The curriculum concentrates on the comprehensive study of materials properties and failure processes from the point of view of physics and physical metallurgy. Students should develop capability to apply their knowledge in inventive manner to new technologies and materials, such as plasma spraying, special methods of thermo-mechanical and thermo-chemical treatment, etc. Special attention is paid to the degradation processes and to the synergetic effects of various materials properties on material failure. The subjects of study are metallic and non-metallic materials, e.g., structural ceramics, polymers, amorphous and nanocrystalline materials and intermetallics.
The Ph.D. programme requires proficiency in mathematics and physics at the MSc. degree level obtained from Faculty of Science or Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

prof. RNDr. Petr Dub, CSc.

1. Interaction of pulsating water jet with surface of structural materials

   The technology of material cutting by water jet is commonly applied. Effects of continuous water jet on metal materials are not significant, as the cutting is caused by material removal by abrasives. If the jet is broken into droplets (pulsating water jet, PWJ), it hits the surface of the target material at higher impact pressure as compared to continuous water jet and it modifies or erodes the surface even without abrasives. The goal of the Thesis will be to study the interaction of PWJ with materials. First experiments indicated that appropriate application of PWJ initiates deformation of surface layers and affects the fatigue life. PWJ has likely the same effect as shot peening. Interaction of PWJ with the the surface of 2 materials (austenitic stainless stell and Al alloy) will be described, especially the changes on material surface and in surface layer using the X-ray diffraction, microhardness measurement, profilometry and electron microscopy (SEM, TEM). In parallel, fatigue tests will be carried out to set ideal parameters of PWJ in order to extend the lifetime of materials.

   Tutor: Kruml Tomáš, prof. Mgr., CSc.

2. Novel specimen preparation techniques for advanced scanning electron microscopy

   Modern Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) are equipped with sophisticated detection systems enabling the collection of the signal electrons simultaneously by several detectors. It results in energy and angular filtering of the signal electrons. Effective signal filtering together with a possibility of operation of the instrument at low landing energy results in high surface sensitivity. Standard metallographic techniques become insufficient for this type of microscopy. The goal of the thesis is the development of novel metallographic techniques for very low landing SEM. The materials under investigation will be metals, such as high strength steels and non-ferrous metals.

   Tutor: Mikmeková Šárka, Ing. Mgr., Ph.D.