the FP6.

One of the NanoCentre’s important achievements in the European integration process was a twining agreement with Sheffield University in the UK. The twinning activity of the two partners comprised research in the field of permanent magnet nanomaterials leading to the development of new grades of rare earth - transition metal magnets (RE-TM) with improved magnetic properties, and resulted in a number of joint publications. The NanoCentre organized various forms of promotion actions to disseminate information about its activities. Brochures and leaflets issued by the centre

were distributed during all events related to the Centre’s activities. Detailed information of the Centre’s activities and potential is available on www.nanocentre.inmat.pw.edu.pl

NanoCentre - Nanocrystalline Materials: Fabrication,Structure, Modelling, Properties and ApplicationsProf. Tadeusz KulikWarsaw University of TechnologyWołoska 14102-507 Warszawatel. +48 22 849 99 29fax +48 22 660 85 14e-mail: NanoCentre@inmat.pw.edu.plhttp://www.nanocentre.inmat.pw.edu.pl

Entry to the main building of the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering

High resolution transmission electronmicroscope JEOL JEM 3010, resolution 0.19 nm,with EDS for chemical analysis in nanoareas,for micro- and nanostructures analysis

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IntroductionThe Centre of Competence for Advanced Polymeric Materials of Industrial Importance POLMATIN, hereinafter called “Centre”, is situated in the structure of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute (ICRI) the biggest chemical R&D centre in Poland. Prof. Jacek Kijeƒski is the General Director of ICRI and President of Steering Committee of the POLMATIN. Dr. Krzysztof Bajdor is the Deputy Director for Development responsible for the selection of development directions of POLMATIN. Dr. Maria Zielecka is the co-ordinator of POLMATIN responsible for the realization of the Centre activities.

Mission the CentreThe strategic aim of the Centre activities is to constitute an interface between basic research and applied industrial research oriented to high-tech application what will facilitate integration with European Research Area. The formation of the bridge between science and industry will be achieved through the development of applied research programmes in collaboration with industry, universities and R&D centres dealing with advanced polymeric materials in Poland and abroad. To strengthen the impact of the Centre on the technological growth and improve the capability of the Centre to join the European Research Area it is necessary to intensify its educational and industry/users-oriented activities, including:• dissemination of the information to

the society on the role of polymeric materials in the sustainable technological development;

• promotion of the transfer of polymeric materials technologies to the industry;

• development of high-tech application markets through training courses organised for end-users of RTD results;

• increasing the attractiveness of the Centre to young scientists through organisation of training programmes addressing the most interesting areas of research;

• consolidation of the existing networks between R&D centres and formation of new links in order to better integrate Polish science and technology in the field of new polymeric materials with the European Research Area (specifically through study visits and training).

Themes and specific research agendaThe research carried out in ICRI is focused on industrial chemistry including polymer synthesis, processing and characterisation. The specific research agenda of the Centre covers the following main topics of R&D activities in the field of high-tech polymeric materials:• reactive polymer processing leading to a

new group of engineering thermoplastics of enhanced mechanical strength and thermal

characteristics using general purpose polymers such as: polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, polycarbonates, polystyrene and polyurethanes as starting materials;

• nanocomposites containing nano-crystals or powders and high-technology oriented organic/inorganic hybrids (nano and opto electronics, nano-structured biocompatible materials);

• advanced polymer coatings for sophisticated applications (in automobile industry, electronics, construction and civil engineering);

• hybrid polymeric systems including grafted and block copolymers of specific architecture based on polyurethanes, polysiloxanes, epoxides and acrylic resins;

• compostable polymeric materials derived from renewable resources giving the chance for innovative development of environmentally safe products for the worldwide market.

Fields of activitiesThe Centre has long-lasting experience in the field of synthesis, characterisation and application of advanced polymeric materials with excellent properties, including binders for coatings, sealants and adhesives, engineered materials, nanocomposites and polymers obtained from renewable resources. Polymers investigated in the Centre involve mainly engineering plastics, epoxies, polyurethanes, polyester resins and silicones.

The substantial thematic activity of the Centre is devoted to research projects on synthesis and characterisation of advanced polymeric materials that represent potential application value. Since the activities of ICRI are focused not only on research, but also on the development and commercialisation of new processes and new materials, the Centre attaches great attention to proceeding towards transfer of the developed technologies to the industry, and especially to SMEs. Standardisation, analytical and testing services, especially the implementation of EC regulations, provide very important input to improvement of R&D quality in the scope of the Centre activities. The Centre is not involved in conducting regular courses for undergraduate students, though in the framework of collaboration with Universities (in particular Warsaw Technical University) PhD and MSc students frequently join the research groups in the Centre to carry on their projects for PhD or MSc degree. Moreover, the Centre plays creative role and actively participates in popularisation of the positive impact of development in modern polymeric materials on quality of life.

