Access profile

Given the multidisciplinary nature of the scientific field of the programme, there are a wide range of degrees that qualify applicants for admission. The applicants considered most suitable for admission to the doctoral programme in Materials Science and Engineering are bachelor’s degree holders with a scientific and technological background who have completed a master's degree in Materials Science and Advanced Materials Engineering or a related field. In addition to this academic background, it is considered important that applicants have certain personal characteristics – namely, an interest in the research projects carried out within the framework of the programme; critical and analytical skills; initiative and perseverance in their academic work; the ability to work in a team; and the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

The following are eligible for direct admission to the doctoral programme:

Holders of a degree in Engineering (Industrial, Materials, Chemical or similar) or in Physics and/or Chemistry who have also completed a master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering.

The following are eligible for admission subject to the requirement that they take bridging courses:

Holders of a degree in Engineering (Industrial, Materials, Chemical or similar) or in Physics and/or Chemistry who have completed a master's degree in a field other than Materials Science and Engineering. If admitted, these students will have to complete bridging courses that carry at least 60 ECTS credits (corresponding to master's subjects that they have not taken). Applicants who hold a master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering but did not complete a bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Materials, Chemical or similar) or a degree in Physics and/or Chemistry may also be required to take bridging courses, depending on the intensity of their master's degree studies.

Specific admission criteria:

Students must demonstrate proficiency in Spanish, Catalan or English.

Output profile

Doctoral candidates who complete a doctoral degree will have acquired the following competencies, which are needed to carry out quality research (Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies):

a) A systematic understanding of the field of study and a mastery of the research skills and methods related to the field.
b) An ability to conceive, design or create, put into practice and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.
c) An ability to contribute to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
d) A capacity for critical analysis and an ability to assess and summarise new and complex ideas.
e) An ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general as regards their fields of knowledge in the manner and languages that are typical of the international scientific community to which they belong.
f) An ability to foster scientific, technological, social, artistic and cultural progress in academic and professional contexts within a knowledge-based society.

The award of a doctoral degree must equip the graduate for work in a variety of settings, especially those requiring creativity and innovation. Doctoral graduates must have at least acquired the personal skills needed to:

a) Develop in contexts in which there is little specific information.
b) Find the key questions that must be answered to solve a complex problem.
c) Design, create, develop and undertake original, innovative projects in their field.
d) Work as part of a team and independently in an international or multidisciplinary context.
e) Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgements with limited information.
f) Offer criticism on and intellectually defend solutions.

Finally, with respect to competencies, doctoral students must:
a) have acquired advanced knowledge at the frontier of their discipline and demonstrated, in the context of internationally recognised scientific research, a deep, detailed and well-grounded understanding of theoretical and practical issues and scientific methodology in one or more research fields;
b) have made an original and significant contribution to scientific research in their field of expertise that has been recognised as such by the international scientific community;
c) have demonstrated that they are capable of designing a research project that serves as a framework for carrying out a critical analysis and assessment of imprecise situations, in which they are able to apply their contributions, expertise and working method to synthesise new and complex ideas that yield a deeper knowledge of the research context in which they work;
d) have developed sufficient autonomy to set up, manage and lead innovative research teams and projects and scientific collaborations (both national and international) within their subject area, in multidisciplinary contexts and, where appropriate, with a substantial element of knowledge transfer;
e) have demonstrated that they are able to carry out their research activity in a socially responsible manner and with scientific integrity;
f) have demonstrated, within their specific scientific context, that they are able to make cultural, social or technological advances and promote innovation in all areas within a knowledge-based society;
g) have demonstrated that they are able to participate in scientific discussions at the international level in their field of expertise and disseminate the results of their research activity to audiences of all kinds.

Number of places

15

Duration of studies and dedication regime

Duration
The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is three years, counted from the date of admission to the programme to the date of submission of the doctoral thesis. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is five years, counting from the date of admission to the programme to the date of submission of the doctoral thesis. For calculating these periods, the date of admission is considered to be the date of the first enrolment for tutorials, and the date of submission the moment in which the Doctoral School officially deposits the doctoral thesis.

For full-time doctoral candidates, the minimum period of study is two years, counted from the date of an applicant's admission to the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited; for part-time doctoral candidates it is four years. When there are justified grounds for doing so, and the thesis supervisor and academic tutor have given their authorisation, doctoral candidates may request that the academic committee of their doctoral programme exempt them from the minimum period of study requirement.

