Institute of Materials & Machine Mechanics, Slovak Academy of Sciences

IMMM SAS performs basic and applied research in the field of materials engineering and applied mechanics. Materials research is preferably oriented to the development of advanced non-ferrous metallic materials, especially metal matrix composites, metallic foams, intermetallics, light alloys and nanostructured materials prepared by modern technologies, such as pressure infiltration, vacuum diffusion bonding, PVD, CVD, plasma spraying, unidirectional solidification of eutectics, powder metallurgy, hot and cold isostatic pressing, hot extrusion, severe plastic deformation (ECAP), etc. The development of materials is supported by research facilities for evaluation of the structure (electron microscopy, EDX-microanalysis, computer image analysis, metallography, ion milling, etching, X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, DTA, thermogravimetry, mass spectroscopy, microtomography, etc.) and determination of almost all basic materials properties (tensile and compression testing, fatigue endurance under random loads, creep, wear resistance, surface roughness measurement, acoustic emission, hardness and microhardness, thermal and electrical conductivity, wettability, surface tension, etc.). Applied mechanics deals with modelling of elastic and plastic continua, modelling of fatigue endurance under stochastic loading, theory of noise and vibration control, acoustoelasticity, dynamic analysis of machine aggregates, vibrodiagnostic of rotary machines, etc.