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POLMATIN

Centre of Competence for AdvancedPolymeric Materials of IndustrialImportance

POLMATIN - Centre of Competence for Advanced Polymeric Materials of Industrial ImportanceDr Maria ZieleckaDr Krzysztof BajdorIndustrial Chemistry Research InstituteRydygiera 8 01-793 Warszawatel. +48 22 568 28 40 fax +48 22 633 82 95tel./fax +48 22 633 93 34e-mail: maria.zielecka@ichp.pl, krzysztof.bajdor@ichp.plhttp://www.ichp.pl

POLM

ATIN

Pilot scale installation used for organicand polymer synthesis

ICRI “Old Library” building

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Thermodynamic Laboratoryfor Environmental PurposesTALES

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TALES

TALES was created in 2002 under the 5th Framework Programme and it was recognised by the Ministry of Science and Information Technology in 2004. The Laboratory has an interdisciplinary character. Its main area of research comprises theoretical chemistry, physical chemistry and chemical engineering as well as applications of new methods in industrial technology. Focusing on solving environmental problems the staff of the Laboratory currently concentrate on: • measuring infinite dilution activity

coefficients (e.g., pollutants in aqueous solutions);

• measuring vapour-liquid, vapour-liquid-liquid and liquid-liquid equilibrium over a large range of temperature and pressure including at supercritical extraction conditions;

• measuring protein and bacteria separations in aqueous two-phase systems;

• studies of new chromatographic separations techniques;

• studies of structure of compounds and mixtures (X-ray analysis, other spectroscopic methods);

• calorimetric measurements over wide ranges of temperature and pressure (including fluorine combustion bomb calorimeter);

• thermal analysis;• properties of micellar solutions;• obtaining nanopowders.

The theoretical research areas include: ab-initio quantum mechanics calculations, molecular dynamics simulation and statistical mechanics, the development of new applied thermodynamics methods for equations of state and activity coefficients models, the description of surfactant and micellar solutions. In addition to classical thermodynamics measurements, new experimental methods and a large variety of computational chemistry techniques that directly probe molecular phenomena, have become an increasingly important part of the Centre’s research. The scientists of the

Centre publish annually about 30 papers in international and domestic journals. They also present about 30 communications during scientific meetings in Poland and abroad.

Apart from research the Centre’s activity includes various other tasks such as exchange of staff, organization of conferences, summer schools, workshops, participation in fairs and exhibitions and interdisciplinary training. Since 2002 the CoE TALES has organized and co-organized numerous events of local and international dimension:• 4 international conferences:

- Thermodynamics Applied for Environmental Purposes 2003, MH2004, ESAT2005, ECCTAE2005;

• 2 workshops - Thermodynamics Polish-French Days in 2003 and 2005;

• 3 Summer Schools of Thermodynamics for Environment.

The Centre is also active in fostering cooperation with representatives of industry sector through the participation in International Poznan Fairs “Science for Technology” and participation in and organization of brokerage events (e.g. Ecology and Sustainable Development in 2004). TALES carries out its activity within the structure of the Department of Physical Chemistry of Supramolecular Complexes and it also cooperates with other Departments and two Centres of Excellence established at the Institute. The Centre’s staff include researchers, technicians, PhD students and administrative personnel.

One of the main goals of the Centre is to provide opportunities for young chemists to develop their research career through scholarships and participation in scientific events. Since 2002 the Centre has organized three Summer Schools of Thermodynamics for PhD students from Poland and abroad. Moreover, several

PhD students have been offered scholarships (lasting from 1 to 3 months) in order to do research in foreign research Centres. PhD studies currently offered by the Centre include thermodynamics, calorimetry and supramolecular chemistry. However, it is the ambition of the Centre to educate researchers with an interdisciplinary approach to global problems such as environmental issues.