The calculation of periods of study will not include periods of absence due to illness, pregnancy or any other reason provided for in the regulations in force. Students who find themselves in any of these circumstances must notify the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which, where appropriate, must inform the Doctoral School. Doctoral candidates may also temporarily withdraw from the programme for up to one year, and this period may be extended for an additional year. Doctoral candidates who wish to interrupt their studies must submit a justified request to the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which will decide whether or not to approve the request. Each programme will establish conditions for readmission to doctoral studies.

Extension
If full-time doctoral candidates have not applied to deposit their thesis by the end of the three-year period of study, the academic committee of the programme may authorise an extension of up to one year. In exceptional circumstances, a further one-year extension may be granted, subject to the conditions established by the corresponding doctoral programme. In the case of part-time doctoral candidates, an extension of two years may be authorised. In both cases, in exceptional circumstances a further one-year extension may be granted by the Doctoral School's Standing Committee, upon the submission of a reasoned application by the academic committee of the doctoral programme.

Dismissal from the doctoral programme
A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The maximum period of study and of extensions thereof ending.
• The doctoral candidate not having enrolled every academic year (unless he or she has been authorised to temporarily withdraw).
• The doctoral candidate failing two consecutive assessments.
• The doctoral candidate having disciplinary proceedings filed against him or her that rule that he or she must be dismissed from the UPC.

Dismissal from the programme implies that doctoral candidates cannot continue studying at the UPC and the closing of their academic record. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission and the committee must reevaluate them in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

Enrollment aid

The programme does not provide any specific grants to cover enrolment fees. In exceptional cases, research groups may offer one-off grants.

Organization

• Maspoch Ruldua, Maria Lluïsa

• Engel Lopez, Elisabet
• Maspoch Ruldua, Maria Lluïsa
• Mateo Garcia, Antonio
• Perez Campdepadros, Irene
• Sanchez Soto, Miguel Angel

• Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy (PROMOTORA)

Diagonal-Besòs Campus Management and Support Unit
Building A
Av. Eduard Maristany, 16
08019 Barcelona

934 011 792

Agreements with other institutions

Access profile

Given the multidisciplinary nature of the scientific field of the programme, there are a wide range of degrees that qualify applicants for admission. The applicants considered most suitable for admission to the doctoral programme in Materials Science and Engineering are bachelor’s degree holders with a scientific and technological background who have completed a master's degree in Materials Science and Advanced Materials Engineering or a related field. In addition to this academic background, it is considered important that applicants have certain personal characteristics – namely, an interest in the research projects carried out within the framework of the programme; critical and analytical skills; initiative and perseverance in their academic work; the ability to work in a team; and the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

The following are eligible for direct admission to the doctoral programme:

Holders of a degree in Engineering (Industrial, Materials, Chemical or similar) or in Physics and/or Chemistry who have also completed a master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering.

The following are eligible for admission subject to the requirement that they take bridging courses:

Holders of a degree in Engineering (Industrial, Materials, Chemical or similar) or in Physics and/or Chemistry who have completed a master's degree in a field other than Materials Science and Engineering. If admitted, these students will have to complete bridging courses that carry at least 60 ECTS credits (corresponding to master's subjects that they have not taken). Applicants who hold a master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering but did not complete a bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Materials, Chemical or similar) or a degree in Physics and/or Chemistry may also be required to take bridging courses, depending on the intensity of their master's degree studies.

Specific admission criteria:

Students must demonstrate proficiency in Spanish, Catalan or English.

Access requirements

Applicants must hold a Spanish bachelor’s degree or equivalent and a Spanish master’s degree or equivalent, provided they have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on the two degrees (Royal Decree 43/2015, of 2 February)

In addition, the following may apply:

• Holders of an official degree awarded by a university in Spain or any other country in the European Higher Education Area, pursuant to the provisions of Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007, of 29 October, which establishes official university course regulations, who have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on official university degrees, of which at least 60 must be at the master's degree level.
• Holders of an official Spanish bachelor’s degree comprising at least 300 credits, as provided for by EU regulations. Holder of degrees of this kind must complete bridging courses unless the curriculum of the bachelor’s degree in question included research training credits equivalent in value to those which would be earned on a master's degree.
• Holders of an official university qualification who, having passed the entrance examination for specialised medical training, have completed at least two years of a training course leading to an official degree in a health-sciences specialisation.
• Holders of a degree issued under a foreign education system. In these cases, homologation is not required, but the UPC must verify that the degree certifies a level of training equivalent to an official Spanish master's degree and qualifies the holder for admission to doctoral studies in the country where it was issued. Admission on this basis does not imply homologation of the foreign degree or its recognition for any purpose other than admission to doctoral studies.
• Holders of a Spanish doctoral qualification issued under previous university regulations.

