Poly (ε-caprolactone) block poly (ethylene glycol) (PCL-b-PEG) is typical amphiphilic block copolymer that self assembles into micelles in water where the hydrolytically stable hydrophilic PEG segment forms the exterior corona and the core contains the hydrophobic degradable PCL block. Micelles from PCL-b-PEG block copolymers are among the top candidates for application as transport and delivery systems. The efficiency for micellar transported therapeutics to reach the desired site is currently limited by processes that prematurely degrade the micelle and this issue is stimulating increased effort in evaluating how micelles respond to the conditions encountered in the digestive and circulatory systems. Drug loaded micelles introduced into the blood and digestive systems encounter a wide range of conditions, enzymes and other substances that can promote micelle precipitation, degradation and premature release of therapeutics. Furthermore, PEG-b-PCL diblock copolymer micelle stability in aqueous suspension, low drug loading content and burst drug releasing are also the critical issues in drug delivery system. One central objective for this research is to identify and utilize polymer structural features that influence the hydrolytic stability of micelles toward acid, base and enzyme catalyzed hydrolysis of the polyester cores. The strategy of by preparing a set of triblock copolymers (PEG-b-PBO-b-PCL) formed by inserting a short hydrophobic non-hydrolyzable PBO segment between the PEG and PCL blocks as an approach to increase the barrier for water to reach the sensitive interface ester at the surface of the PCL core and thus increase the micelle stability at acidic aqueous medium. However, the triblock micelle doesn't significantly reduce the rate of lipase enzyme catalyzed degradation of micelle from PCL-b-PEG-OMe. Another objective for this research is to prepare PCL-b-PEG diblock copolymer micelles that have high stability in aqueous suspensions, high drug loading content and selective reactions with lipase enzymes. The working hypothesis is that the micelles with charged groups at the terminus of PEG corona will increase the micelle dispersion stability and stabilize micelles with much larger hydrophobic cores through intermicelle electrostatic repulsions. When the micelle corona and lipase enzyme have the same charge there will be an increased barrier to reaction. The comparison of micelle dispersion stabilities micelles from HO-PCL-b-PEG-CH2CH=CH, [PCL-b-PEG-RCO2]- Na+ and [PCL-b-PEG-RSO3]-Na+ demonstrates that the micelles with ionic coronas have significantly higher suspension stability. Kinetic of lipase catalyzed degradation of micelles with corona charges shows that lipases selective reaction with corona charged micelles which could be used as design feature to selectivity for therapeutic transport and release. Modification hydrophilic-hydrophobic interface and corona charges of PCL-b-PEG diblock copolymer micelle are successful chemical strategies to increase micelle stability and control acid and lipase enzymes catalytic degradation. / Chemistry

The structural evolution of micromolded poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and its miscible blends with noncrystallizable poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) at the nanoscale was investigated as a function of deformation ratio and blend composition using in situ synchrotron smallangle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and scanning SAXS techniques. It was found that the deformation mechanism of the oriented samples shows a general scheme for the process of tensile deformation: crystal block slips within the lamellae occur at small deformations followed by a stressinduced fragmentation and recrystallization process along the drawing direction at a critical strain where the average thickness of the crystalline lamellae remains essentially constant during stretching. The value of the critical strain depends on the amount of the amorphous component incorporated in the blends, which could be traced back to the lower modulus of the entangled amorphous phase and, therefore, the reduced network stress acting on the crystallites upon addition of PVME. When stretching beyond the critical strain the slippage of the fibrils (stacks of newly formed lamellae) past each other takes place resulting in a relaxation of stretched interlamellar amorphous chains. Because of deformation-induced introduction of the amorphous PVME into the interfibrillar regions in the highly oriented blends, the interactions between fibrils becomes stronger upon further deformation and thus impeding sliding of the fibrils to some extent leading finally to less contraction of the interlamellar amorphous layers compared to the pure PCL / National Natural Science Foundation of China (21204088 and 21134006). This work is within the framework of the RCUK/EPSRC Science Bridges China project of UK−China Advanced Materials Research Institute (AMRI).