TALES - Thermodynamic Laboratoryfor Environmental PurposesProf. Paweł GieryczMA Magdalena WawrzyniakInstitute of Physical ChemistryPolish Academy of SciencesKasprzaka 44/5201-224 Warszawatel. +48 22 343 33 07fax +48 22 632 52 76e-mail: tales@ichf.edu.plhttp://ichf.edu.pl/Tales/HomePage.htm

X-ray Diffractometer - TALES Laboratory

Uni-Lab glovebox

NewRotating Disc Precipitation Reactor - TALESLaboratory

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In the Institute of Physics there is a well developed technology of crystal growth of materials important for major topics in solid state physics, good equipment for characterisation of these materials, and a well developed theoretical know-how of low dimensional systems.

The Centre can be recognised as the main centre for advanced technology in Poland, conducting research in the fields of:• narrow and wide gap semiconductors;• high-Tc superconductors;• low dimensional magnetics;• quantum optics;• radio and optical spectroscopy;• structural investigations;• secondary ion mass spectroscopy;• high resolution electron microscopy.

At present, the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences is a large, active scientific centre, bearing quite large scientific human potential, owning contemporary research equipment, actively cooperating with several world-known scientific centres, and realising many national and international research projects. The Centre is prepared to:• carry out complex research projects of

importance for modern technology;• invite researchers and experts from abroad

for research and/or training visits;• organise workshops, small conferences

and meetings;• organise popular lectures and physical

demonstrations.

About 285 staff members of the Institute of Physics are directly involved in the research activity. Among them there are 27 full professors, 32 associate professors, 106 researchers with the doctor’s degree, 48 PhD students, and 72 technical staff. Almost 50% of the staff of the Institute hold the doctor’s degree while 75% of the staff involved in the scientific activity hold doctor’s degree or work for it as PhD students. About 50% of the staff participates in the activities of the Centre.

The Centre provides possibility for PhD fellowships at the International Postgraduate Studies run by the Institute of Physics since 1997. The Centre also offers possibility of preparing BSc and MSc theses and training for undergraduate and post-graduate students.

Apart from teaching at the university level, the Centre pays special attention to popularisation of physics targeted at secondary school pupils. The most important activities in this field include: • popular lectures on the most interesting

problems in physics, organised on a regular basis,

• organisation of demonstration lessons directly in the research laboratories, for small groups of participants (15 persons), aimed at live presentation of the possibilities of the most recent experimental methods.

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CELDIS

Centre of Excellence for Low Dimensional Structures for Technologies of Future Generations

CELDIS - Centre of Excellence for Low Dimensional Structures for Technologies of Future GenerationsProf. Jacek KossutDr Roman PuêniakDr Andrzej SzewczykInstitute of Physics Polish Academy of Sciencesal. Lotników 32/4602-668 Warszawatel. +48-22-843 13 31fax +48-22-843 09 26e-mail: celdis@ifpan.edu.plhttp://www.ifpan.edu.pl/celdis/

CELD

IS

0D self-organized quantum dots (transmission electron microscope image with colors coding the chemical composition)

MBE machine for production of II-VI DMS quantum structures

General view of the Centre premises

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Centre of Excellence in Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Interfaces and SensorCESIS

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CESIS

CESIS Centre of Excellence at the Department of Electron Technology, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, is a one of the most reputable scientific Centres in semiconductor nanotechnology in Poland. The specific objectives of the CESIS Centre are: • to contribute to further development of the

Centre as the internationally recognized research centre in the field of physics and technology of semiconductor surfaces, interfaces and thin film gas sensors;

• to improve the quality of education carried out by the Centre at the university of technology level by organising specialised workshops, seminars, courses and practices.

The activity of CESIS Centre is mainly focused on: • organization of the advanced specialized

international conferences and workshops;• advanced research on various aspects

of technology and characterization of semiconductor surfaces, interfaces and gas sensor thin film structures;

• educational tasks aimed at education and training of students and young researchers in surface analytical techniques.

There are the following specific research activities being conducted at the Centre: • experimental studies of GaAs surface

passivation and processing;• theoretical modeling of the electronic

properties of III-V semiconductor surfaces and interfaces;

• preparation and characterization of SnO2 thin films for gas sensors;

• preparation and characterization of the organic semiconductor thin films (MePc) for gas sensors.

