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RESEARCH AREAS and ACTIVITY DOMAINS
research, development and characterization of metallic and composite materials for
applications in energy, electrical engineering and other priority areas;
development of interdisciplinary researches in the field of solid composites and
metallic materials; physical, mechanical and tribological investigation of materials;
development of research regarding obtaining and characterization of metallic and
composite sputtering targets with improved performance and maximum diameter of
50.8 mm;
development of colloidal suspensions and metallic and composite micro/nanopowders
by chemical methods;
development of nanostructures of metallic nanoparticles‑types (Ag, Cu, Au, Fe3O4,
ZnO and other), structural materials, metallic alloys, coreshell structures;
research and development of metallic and composite electric contact materials for low,
medium and high voltage equipment;
development of metal‑carbon, metal‑ceramic and metal‑metal planar junctions;
research and development of HEA (high entropy alloys), AHSS (advanced high
strength steel) alloys and shape‑memory alloys;
development of micro/nano advaced added with graphene and graphene oxide
derivates;
development of micro/nano metallic materials and metal‑ceramic hybrid composite
materials for various practical applications;
development of researches on surface function with thin layers or coatings by PVD
methods and study of interface properties;
research and development of Zn, Ni, Cu metallic coatings by electrochemical methods;
applied research and services for small and medium scale production (for example:
experimental batches or prototypes of electrical contacts) at the request of industrial
companies by direct contracts.

Services offered by the Metallic Materials Laboratory:
• obtaining advanced materials by chemical and electrochemical synthesis;
• investigation of materials properties according to the current standards;
• determination of the physical properties of metallic nanoparticles in colloidal solutions
(nanoparticles size and granulometric distribution) by Dynamic Light Scattering method –
DLS;
• determination the stability of colloidal suspension (zeta potential) by Electrophoretic Light
Scattering method – ELS;
• investigation of the optical properties (absorbance, reflectivity, transmittance) of metallic
nanoparticles in colloidal solutions, powders, thin layers and coatings deposited on sub‑
layers with parallel flat surfaces by UV‑Vis‑NIR spectrophotometry;
• investigation of the materials surface properties (specific surface, distribution and pores
size) by BET method;
• investigation of the materials thermal properties (mass variations, heat of formation,
transformation temperature, Curie temperature, linear coefficient of thermal expansion,
thermal diffusivity, specific heat and thermal conductivity);
• investigation of tribological properties (friction coefficient and specific wear speed) of solid
samples, thin layers and coatings deposited on sub‑layers with parallel plane surfaces;
• investigation of the mechanical properties (Vickers hardness, Young’ modulus, elastic
contact stiffness, creep resistance) of solid samples, thin layers and coatings deposited
on substrates with parallel plane surfaces through the nano / microindenting instrumented
and the Oliver & Pharr calculation method;
• determination of optical critical forces of adhesion / cohesion of thin layers and coatings
(with max. 2 µm thickness) deposited on substrates with parallel planes with micro‑
scratching;
• determination of the thickness of thin layers and coatings in the range of 100 nm and
50 µm deposited on sub‑layers with parallel planes surface by „ball cratering” method;
• investigation of the solid materials mechanical properties (tensile, compression, bending)
at temperature of 20…500°C;
• processing of materials by classical techniques of power metallurgy and special techniques of
sinterizing in spark plasma and hot isostatic pressing;
• applied research related to the implementation in economic fields and obtaining of electrical
contacts of different shapes and sizes (experimental branches and prototypes) for low, medium
and high voltage electrical equipment, at the request of industrial companies by direct small and
medium scale production contracts;
• technical and scientific consultancy in the field of metallic and composite materials.

2019 ANNUAL REPORT | PAGE 21