Avec plus de 2 millions d’interventions chirurgicales par an dans le monde, les actes de chirurgie osseuse sont les plus fréquents, ce qui pousse les entreprises du secteur des biomatériaux pour la régénération osseuse à investir massivement pour sans cesse améliorer leurs produits. Cette thèse est issue d’un contrat CIFRE effectué avec l’entreprise Kasios afin de l’aider dans le développement de céramiques et polymères poreux principalement pour des applications en chirurgie maxillo-faciale. Les travaux réalisés s’articulent autour du développement de biomatériaux biphasiques à base de phosphate tricalcique béta (β-TCP). En premier lieu, des microfibres de polycaprolactone (PCL) incorporant des particules élémentaires de β-TCP ont été fabriquées par électrospinning. Les principales applications des fibres concernent la régénération osseuse guidée pour la préservation alvéolaire ou les opérations de relevés de sinus. L’électrospinning des fibres a utilisé des solvants ne présentant pas de toxicité aiguë. Les fibres ont formé des membranes manipulables qui peuvent être facilement découpées et suturées même en environnement humide. Les études in vitro n’ont révélé aucune cytotoxicité et les membranes ont permis la prolifération de cellules ostéoblastiques. La seconde étude a permis la fabrication d’éponges de gélatine et d’acide hyaluronique saturées ou recouvertes en surface de granules de β-TCP pour le comblement alvéolaire. Les éponges étaient facilement façonnables pour correspondre à l’alvéole du patient. Le chirurgien pourrait alors bénéficier de la nature biphasique du dispositif médical afin de faciliter l’implantation et éviter la manipulation séparée des éponges et des granules. L’utilisation des éponges permettrait par ailleurs d’assurer un positionnement idéal des granules pour la cicatrisation alvéolaire. La troisième étude, plus fondamentale, porte sur l’interaction des cellules osseuses avec le β-TCP et sa résorption. Des études de biomécanique et de biodégradation ainsi que de biodissolution ont également été réalisées sur des biomatériaux produits par l’entreprise. / With more than 2 million surgeries per year, bone tissue is one of the most concerned tissues and biomaterial companies have developed massive investments to continually improve bone regeneration.This thesis was conducted during a CIFRE contract (a tripartite contract linking a student, a university and acompany) and was done in association with the company Kasios for the development of new porous polymers and ceramics. This thesis was specifically centered in the development of biphasic biomaterials based upon beta tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). First, polycaprolacton (PCL) microfibers incorporating β-TCP elementary particles were produced using electrospinning. These fibers were developed to provide membranes for guided bone regeneration usable in alveolar preservation and sinus lifting. Electrospinning of the fibers did not require any high toxicity solvent. Our fibers formed membranes that could easily be handled, cut and sutured in dry and wet environment. In vitrocytotoxicity studies confirmed the non-toxic nature of the material and showed the ability of the membranes to encourage survival and proliferation of osteoblastic cells. Secondly, freeze-dried gelatin and hyaluronicacid sponges saturated or embedded with β-TCP granules were developed for alveolar filling. Theses ponges could easily be shaped to fit the patient’s dental socket. The biphasic nature of the sponges could make the implantation easier and faster by avoiding surgeons to handle separately the granules and the sponges. This medical device could also insure a correct and optimal positioning of the granules for the patient healing. Lastly, a fundamental study was conducted on resorption of β-TCP and the interaction between bone cells and the biomaterial. Biomechanical and biodegradation/biodissolution studies were also done on different types of biomaterials produced by the company.

Les nanotechnologies sont en train de révolutionner le domaine biomédical et plus particulièrement l’ingénierie tissulaire. Elles permettent aujourd’hui, non seulement de réparer mais aussi de régénérer les tissus. Cette nanomédecine régénérative est particulièrement adaptée pour répondre aux besoins importants liés aux maladies dégénératives, au vieillissement et aux traumatismes.Mon travail de thèse s’inscrit dans ce contexte et concerne l’élaboration de biomatériaux nanofibreux et microporeux actifs pour la régénération osseuse. Notre objectif essentiel est de réaliser un implant biodégradable nanostructuré permettant d’accélérer la réparation du tissu osseux. Notre stratégie innovante repose non seulement sur la mise en oeuvre de membranes par électrospinning mais aussi sur leur fonctionnalisation par des facteurs de croissance. Cette fonctionnalisation originale a consisté à enrober ces principes actifs dans des nanoréservoirs en utilisant la technique multicouche de polyélectrolytes. Des membranes de polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibreuses et microporeuses ont été