The principal experimental methods used are surface sensitive analytical techniques including low energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS, UPS, PYS, SPS), and mass spectrometry (MS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The principal technological methods for semiconductor surfaces and interfaces processing involve, among others, ion sputtering, atomic hydrogen cleaning, gas exposure, etc. The principal methods for preparation of semiconductor thin film structures for gas sensors application are physical vacuum evaporation (PEV), rheotaxial growth and thermal annealing (RGTO), and laser-induced chemical vapour deposition (L-CVD).In the last years a strong cooperation has been established between the CESIS Centre and the following European scientific centres:

• Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tuebingen (Germany);

• Institute of Physics, B.Pascal University, Clermont-Ferrand, (France);

• Department of Physics, L’Aquila University, Coppito (Italy);

• Department of Electronics, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, Ecully (France);

• Institute of Physics, Technical University of Chemnitz (Germany).

The Centre plays a significant role both in international and national developments. On the international level the CESIS Centre is the organizer of the two cyclic international workshops: • International Workshops on Semiconductor

Gas Sensors in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004;

• International Workshops on Semiconductor Surface Passivation in 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005.

The Proceedings of these conferences have been published in the worldwide Elsevier journals: Applied Surface Science, Thin Solid Films and Vacuum.The CESIS Centre is a member of Network of Excellence: General Olfaction and Sensing Project on a European Level (GOSPEL), founded within the VI FPEU for period 2004-2007. The coordinator of CESIS Centre prof. J. Szuber is a member of American Vacuum Society (AVS).On the national level prof. J. Szuber is a Member of the Executive Board of Polish Vacuum Society (PVS) and the President of Surface Science Section, whereas Monika Kwoka is a Secretary of Surface Science Section of PVS. Other members of CESIS Centre are the active members of Polish Vacuum Society (PVS) and Polish Physical Society (PPS). The position of CESIS Centre on national level has also been confirmed, among others, by several research projects (grants) of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (former State Committee for Scientific Research) in the period 1992-2006. The permanent staff of the CESIS Centre

is of a high quality, good experience and well recognized abilities in research on semiconductor interfaces and thin film structures as well as in the education and training. There are 8 members of the permanent academic staff of CESIS Centre including 2 professors, and 6 lecturers having the PhD degree. Apart from the permanent staff there are several PhD students. The results of research activity is an average ten papers in international refereed journals of ISI list (mostly in cooperation with international Centres mentioned above), and deliver more than ten contributions at the international and domestic scientific meetings, conferences and workshops.

CESIS - Centre of Excellence in Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Interfaces and SensorProf. Dr Jacek SzuberMonika KwokaSilesian University of Technology Department of Electron TechnologyKrzywoustego 2 44-100 Gliwicetel. +48 32 237 20 57fax +48 32 237 20 57e-mail: Jacek.Szuber@polsl.pl, Monika.Kwoka@polsl.plhttp://www.cesis.org.pl/

Prof. Dr Jacek Szuber

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The scientific output of the Centre amounts to above thirty papers per year in peer-reviewed international journals and over forty Conference communications. The publications of the Centre are quoted at a rate of about 700 per year.

Main achievements: contributions in the areas of:• photoinduced charge transfer processes;• spectral characterization of isomeric

and expanded porphyrins;• polarized spectroscopy;• electrochemiluminescence;• synthetic and supramolecular chemistry;• studies of astrophysically important

molecules;• design of novel scientific equipment.

Over 20 domestic and international grants have been obtained during the last decade. The Centre has produced numerous PhD and habilitation theses. Members of the staff have lectured at universities and research institutions in Germany, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, United States, Israel, Japan, Ukraine, and Lithuania.

Scientists from the Centre are active in editorial boards of international journals and as members of the scientific committees of prestigious conferences.

The members of the Centre have often obtained individual and collective awards for their achievements and have been elected to the executive bodies of international scientific societies.

The Centre employees have various professional backgrounds: synthetic, supramolecular, physical, and theoretical chemistry, physics, electronics, optics, precision mechanics. Total number of staff is about 40, including 4 full professors, 4 associate professors, 5 research assistants, 9 technical assistants, and about 15 graduate and undergraduate students.

The Centre facilities are used as infrastructure for regular PhD and MSc studies. Courses and exercises in spectroscopy and synthetic chemistry are organized for students from the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw. The Centre offers training and instructional visits for visitors from other laboratories.