Note 1: Doctoral studies entrance regulations for holders of an undergraduate degree awarded before the introduction of the EHEA (CG 47/02 2014)

Note 2: Governing Council Decision 64/2014, which approves the procedure and criteria for assessing the fulfilment of academic admission requirements for doctoral studies by holders of non-homologated foreign degrees (CG 25/03 2014)

Admission criteria and merits assessment

If it is necessary to establish an order of priority among applicants, the following weighted criteria will be considered:

• Academic record (weighting: 70%)
• Personal contact through interviews (face-to-face or by phone or video conference) (weighting: 10%)
• Motivation (weighting: 5%)
• Knowledge of languages (weighting: 7.5%)
• Previous research experience (weighting: 7.5%)

Training complements

The academic committee for the programme may require that doctoral students pass specific bridging courses. In such cases, the committee will keep track of the bridging courses completed and establish appropriate criteria to limit their duration. Bridging courses may provide research or cross-disciplinary training, but in no case may doctoral students be required to enrol for more than 60 ECTS credits. Taking into account the doctoral student activity report, the academic committee for the programme may propose measures that complement those specified in the regulations and which result in doctoral students who do not meet the specified requirements being excluded from the programme.

Bridging courses:
Any bridging courses that students are required to take will be subjects on the master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering.

The specific bridging courses required will depend on the student’s entrance qualifications. Holders of a degree in Engineering (Industrial, Materials, Chemical or similar) or in Physics and/or Chemistry who have completed a master's degree in a field other than Materials Science and Engineering will have to complete bridging courses that carry at least 60 ECTS credits (subjects from the master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering). The subjects required will be proposed by the academic committee after consulting with the student's tutor and/or thesis supervisor and the student concerned. Subjects will be selected based on their relevance to the student’s thesis topic.

Students who hold a master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering but did not complete an undergraduate degree in Engineering (Industrial, Materials, Chemical or a similar programme) or in Physics and/or Chemistry may also be required to take bridging courses, depending on the intensity of their master’s degree studies. The academic committee of the doctoral programme will decide what subjects a student must take after consulting with their tutor and/or thesis supervisor.

Enrolment period for new doctoral students

The ordinary enrolment period starts in September and ends on 15 October of each academic year, though the enrolment date will depend on the admission decision.

More information at the registration section for new doctoral students

Enrolment period

The enrolment period will be from 15 September to 15 October of each academic year.

More information at the general registration section

Procedure for the preparation and defense of the research plan

Doctoral candidates must submit a research plan, which will be included in their doctoral student activity report, before the end of the first year. The plan may be improved over the course of the doctoral degree. It must be endorsed by the tutor and the supervisor, and it must include the method that is to be followed and the aims of the research.

At least one of these annual assessments will include a public presentation and defence of the research plan and work done before a committee composed of three doctoral degree holders, which will be conducted in the manner determined by each academic committee. The examination committee awards a Pass or Fail mark. A Pass mark is a prerequisite for continuing on the doctoral programme. Doctoral candidates awarded a Fail mark must submit a new research plan for assessment by the academic committee of the doctoral programme within six months.

The committee assesses the research plan every year, in addition to all of the other activities in the doctoral student activity report. Doctoral candidates who are awarded two consecutive Fail marks for the research plan will be obliged to definitely withdraw from the programme.

If they change the subject of their thesis, they must submit a new research plan.

Formation activities

Activity: Tutorial.
Hours: 288.
Type: compulsory.

Activity: Courses.
Hours: 60.
Type: optional.

Activity: Seminars.
Hours: 12.
Type: optional.

Activity: Research stays.
Hours: 480.
Type: optional.

Activity: Training in information skills.
Hours: 1.5.
Type: optional.

