Institute of Fundamental Technological Research
Polish Academy of Sciences

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Valeria Nicolosi

Trinity College (IE)

Recent publications
1.  Rydzek G., Pakdel A., Witecka A., Shri D.N.A., Gaudière F., Nicolosi V., Mokarian-Tabari P., Schaaf P., Boulmedais F., Ariga K., pH-Responsive Saloplastics Based on Weak Polyelectrolytes: From Molecular Processes to Material Scale Properties, Macromolecules, ISSN: 0024-9297, DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b00609, Vol.51, No.12, pp.4424-4434, 2018

Abstract:
Compact polyelectrolyte complexes (COPECs), also named saloplastics, represent a new class of material with high fracture strain and self-healing properties. Here, COPECs based on poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) were prepared by centrifugation at pH 7. The influence of postassembly pH changes was monitored chemically by ATR-FTIR, ICP, DSC, and TGA, morphologically by SEM, and mechanically by strain to break measurements. Postassembly pH stimuli misbalanced the charge ratio in COPECs, impacting their concentration in counterions, cross-link density, and polymer chain mobility. At the material level, changes were observed in the porosity, composition, water content, and mechanical properties of COPECs. The cross-link density was a prominent factor governing the saloplastic's composition and water content. However, the porosity and mechanical properties were driven by several factors including salt-induced plasticization and conformational changes of polyelectrolytes. This work illustrates how multiple-scale consequences arise from a single change in the environment of COPECs, providing insights for future design of stimuli-responsive materials.

Affiliations:
Rydzek G. - National Institute for Materials Science (JP)
Pakdel A. - World Premier International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) (JP)
Witecka A. - IPPT PAN
Shri D.N.A. - Universiti Malaysia Pahang (MY)
Gaudière F. - Université de Strasbourg (FR)
Nicolosi V. - Trinity College (IE)
Mokarian-Tabari P. - Trinity College (IE)
Schaaf P. - Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (FR)
Boulmedais F. - Université de Strasbourg (FR)
Ariga K. - National Institute for Materials Science (JP)
2.  Pakdel A., Witecka A., Rydzek G., Shri D.N.A., Nicolosi V., A comprehensive analysis of extrusion behavior, microstructural evolution, and mechanical properties of 6063 Al–B4C composites produced by semisolid stir casting, MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING, ISSN: 0921-5093, DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2018.02.080, Vol.721, pp.28-37, 2018

Abstract:
In this study, composites of aluminum alloy 6063 reinforced with 10 wt% boron carbide microparticles were successfully fabricated by a combination of spark plasma sintering and stir casting methods, followed by hot extrusion. A systematic study on the relationship between extrusion process variables (i.e. extrusion ratio, temperature, and punch speed) and porosity, particle refinement, particle distribution and consequently tensile properties and fracture behavior of the composites was performed. Extensive electron microscopy analysis and tensile testing of the composites revealed a multifactoral interdependency of microstructural evolution and mechanical properties on the extrusion process variables. For example, while increasing the extrusion ratio at higher temperatures led to moderate particle refinement, better densification of the composites, and improvement in mechanical properties, concurrent particle fragmentation and microvoid formation around the particles at lower temperatures had opposing effects on the mechanical behavior. We show that the dependency of mechanical properties on all such microstructural factors makes it difficult to predict optimum extrusion conditions in aluminum matrix composites. That is, unlike the common approach, extruding the composites at higher temperatures and achieving more reduction in area may not necessarily lead to the most favorable mechanical properties.

Keywords:
Aluminum matrix composite, Hot extrusion, Mechanical behavior, Microstructure, Spark plasma sintering, Stir casting

Affiliations:
Pakdel A. - World Premier International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) (JP)
Witecka A. - IPPT PAN
Rydzek G. - National Institute for Materials Science (JP)
Shri D.N.A. - Universiti Malaysia Pahang (MY)
Nicolosi V. - Trinity College (IE)

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