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CPMCentre for Photoactive Materials

CPM - Centre for Photoactive MaterialsProf. Dr Jacek WalukMSc Aleksandra KubÊInstitute of Physical ChemistryPolish Academy of SciencesKasprzaka 44/5201-224 Warszawatel. +48 22 632 72 69, +48 22 343 33 32fax +48 22 632 52 76e-mail: waluk@ichf.edu.pl, ola@ichf.edu.pl

CPM

Nanosecond transient absorption spectrometer

New molecules that can be applied in electroluminescence devices and fluorescence immunoassays

Objectives for single molecule detection that can work when immersed in liquid helium

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New Technologies for Medical Applications: Studying and Production of Carbon Surfaces

Allowing for Controllable BioactivityNANODIAM

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The research interest of the Centre focuses on study and production of new materials with intentionally modified surfaces, exhibiting variety of properties designed for controllable bioactivity. The expected area of present and future applications of our achievements is directly combined with orthopedic surgery, artificial organs implantation and other biomedical implementations including new tools for surgery and for diagnostic tests. Our main interest concerns of crystalline carbon synthesis at the surface of several materials widely used in medicine, i.e. medical steel, titanium and other metals, including their alloys, and also polymers. Synthesized by RFPACVD (Radio Frequency Plasma Activated Chemical Vapor Deposition) and MW/RF CVD method (Microwave/Radio Frequency Chemical Vapor Deposition) crystalline carbon exhibits diamond structure with crystals of nanometer size. Diamond is a carbon allotrope, which is in our body as well. That is why patient do not reject implant as a foreign body. Manufactured diamond layer does not only change mechanical properties of implants but additionally raises their durableness, corrosion resistance and protects against the allergy to metals, the ions of which are presence in materials, they are made from. Moreover conducted examinations showed one more very important property of nanodiamonds – their bioactivity. This feature was discovered and confirmed by scientists from NANODIAM consortium. Currently we try to modify the nanodiamond surface structure with a goal to reach the highest bio-, hemo- and thrombo-compatibility, which are continuously monitored in our lab. For monitoring of the biomedical usefulness of our new materials we employ several unique techniques like: SPR-biosensor technology, fluorescence imaging and scanning electron microscopy.

Scientists of the Centre publish annually about thirty papers in refereed journals and deliver more than fifty communications

during domestic and international scientific meetings. They are active members of: World Biomedical Academy - Paris, Tissue Engineering Society - Londin, American Society for Metals International, Federation of European Materials Society, The Mediterranean League Against Thromboembolic Diseases, Polish Vacuum Society, Polish Biomaterial Society, Academy of Engineering in Poland, Materials Science Society, Polish Society of Clinical Chemistry, Committee for Thromboembolism and Haemostasis of Polish Academy of Sciences, The Committee for Cooperation of Biological and Chemical Sciences of Polish Academy of Sciences, Polish Society of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry and Polish Society of Biochemistry. They are in close cooperation with several European, Canadian and American universities and industrial units. Members of the Centre were repeatedly awarded for their scientific and engineering achievements. The permanent research staff of the Centre consists of 77 scientific workers and research – technical specialists, it is 10 professors (incl. 4 full professors, 6 TUL professors) and 36 doctors. At present there are also 21 PhD students and, on average, 20 postgraduate students gaining their Master degree in the Centre. There is a possibility for foreign and domestic students to take part or to take the whole of their studies in the Centre - both on MSc and PhD levels. The Industry and Technology Park Bełchatów Kleszczów gives students of our Institute an opportunity to serve apprenticeship, to receive training and to do the research work using high-quality equipment.

NANODIAM - New Technologies for Medical Applications: Studying and Production of Carbon Surfaces Allowing for Controllable BioactivityProf. Stanisław MituraProf. Bogdan WalkowiakTechnical University of ŁódêStefanowskiego 190-924 Łódêtel. +48 42 631 22 77, +48 42 631 22 79fax +48 42 636 67 90e-mail: mitura@ck-sg.p.lodz.pl, bogdan.walkowiak@csk.am.lodz.pl

CoE NANODIAM is equipped with high-quality apparatus

Implant covering

The Centre of Excellence NANODIAM is based in building of the Technical University of Lodz, Mechanical Faculty, Institute of Material Sciences and Engineering

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Main goal of PRESAFE is to provide services for the parties interested in pressure equipment design, manufacturing and maintenance. Second goal is build-up a net of Polish organizations which will be an extension of existing European Pressure Equipment research Council network. This will be achieved through a series of training and dissemination and education actions and by twinning agreements with foreign partners. Furthermore, PRESAFE will provide basis (technical framework) for harmonisation of Polish standards with new European legislation in the field of pressure equipment - Pressure Equipment Directive (PED 97/23/EC). The academic staff of the Faculty amounts to 37 persons and includes: 7 tenured professors, 8 professors and doctors with habilitation (DSc) and 22 associate professors with PhD. They are supported by 29 technicians and administrative staff members, of which 4 also hold the PhD degree.The Faculty is authorized to award DSc and PhD degrees in material science. The exchange programmes and bilateral agreements with other European Centres allow training and education of foreign students and young scientists. Additionally, the Centre offers trainings in operation of specialized equipment available at the Faculty.