Activity: Research methodology.
Hours: 12.
Type: optional.

Activity: Innovation and creativity.
Hours: 8.
Type: optional.

Activity: Language and communication skills.
Hours: 18.
Type: optional.

Activity: Assessment based on doctoral student activity report (DAD) and research plan.
Hours: 4.
Type: compulsory.

Procedure for assignment of tutor and thesis director

The academic committee of the doctoral programme assigns a thesis supervisor to each doctoral candidate when they are admitted or enrol for the first time, taking account of the thesis supervision commitment referred to in the admission decision.

The thesis supervisor will ensure that training activities carried out by the doctoral candidate are coherent and suitable, and that the topic of the candidate’s doctoral thesis will have an impact and make a novel contribution to knowledge in the relevant field. The thesis supervisor will also guide the doctoral candidate in planning the thesis and, if necessary, tailoring it to any other projects or activities undertaken. The thesis supervisor will generally be a UPC professor or researcher who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience. This includes PhD-holding staff at associated schools (as determined by the Governing Council) and UPC-affiliated research institutes (in accordance with corresponding collaboration and affiliation agreements). When thesis supervisors are UPC staff members, they also act as the doctoral candidate’s tutor.

PhD holders who do not meet these criteria (as a result of their contractual relationship or the nature of the institution to which they are attached) must be approved by the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee in order to participate in a doctoral programme as researchers with documented research experience.

The academic committee of the doctoral programme may approve the appointment of a PhD-holding expert who is not a UPC staff member as a candidate’s thesis supervisor. In such cases, the prior authorisation of the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee is required. A UPC staff member who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience must also be proposed to act as a co-supervisor, or as the doctoral candidate’s tutor if one has not been assigned.

A thesis supervisor may step down from this role if there are justified reasons (recognised as valid by the committee) for doing so. If this occurs, the academic committee of the doctoral programme will assign the doctoral candidate a new thesis supervisor.

Provided there are justified reasons for doing so, and after hearing any relevant input from the doctoral candidate, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may assign a new thesis supervisor at any time during the period of doctoral study.

If there are academic reasons for doing so (an interdisciplinary topic, joint or international programmes, etc.) and the academic committee of the programme gives its approval, an additional thesis supervisor may be assigned. Supervisors and co-supervisors have the same responsibilities and academic recognition.

The maximum number of supervisors of a doctoral thesis is two: a supervisor and a co-supervisor.

For theses carried out under a cotutelle agreement or as part of an Industrial Doctorate, if necessary and if the agreement foresees it this maximum number of supervisors may not apply. This notwithstanding, the maximum number of supervisors belonging to the UPC is two.

More information at the PhD theses section

Permanence

The academic committee of the programme may authorise an extension of up to one year for full-time doctoral candidates who have not applied to deposit their thesis by the end of the three-year period of study, in the terms outlined in the Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. In the case of part-time candidates, an extension of two years may be authorised. In both cases, in exceptional circumstances a further one-year extension may be granted by the Doctoral School's Standing Committee, upon the submission of a reasoned application by the academic committee of the doctoral programme.

A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The maximum period of study and of extensions thereof ending.
• The doctoral candidate not having enrolled every academic year (unless he or she has been authorised to temporarily withdraw).
• The doctoral candidate failing two consecutive assessments.
• The doctoral candidate having disciplinary proceedings filed against him or her that rule that he or she must be dismissed from the UPC.

Dismissal from the programme implies that doctoral candidates cannot continue studying at the UPC and the closing of their academic record. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission and the committee must reevaluate them in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

International Mention

The doctoral degree certificate may include International Doctorate mention. In this case, the doctoral candidate must meet the following requirements:

a) During the period of study leading to the award of the doctoral degree, the doctoral candidate must have spent at least three months at a respected higher education institution or research centre outside Spain to complete courses or do research work. The stays and activities carried out must be endorsed by the thesis supervisor and authorised by the academic committee of the programme. The candidate must provide a certifying document issued by the person responsible for the research group of the body or bodies where the stay or activity was completed. This information will be added to the doctoral student’s activity report.
b) Part of the thesis (at least the summary and conclusions) must be written and presented in one of the languages commonly used for science communication in the relevant field of knowledge, which must not be an official language of Spain. This rule does not apply to stays and reports in Spanish or to experts from Spanish-speaking countries.
c) At least two PhD-holding experts belonging to a higher education institution or research centre outside Spain must have issued officially certified reports on the thesis.
d) The thesis examination committee must have included at least one PhD-holding expert from a higher education or research institution outside Spain who was not responsible for the candidate’s stay abroad (point a) above).
e) The thesis defence must have taken place on UPC premises or, in the case of joint programmes, at the location specified in the collaboration agreement.

