All News
First InGRID article within our GAČR Junior Star project!
Our master’s student Leonard Hlodák has published his article titled Micromechanical and biodegradation properties of a rapidly solidified Mg-1.3Zn alloy with gradient microstructure. We are very proud of this achievement, as the article originated from Leonard’s bachelor’s thesis and was published in the prestigious journal Materials & Design (IF = 7.9).
The work represents a strong collaborative effort within the InGRID group at FNSPE CTU in Prague. Advanced correlative microscopy and vacuum arc melting were employed, and our Ph.D. student Jiří Liška contributed significantly by carrying out a series of corrosion and biodegradation experiments. In addition to the substantial contributions from the InGRID team within the GAČR Junior Star project, the study also made use of resources from the OP JAK FerrMion project (arc melting and nanoindentation).
By combining vacuum arc melting, annealing, nanoindentation, and biodegradation testing within a single sample, the study provides comprehensive insight into the micromechanical behavior and degradation performance of the Mg-Zn-Mn alloy, which we intend to investigate further as a possible platform for our biodegradable implants.
The FerrMion meeting provided an opportunity for our students to share their ideas
During 8–9 December, the Annual FerrMion Workshop 2025 was held at the Institute of Thermomechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. We were pleased that two of our students had the opportunity to present their work carried out within the FerrMion project and to share their results with other participating research groups. The workshop also provided a valuable platform for discussions on future measurements and experimental trials, helping to shape effective collaborations across the consortium. For InGRID, the opportunity for our students to present their research in front of a full auditorium is particularly important. We greatly value this experience, and we are very happy that both students delivered clear and engaging talks.
Our Ph.D. student Théo Raffort, presented a talk entitled Nanoindentation as a tool for the comparison of pseudoelastic properties of NiTi. In this work, developed together with InGRID collaborator Jaroslav Čech, a method for the rapid assessment of superelasticity using nanoindentation was introduced. This approach enables efficient screening of newly produced alloys and gradient microstructures for promising ferroic properties.
Our Master’s student Leonard Hlodák gave a talk entitled Using arc melting for quasicrystal development and gradient microstructures. He presented details on the fabrication of gradient microstructures that will be used in upcoming experiments and outlined current efforts to discover and grow new, as well as known, quasicrystalline phases for applications within the FerrMion project.
Presenting InCReMI at the IHI Brokerage Event 2025
This week in Brussels, Karel Tesař presented our pitch “Interdisciplinary Consortium for Resorbable Metallic Implants (InCReMI)” at the IHI Brokerage Event 2025, organized by the Innovative Health Initiative.
Why resorbable metallic implants?
Permanent implants often lead to secondary surgeries, which take surgical time, raise costs, and reduce patient comfort. Hypersensitivity reactions to certain metals are another concern. Resorbable magnesium-based implants offer a promising path to reduce second procedures and improve outcomes.
What we proposed
InCReMI outlines a pre-competitive collaboration where universities, research institutes, SMEs, and industry co-develop a difficult to certify (Class III) implant concept. The plan is to jointly iterate prototypes, share data, align on regulatory strategy, and build the experience needed for future first-in-human studies. The approach is staged over several years, from problem selection and pilot prototypes to a stable design with verified testing routes.
Slides and the event recording are available on the IHI event page.
Keynote Lecture at Maharishi Markandeshwar (University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India
On October 28, 2025, Dr. Vickey Nandal (MSCA postdoctoral fellow) was
invited as a Keynote Speaker at Maharishi Markandeshwar (University), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana. The lecture, titled “Artificial
Intelligence-Driven Experimental Strategies for Alloy Design and
Optimization”.
During his talk, Dr. Nandal highlighted the transformative role of
artificial intelligence (AI) in modern materials science and alloy
development. He discussed how machine learning algorithms, data-driven
experimental design, and computational–experimental integration can
accelerate the discovery and optimization of advanced materials. The
lecture also emphasized the application of AI-driven strategies in the
design of biodegradable magnesium alloys and high-performance structural
materials, showcasing emerging trends and research opportunities in the
field.
The event was organized by the Department of Physics. The session was
attended by faculty members, researchers, and students, who engaged in
discussions on the future of AI-assisted materials innovation.
InGRID at FEMS EUROMAT 2025
We took an active part in the FEMS EUROMAT 2025 conference.
Karel Tesař delivered two oral presentations: one on the aging behavior of the ZA63 alloy containing a stable quasicrystal phase, and another in the intriguing F8 – Metals in medicine symposium on resorbable Mg-0.4Zn strands for bone fixation, including pilot in vivo tests. Vickey Nandal also presented his work within the AIDDRI project, focusing on the use of machine learning to predict the mechanical properties of resorbable magnesium alloys for biomedical applications.
Our Ph.D. students also presented their work. Jiří Liška introduced results on the in-vitro corrosion of Zn- and Mg-based wires for biomedical applications, while Jitka Luňáčková contributed a poster on µCT of Mg implants. We are happy that both posters sparked lively discussions and reflected the growing international recognition of our early-stage researchers.
The conference also offered space for new collaborations. We met with Dr. Raj Shabadi of University of Lille to discuss future project possibilities on resorbable magnesium implants where we sense exciting potential for knowledge exchange in the Mg implant development.
Furthermore, discussions with Dr. Ute Bergmann of TU Dresden opened possibilities to connect our planned expansion to the FNSPE Dečín building with Dresden’s biomaterials activities.
InGRID students took part in the NIMS internship program
Two InGRID students took part in the NIMS Internship program at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Japan.
Jiří Ryjáček, representing InGRID-AIML, worked for two months under the supervision of Masahiko Demura on the development of optimized aging strategies for Ni-Al alloys. By combining digital design within the MInt system with experimental heat treatments and mechanical testing, his project demonstrated the effective integration of computational prediction with laboratory validation.
Benjamín Machat, from InGRID-CHAR, worked for 3 months on the Mg-6Zn-3Al (ZA63) alloy, strengthened by quasicrystalline precipitates (i-phase). Guided by Alok Singh, Hidetoshi Somekawa, and Thomas Edwards, he conducted a comprehensive alloy characterization using DSC, XRD, SEM, TEM, and microhardness testing. He further expanded the scope of his internship by designing and conducting a high-temperature SEM experiment, providing valuable new data on the alloy’s behavior at elevated temperatures.
The NIMS internship enabled both students to contribute to interesting research projects while gaining first-hand experience in Japan’s unique research environment. They returned with new skills, contacts, and collaborations that will strengthen future InGRID activities in materials science. Furthermore, they were able to conduct measurements on samples of biomedical Mg-alloys that needed to be performed on the NIMS infrastructure.