Post graduate courses lead to the 3rd level certification in several non-destructive testing techniques, according to EN 473:2000, such as visual testing, penetrant testing, magnetic, radiographic, ultrasonic and eddy current testing. The programme of postgraduate courses meets criteria of the certification unit (UDT-CERT, Poland). Graduates are trained in the area of the new materials, technology of manufacturing, design standards, construction, maintenance and exploitation of equipment and installations, Non-destructive methodology of testing, requirements for certification programme and European regulations are also explained.

Creation of the Internet platform enables vocational training, extending the offer of stationary post-graduate studies “non-destructive testing of materials” initiated in parallel by WUT, increasing its attractiveness to businesses and other parties from all over the EU. The created novel learning system is based on e-learning and e-consulting.

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PRESAFECentre of Competence in Safety of Pressure Equipment

PRESAFE - Centre of Competence in Safety of Pressure EquipmentProf. Krzysztof J. KurzydłowskiDr Łukasz CiupiƒskiWarsaw University of TechnologyWołoska 14102-507 Warszawatel. +48 22 660 85 29fax +48 22 660 87 50e-mail: presafe@inmat.pw.edu.plhttp://www.inmat.pw.edu.pl

PRESAFE

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Seat of PRESAFE, Faculty of Materials Science & Engineering Warsaw University of Technology

Prof. Krzysztof J. Kurzydłowski

Dr Łukasz Ciupiƒski

Surface Phenomena and ReactionsSURPHARE

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SURPH

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The main problems the Centre is engaged in are:

• Heterogenic catalytic reactions - the formation of compounds with required physico-chemical parameters; control of elementary steps of the surface processes. Quantitative description of chemical composition of the surface; definition of the surface structure in atomic and nanometric scale including defects and adsorbed molecules; formation of new catalysts in which the active particle is introduced into selected places in the catalyst carrier;

• Metal hydrides - the formation of hydrides by high pressure and electrochemical methods; adsorption of hydrogen and its entry into metal; hydrogen-metal interactions;

• Electron spectroscopy - surface analysis by AES, XPS and elastic scattering; theory of elastic backscattering of electrons on surfaces of solid states;

• Evaporated metal layers - chemical reactivity in the wide temperature range; adsorption of oxygen and hydrogen and the formation of bulk compounds; gas/metal interfaces under a reduced pressure;

• Corrosion and protection - surface modification for enhanced resistance against corrosion, wear and hydrogen embrittlement; conversion coatings and passive films.

The scientists of the Centre publish annually about 70 papers in international refereed journals and give 15-20 plenary and invited lectures and 100-120 communications at scientific meetings. Twenty three members of the Centre are the authors of the monographs edited in the last 40 years. The scientists of the SURPHARE have participated in Editorial Boards of 2 books and 14 journals.The most important scientific achievements of SURPHARE scientists are in the fields of: the electron transport in solids, the TICT (twisted intramolecular charge transfer) states model; thermodynamics

and statistical mechanics; synthesis of new metal hydrides; hydrides superconductivity; the modified catalysts to selective reactions.The most important technological work include the construction and production of scientific and measuring apparatus: hanging mercury drop electrode, electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance, apparatus for electrochemical investigations.The scientists from SURPHARE were the organizers or co-organizers of national and international conferences and workshops. During the last 3 years SURPHARE took part as the organizer of 9 international symposia and workshops.

As task leaders in SURPHARE there are engaged about 20 persons, including 8 full professors, 3 senior scientists and 10 doctors. Additionally the permanent staff of the Centre consists of technicians, administration and PhD students - in total 30 persons.

SURPHARE - Surface Phenomena and ReactionsProf. Janusz FlisDr Iwona Flis-KabulskaInstitute of Physical ChemistryPolish Academy of SciencesKasprzaka 44/5201-224 Warszawatel. +48 22 343 32 35fax +48 22 343 33 33e-mail: jflis@ichf.edu.pl, ifkab@ichf.edu.pl

MICROLAB 350 for the study of solid state surfaces

MICROLAB 350 – inside the high vacuum chamber

Entrance to the Institute of Physical Chemistry

Electrochemical cell with a rotating disc electrode

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