List of authorized thesis for defense

Last update: 25/02/2021 06:02:50.

List of lodged theses

Last update: 25/02/2021 06:02:13.

List of defended theses by year

• FRÓMETA GUTIÉRREZ, DAVID: On the measurement of fracture toughness to understand the cracking resistance of Advanced High Strength Steel sheets
  
  Author: FRÓMETA GUTIÉRREZ, DAVID
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
  Department: (CEM)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Reading date: 28/01/2021
  Thesis director: CASELLAS PADRO, DANIEL | CALVO MUÑOZ, JESSICA
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: KAJBERG, JÖRGEN
       SECRETARI: FARGAS RIBAS, GEMMA
       VOCAL: PARDOEN, THOMAS
  Thesis abstract: Automotive designers are constantly facing new challenges to meet the more and more stringent safety and CO2 emission legislations. Concerning the latter, vehicle lightweighting has become one of the main goals of the automotive industry, not only to reduce fuel consumption in fuel-powered cars but also to enhance the battery range in electric vehicles. At the same time, weight reduction cannot be attained at the expense of passenger¿s safety in case of a crash. Hence, it is important to select the best-suited strategies to find the optimum balance between weight reduction and crashworthiness. In this sense, Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) have been positioned as one of the most effective solutions to this demand. AHSS present very high strength and high crash performance, which allows reducing vehicle mass while maintaining the safety of the occupants. These outstanding mechanical properties have promoted their widespread implementation for structural and crash-relevant automobile components. However, the application of AHSS have introduced new challenges related to their limited ductility and cracking resistance. Premature cracking during edge forming operations (edge cracking) or the occurrence and propagation of cracks under impact loading are some of the common cracking related issues in processing and implementation of AHSS.To face these problems, the development of new approaches to properly characterize the cracking resistance of AHSS has become unavoidable since conventional failure criteria based on uniaxial tensile properties and forming limit curves fail to describe cracking related phenomena. In this thesis, a fracture mechanics-based approach is proposed to rationalize and understand the crack initiation and propagation resistance of AHSS. Results have been correlated with edge cracking resistance and crash behaviour of a broad range of advanced high strength sheet steels.Fracture toughness is evaluated in the frame of fracture mechanics through different testing methods, such as the essential work of fracture, the J-integral and the Kahn-type tear tests. The relationship between the obtained fracture toughness parameters as well as the limitations of the different methods have been discussed. High-resolution video extensometry and Digital Image Correlation (DIC) techniques were used to investigate the fracture behaviour of the different steels. Edge cracking resistance is characterized by standard hole expansion tests and DIC-assisted hole tension tests. Crashworthiness is assessed through laboratory impact resistance tests. The influence of microstructural constituents on the crack propagation resistance of AHSS is also assessed.The results show that fracture toughness, in particular the specific essential work of fracture (we), is a suitable material property to understand the cracking behaviour of AHSS and rank the material¿s resistance to different crack-related failures, such as edge fracture or crack propagation during a crash event. These conclusions are based on the good correlation established between we and the results from edge cracking and impact resistance tests. On the other hand, the experimental observations show that we can be used to discern the role of microstructural constituents on the fracture behaviour of AHSS.It is pointed out that proper microstructural design cannot be only focused on tensile properties since they do not inform about cracking resistance.According to all the experimental findings, the fracture toughness is considered as a relevant material property for AHSS design and performance classification. In line with this, a new classification system, considering global ductility and fracture toughness, is proposed for a more comprehensive description of the overall formability and fracture behaviour of AHSS.
  