obtenues par électrospinning puis les fibres ont été enrobées de réservoirs contenant le facteur ostéoinducteur, la protéine morphogénique osseuse 2 (BMP-2). L’induction osseuse engendrée par ces réservoirs actifs a été mise en évidence in vitro après culture d’ostéoblastes humains primaires. Des expérimentations in vivo chez la souris ont permis de confirmer l’accélération de la régénération osseuse grâce à ces nanoréservoirs.Cette même stratégie a été validée in vivo, chez la souris, en utilisant des membranes de collagène d’origine animal commerciales utilisées en clinique. L’activité de ces membranes fonctionnalisées par des nanoréservoirs de BMP-2 est en cours d’analyse dans le cadre de tests précliniques pour une application maxillofaciale et parodontale. / Nanobiotechnology enables the emergence of entirely new classes of bioactive devices intended for targeted intracellular delivery for more efficiency and less toxicities. Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field that has attempted to implement a variety of processing methods for synthetic and natural polymers to fabricate tissue and organ regeneration scaffolds.We report here the first demonstration of bone regeneration by using a strategy based on a synthetic nanostructured membrane. This electrospun membrane is manufactured by using a FDA approved polymer, PCL, (polycaprolactone), and functionalized with nanoreservoirs of a growth factor (BMP-2). Our expected outcomes are the development of clinical applications in the field of tissue engineering and nanomedecine and particularly in bone regeneration.We propose the development of smart nanostructured active implants for regenerative medicine. Our strategycombines a synthetic biodegradable electrospun nanofibrous membrane based on PCL and a bioactive growth factor (BMP-2) entrapped into polymer nanoreservoirs built atop the nanofibers according to the layer-by-layer technology. In this study, by using primary osteoblasts, we have shown the capacity of these sophisticated implants to promote and accelerate not only in vitro bone induction; but also, in vivo, bone formation (mouse model).We have also validated our strategy, in vivo (mouse model), by using an already used in the clinic collagen membrane (animal origin) to accelerate bone regeneration. This unique strategy is used to entrap, protect and stabilize the therapeutic agent into polymer coating acting as nanoreservoirs enrobing fibers of membranes.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T17:19:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marindia Decol.pdf: 3575085 bytes, checksum: bed6c0ed662d3c76c64b6cfdac902d8b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-15 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is a rigid and brittle thermoplastic polymer, and poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a thermoplastic polymer of lower rigidity and higher toughness than PLA. Combination of these properties through the blend PLA/PCL has been studied successfully to change the final properties of the PLA. The addition of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in the blend PLA/PCL may induce peculiar orphologies depending on their location, resulting in the getting new properties or modifying the properties of the PLA matrix. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding the PCL, the compatibilizer Cesa-mix and MWCNT the final properties of the PLA. Mixtures were prepared in internal mixer chamber coupled to a torque rheometer and subjected to characterizations of morphological, thermal, mechanical and electrical properties. In the morphological analysis, there was a 37% reduction in the average size of the phases of the PCL blends PLA/PCL with the addition of compatibilizer Cesa®- mix, a heterogeneous distribution of MWCNT the PLA matrix and a selective location of MWCNT in phase PCL. With respect to thermal properties, the addition of the compatibilizing PCL and did not significantly affect the thermal degradation onset temperature (Tonset) of the PLA, but the addition of the MWCNT in PLA resulted in decreased Tonset nanocomposites. The melting temperature did not change significantly with the addition of PCL, the compatibilizer and MWCNT on the PLA matrix. Already cold crystallization temperature decreased and the degree of crystallinity of the PLA increased with the addition of PCL blends and MWCNT in nanocomposites. Decreases of 35% on elastic hardness and 29% in modulus of elasticity was observed with the addition of PCL and compatibilizer Cesa®-mix in the blends PLA/ PCL/AC/2,5%. With the addition of MWCNT was observed an increase of 6,8% on elastic hardness and 8% in the modulus of elasticity of PLA/CNT mixtures with 1,0% w/w. Blends of PLA/PCL with 0,5% and 1,0% w/w CNT with and without compatibilizer, had a decrease in modulus of elasticity and elastic hardness. No significant changes were observed in the electric resistance of the samples with the addition of the compatibilizer, the PCL and MWCNT with 0,5% and 1,0% w/w. Selective location of MWCNT the PCL phase had great influence on morphological, thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of nanocomposites. / O poli(ácido lático) (PLA) é um polímero termoplástico rígido e frágil, e a poli(ε-caprolactona) (PCL) é um polímero termoplástico de menor rigidez e maior tenacidade que o PLA. A combinação destas propriedades através da blenda PLA/PCL tem sido estudada com êxito no auxílio à alteração das propriedades finais do PLA. A adição de nanotubos de carbono de paredes múltiplas (NTCPM) na blenda PLA/PCL pode induzir a morfologias peculiares dependendo da sua localização, resultando na obtenção de novas propriedades ou na alteração das propriedades da matriz PLA. