Members of the project team are successful as supervisors of PhD students. From 2014 to 2018 we have supervised 8 PhD theses defended at various faculties at the University of Ljubljana and University of Maribor. COBIS-IDs: 276888576, 273304832, 19179030, 1537716163, 279631616, 31328729, 287248128, 284866048
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
Improvement of corrosion resistance of aluminium and its alloys, especially under operating conditions in aeronautic, nautic and automobile industries, is a necessity. Chromate conversion coatings were used with great success for decades but due to their cancerogenic and toxic activity their use is restricted by the RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC which took effect in 2006 in the EU. Due to this restriction, considerable efforts have been directed in the last decade towards the investigation of technologies alternative to chromate conversion coatings. Various approaches have been studied; however, a full alternative has not yet been put into market. In the last decade the European automobile industry has more than doubled the average amount of aluminium used in passenger cars and the trend in increasing. This implies an increased need for aluminium protection. Among conversion coatings lanthanide salts, especially cerium has been identified. Cerium is the most active and the only lanthanide, which can be oxidized in a stable salt with a higher oxidization state. The mechanism of surface protection includes the formation of a protective layer of hydroxide and/or oxide. This reaction is carried out on metal inclusions (Zn, Cu, Mg), which are electrochemically more negative compared to remaining surface of aluminium alloy, and act as a cathode site. Instead using individual inhibitors, a mixture of inhibitors may achieve an enhanced effect. Two methodologies were taken – non-accelerated immersion and accelerated conversion coatings. Another approach includes barrier hybrid coatings based on sol-gel methodology. The sol-gel process allows the introduction of organic molecules into an inorganic network, forming hybrid organic-inorganic coatings, the so-called ormosils also known as silanes. Prepared conversion and hybrid coatings were studied by electrochemical corrosion measurements in combination with various surface analytical methods.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 28879911Television broadcast »Bite the science« (Radio Television Slovenia 1) was on October 19, 2017 devoted to the corrosion protection of metallic materials. The broadcast was entitled »Battle against rust«. Dr. P. Rodič was the guest in the TV studio, while other coworkers of the Department of physical and Organic Chemistry (B. Kapun, U. Tiringer, G. Šekularac and D. Zimerl) demonstrated the preparation of coatings in the laboratory. The latest results on the coatings developed within this project were demonstrated.
F.18 Transfer of new know-how to direct users (seminars, fora, conferences)
COBISS.SI-ID: 30861351New journal entitled »Materials Degradation« was launched on July 25, 2017 as a part of Nature Partner Journal (npj) series. npj Materials Degradation is an online-only and open access journal, publishing the finest peer-reviewed original papers, review articles and short communications describing basic and applied research discoveries in the area of corrosion (degradation) and protection of metallic and non-metallic materials. It is published by Springer Nature in partnership with Chinese Society for Corrosion and Protection and the University of Science and Technology Beijing. npj Materials Degradation is particularly interested in breakthrough studies that provide new insights into corrosion (degradation) mechanisms, advanced protection technologies, environmental stability/durability of advanced materials, and corrosion (degradation) issues in emerging applications. Editors-in-Chief are Prof. Nick Birbilis, Monash University, Australia and dr. Stéphane Gin, the French Atomic Energies and Alternative Energy Commission, France. Prof. Ingrid Milošev, head of Department of Physical and Organic Chemistry, is one of six Associate Editors of this newly launched npj journal.
C.04 Editorial board of an international magazine
COBISS.SI-ID: 30704167In 2016 I. Milošev was awarded Pregl Award for outstanding achievements in chemistry.
E.01 National awards