• SÁNCHEZ ARTIGAS, MARINA: Caracterización de la unión vidrio-metal en la tecnología Glass to Metal Seal y el estudio de nuevos materiales y procesos de fabricación
  
  Author: SÁNCHEZ ARTIGAS, MARINA
  Thesis link: http://hdl.handle.net/10803/670881
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
  Department: (CEM)
  Mode: Confidentiality
  Reading date: 17/02/2021
  Thesis director: CABRERA MARRERO, JOSE MARIA | PICAS BARRACHINA, JOSEP ANTON
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: FERRARI FERNÁNDEZ, BEGOÑA
       SECRETARI: CALVO MUÑOZ, JESSICA
       VOCAL: LLORCA ISERN, NURIA
       VOCAL: BAILE PUIG, MARIA TERESA
       VOCAL: COLOMINAS GUARDIA, CARLES
  Thesis abstract: This doctoral thesis has been carried out at the company VAC-TRON S.A., together with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, in the Besós (EEBE) and Vilanova i la Geltrú (EPSEVG) campus, with the support of the Industrial Doctorate Plan of the Secretariat for Universities and Research of the Department of Business and Knowledge of the Generalitat de Catalunya. The scientific and technological interest that justifies this research line answers the concern to know, characterize and improve the products manufactured by glass to metal seal, achieving a knowledge scientifically based that allows optimizing the current way of working in the company.The technology of glass-metal sealing consists of the manufacture of hermetic components, composed of a metal base, a glass preform and metal pins, which are joined by heating the glass to practically a melting state, allowing it to join to metal parts. The bond generated must be hermetic and must guarantee the electrical resistivity of the glass.Glass is the most important part of the three latter components, being responsible to generate a hermetic seal. Its main properties have been analyzed, such as: characteristic temperatures, chemical composition, particle size and microstructure. The results obtained allowed to differentiate the two most commonly used glasses, borosilicate and sodalime, relating the difference in compositions with the sealing temperature of each glass, as well as the increase in this temperature as the heating rate increases.Once the properties of the analyzed glasses are known, the glass-metal seal has been studied according to the design of the piece and the materials used. Then the hermeticity and electrical resistance of the samples were verified and their behavior as a function of temperature and external mechanical stress were studied. The temperature cycles showed that there is no significant change in the properties of sodalime glasses, while in borosilicate glasses decreased their hermeticity after temperature cycle, when the metal body had lower thickness. On the other hand, pressure tests have shown that the height of the glass was important, breaking at the bending limit of the glass. In addition, it has been found that the critical seal is the one formed with the base. As well, thesmaller the glass diameter, the more pressure the piece resists. These results were used to perform a series of numerical simulations to obtain the rupture pressures. Some results were coincident with the simulation but others no.Once the factors that influence the piece performance were known, new metallic materials for the bases have been studied, such as aluminum or titanium, which allow the company to enter new markets. With these new materials, it was necessary to determine the sealing curve and find the right glass to achieve the required tightness and electrical resistance. Solutions were found for both metals, although with certain limitations. In the case of titanium, the required electrical resistance was not attained by the glass, while in the aluminum case, the temperature cycles requirements were not achievedFinally, the evaluation of other alternative manufacturing methods for the metal bases was carried out. Metallic samples obtained by powder metallurgy and through the MIM and MEAM processes were studied. Because the samples manufactured by powder metallurgy and MIM were commercial ones, in which it was not possible to modify their manufacturing conditions, the results have been unfavorable, while with the samples manufactured by additive metal extrusion (MEAM), a proper seal was achieved.
  

• VIDAL GIRONA, ELIA: Development of metallic functionalized biomaterials with low elastic modulus for orthopedic applications
  