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da adição do PCL, do compatibilizante Cesa-mix e dos NTCPM nas propriedades finais do PLA. As misturas foram preparadas em misturador de câmara interna acoplado a reômetro de torque e submetidas à caraterizações das propriedades morfológicas, térmicas, mecânicas e elétricas. Na análise morfológica, observou-se uma redução de 37% no tamanho médio das fases de PCL nas blendas PLA/PCL com a adição do compatibilizante Cesa®- mix, uma distribuição heterogênea dos NTCPM na matriz PLA e uma localização seletiva dos NTCPM na fase PCL. Em relação às propriedades térmicas, a adição do PCL e do compatibilizante não afetaram significativamente na temperatura de início de degradação térmica (Tonset) do PLA, porém a adição de NTCPM no PLA resultou em decréscimo na Tonset dos nanocompósitos. A temperatura de fusão não apresentou variação significativa com a adição do PCL, do compatibilizante e dos NTCPM na matriz PLA. Já a temperatura de cristalização a frio diminuiu e o grau de cristalinidade do PLA aumentou com a adição de PCL nas blendas e dos NTCPM nos nanocompósitos. Diminuições de 35% na dureza elástica e de 29% no módulo de elasticidade foram observadas com a adição do PCL e do compatibilizante Cesa®-mix nas blendas PLA/PCL/AC 2,5%. Com a adição de NTCPM foi observado um aumento de 6,8% na dureza elástica e de 8% no módulo de elasticidade das misturas PLA/NTC com 1,0% m/m. As misturas de PLA/PCL com 0,5% e 1,0% m/m de NTC com e sem compatibilizante, tiveram um decréscimo no módulo de elasticidade e na dureza elástica. Não foram verificadas alterações significativas na resistência elétrica das amostras com a adição do compatibilizante, do PCL e dos NTCPM com 0,5% e 1,0% m/m. A localização seletiva dos NTCPM na fase PCL teve grande influência nas propriedades morfológicas, térmicas, mecânicas e elétricas dos nanocompósitos.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T17:19:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elementos pre-textuais.pdf: 89508 bytes, checksum: 6cbceb5e70da4a660d5066d97a20334f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In the past two decades, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have been the focus of extensive research considering their potential application as biocompatible and biodegradable thermoplastics, due to their hydrolyzability in the human body as well as in natural circumstances. Aiming the development of new ductile and biodegradable materials, systems of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P(3HB) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), P(3HV-co-3HV) with poly(e-caprolactone) triol (PCL-T, 900 and 300 g.mol-1) with addition of 0 to 30 % of PCL-T (w/w), were obtained by casting or injection molding. The thermal behavior, the morphology and the crystallinity of these mixtures were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR). The rheology and the melt processing of P(3HB)/PCL-T systems were also studied. The crystallinity degree of casted P(3HB) decreased from 68 to 49% with addition of 5% of PCL-T 900, and from 68% to 54% with 5% of PCL-T 300 content. The TG analysis showed that the PCL-T did not change the thermal stability of P(3HB). It was also observed by DSC that the Tm of PCL-T did not change in all compositions, while the Tm of P(3HB) decreased when PCL-T content was increased. It was also noticed that the Tg of P(3HB) increased from 2.75 to -2ºC with the increase of PCL-T 900 content. The Tg of P(3HB) change from 2.75 to -10ºC with the PCL-T 300 content. Indeed, FTIR analyses did not show evidences of hydrogen bonds between the polymers, while SEM analysis revealed porous films. A similar behavior was observed for P(3HB-co-3HV)/PCL-T 900 systems, while no change in the cristallinity degree was observed for P(3HB-co-3HV)/PCL-T 300 systems. For blends with P(3HB-co-3HV), DSC analyses revealed that the Tg of P(3HB-co-3HV) decreased from 2ºC to ca. -10ºC with the addition of 15wt% of PCL-T 900 or PCL-T 300. It is also noticed that the Tm of P(3HB-co- 3HV) and PCL-T decreases gradually as the PCL-T content is increased. Rheological analyses showed a pseudoplastic behavior for all the samples and a very significant decrease in the viscosity when the PCL-T content was increased. The P(3HB-co-3HV)/PCL-T 300 systems with 20 and 30% of PCL-T 300 contents showed a behavior look likes a Newtonian. Tensile tests of injected specimens showed an increase of 67% in