  Author: VIDAL GIRONA, ELIA
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
  Department: (CEM)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Reading date: 12/02/2021
  Thesis director: RODRÍGUEZ RIUS, DANIEL | RUPEREZ DE GRACIA, ELISA
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: SARDA, STÉPHANIE
       SECRETARI: ESPAÑOL PONS, MONTSERRAT
       VOCAL: MONTUFAR JIMENEZ, EDGAR BENJAMIN
  Thesis abstract: Titanium (Ti) and Ti allor-; have been used for decades for bone implants and prostheses dueto its mechanical reliability and good biocompatibility. However, implant-related infections, lack ofosteointegration with the surrounding bone, and the mism atch of mechanical properties between implant and bone, remain among the leading reasons for implant failure . In the present PhD thesis, two strategies have been studied to increase implant lñability: fabrication of porous Ti structures and surface functionali zation.The stiffness mismatch between titanium implant and bone can cause significant bone resorption, which can lead to serious complications such as periprosthetic fracture during or after relñsion surgery. Titanium surface piar-; a major role in the bone­ prosthesis interactions, notonlyto promote initial cell adhesion butalso to avoid bacterial adhesion . One strategystudied in the thesis has been the developmentand manufacturing ofporous Ti structures.A scaffold with a porosity of75% has been preparad bydirect ink writing, with the objective of reducing the apparent modulus elasticityofli prostheses. In this wor1<:, porous Ti structures with a stiffness and compressive strength of2.6 GPa and 64.5 MPa respectively has been manufacturad. To this end, a new ink fonnulation was designad based on the mixture of athenn ose nsitive h rogel with Ti irregular powder particles with a mean particle size of 22.45 µm.A thennal treatrnentwas optimized to ensure the complete elimination ofthe binder before the sintering process, in orderto avoid contamination ofthe titanium structures.The understanding of infections is closely linked to the concept ofthe "race for the surface". The winner of this race (cell versus bacteria) decides if a solid anchoring between implant and bone will be achieved or if bacteria! growth will lead to a periprosthetic infection. Another strategy studied on this thesis focuses on the functionalization of the Ti surface. First. surface of Ti scaffolds were functionalized with a cell adhesion fibronectin recombinant fragment for optimizing cell adhesion. Mditionally, a multifunctional coating based on the potential of calcium phosphate coatings to be used as carriers for drug deliverywas also studied to achieve a balance between cell attachmentand reduction ofbacterial adhesion. Porous Ti structures have beén successfullycoated with a one-step pulsed electrodeposition process achielñng a unifonn calcium phosphate layer both on the inner and outer the surface ofthe scaffold, with adhesion strengths over 22 MPa. The co­ deposition of an antibacterial agentwith a pulsad and reverse pulsed electrodeposition was achieved on both smooth and open-cell Ti surfaces. The ralease rate ofthe antibacterial agentcan be modulated within hours ordar-; timeframe byadjusting the coating conditions and without altering the antimicrobial potential ofthe loaded antibacterial agent itself. The biofunctionalized coatings exhibited a noteworthy in lñtro antibacterial actilñty against S. aureus and E. coli bacteria strains, with a significant decrease of lñable attached bacteria to the treated surfaces. Cell culture tests also showed that CHX-loaded Ti structures presentad an improved cell adhesion comparad to thatofuntreated Ti.Therefore, the proposed strategies can efficiently impro-.e orthopedic implants in tenns of improlñng biointegration and microbial adhesion resistance.
  

Last update: 25/02/2021 06:01:57.

Research groups

• BBT-Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering
• CDAL-Light Alloys and Surface Treatment Design Centre
• CIEFMA-Structural Integrity, Micromechanics and Materials Reliability Centre
• e-PLASCOM-Eco-friendly Plastics and Composites
• InSup-Surface Interaction in Bioengineering and Materials Science Research Group
• POLY2-Polyfunctional polymeric materials
• PROCOMAME-Conformation Processes of Metallic Materials

Teachers

• Alcala Cabrelles, Jorge
• Arencon Osuna, David
• Baile Puig, Maria Teresa
• Benito Paramo, Josep Antoni
• Cabrera Marrero, Jose Maria
• Calvo Muñoz, Jesica
• Canal Barnils, Cristina
• de Redondo Realinho, Vera Cristina
• de Sousa Pais Antunes, Marcelo
• Engel Lopez, Elisabet
• Español Pons, Montserrat
• Fargas Ribas, Gemma
• Fernandez Aguado, Enrique
• Ginebra Molins, Maria Pau
• Jimenez Pique, Emilio
• Llanes Pitarch, Luis M.
• Manero Planella, Jose M.
• Martin Fuentes, Enric
• Martinez Benasat, Antonio
• Mas Moruno, Carlos
• Maspoch Ruldua, Maria Lluïsa
• Mateo Garcia, Antonio
• Pegueroles Neyra, Marta
• Picas Barrachina, Josep A.
• Riera Colom, Maria Dolores
• Roa Rovira, Joan Josep
• Rodriguez Rius, Daniel
• Ruperez de Gracia, Elisa
• Sanchez Soto, Miguel Angel
• Santana Perez, Orlando
• Velasco Perero, Jose Ignacio

• Casellas Padro, Daniel