the elongation at break with 5% of PCL-T, while the Young modulus decreased 7.5%. A higher PCL-T content (10%), however, decreases the modulus more significantly (50% in relation to P(3HB)). The crystallinity degree of P(3HB), obtained from XRD analyses, decreases with the addition of PCL-T (from 59 to 50% with 10% of PCL-T) and is in agreement with tensile tests and SEM results, that presented a higher ductility for the mixtures with PCL-T. TG analyses showed that the onset temperature does not vary significantly with the PCL-T content. FTIR spectra present interesting changes with PCL-T addition that are possibly related to interactions between the polymers. The better processing behavior of the PHAs with the addition of PCL-T suggests that the latter acts both as a plasticizer and a flow auxiliary, providing new, more flexible biodegradable materials. / Nas últimas duas décadas, os polihidroxialcanoatos (PHAs) foram o foco de pesquisas extensivas considerando suas potenciais aplicações como termoplásticos biocompatíveis e biodegradáveis, devido a sua hidrolisidade no corpo humano bem como em circunstâncias naturais. Objetivando o desenvolvimento de novos materiais dúcteis e biodegradáveis, sistemas de poli(3-hidroxibutirato), P(3HB) e poli(3-hidroxibutirato-co-3-hidroxivalerato), P(3HB-co-3HV) com poli(å-caprolactona) triol, PCL-T (300 e 900g.mol-1) com adição de 0 a 30% de PCL-T (m/m), foram obtidos por casting ou moldagem por injeção. O comportamento térmico, a morfologia e a cristalinidade destas misturas foram estudados, para isso foram utilizadas as seguintes técnicas: calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), análise termogravimétrica (TG), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (SEM), difração de raios-X (XRD) e espectroscopia no infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FTIR). A reologia e o processamento dos sistemas de P(3HB) /PCL-T também foram estudados. O grau de cristalinidade do P(3HB) caiu de 68 para 49% com adição de 5% de PCL-T 900, e de 68 para 54% com adição de PCL-T 300. A análise de TG mostrou que a PCL-T não interfere na estabilidade térmica do P(3HB). Foi também observado por DSC que a Tm da PCL-T não mudou em todas as composições, enquanto que a Tm do P(3HB) decresceu quando o teor de PCL-T aumentou. Notou-se também que a Tg do P(3HB) diminuiu de 2,75 para -2ºC com o aumento da PCL-T 900. A Tg do P(3HB) mudou de 2,75 para -10ºC com o aumento do teor de PCL-T 300. De fato, as análises de FTIR não mostraram evidencias de ligações de hidrogênio entre os polímeros, enquanto as análises de SEM revelaram filmes porosos. Um comportamento similar foi observado para o sistema de P(3HB-co-3HV)/PCL-T 900, enquanto nenhuma mudança no grau de cristalinidade do sistema de P(3HB-co-3HV)/PCL-T 300 foi observada. Para blendas com P(3HB-co-3HV), as análises de DSC revelaram que a Tg do P(3HB-co-3HV) diminuiu de 2ºC para ca. -10ºC com adição de 15% de PCL-T 900 PCL-T 300. Notou-se também que a Tm do P(3HB-co-3HV) e da PCL-T diminuíram ou gradualmente com o aumento do teor de PCL-T. A análise reologica mostrou um comportamento pseudoplastico para todas as amostras e um decréscimo muito significativo na viscosidade quando a PCL-T e adicionada. Os sistemas de P(3HB-co-3HV)/PCL-T 300 nas composições 80/20 e 85/15 mostraram um comportamento muito próximo do Newtoniano. Os testes de resistência à tração das espécies injetadas mostraram um aumento de 67% no alongamento com 5% de PCL-T, enquanto que o modulo de elasticidade diminuiu cerca de 7,5%. Uma alta quantidade de PCL-T (10%), entretanto, diminuiu o modulo mais significativamente (50% em relação ao P(3HB)). O grau de cristalinidade do P(3HB), obtido por XRD, diminuiu com adição de PCL-T 900 (de 58 para 51% com 10% de PCL-T 900) concordando com os testes de resistência a tração e resultados de SEM, que apresentaram uma alta ductilidade para as misturas contendo PCL-T. Análises de TG mostraram que a temperatura inicial de degradação não variou significativamente com a quantidade de PCL-T. Os espectros de FTIR apresentaram mudanças interessantes com adição de PCL-T que sugerem a existência de interações entre os polímeros. O melhor comportamento durante o processamento dos PHA com adição de PCL-T sugere que a PCL-Ts atuam como platificantes e auxiliares de fluxo, conferindo maior flexibilidade aos materiais biodegradáveis.

The master's thesis focuses on preparation of blown films from polylactid acid (PLA) which was blended with selected polyesteres – poly(butylene adipate-co-terephtalate) (PBAT), polycaprolactone (PCL) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) – and thermoplastic starch (TPS) in amount of 30% in order to soften PLA films. The influence of the aditives on static and mechanical tensile properties, on structure, morphology and thermal properties of the films was determined and the obtained parameters were compared to properties of films prepared from neat PLA and high density polyethylene (HDPE). The results showed that the additives increased crystalinity of PLA and thus significantly influenced the properties of the films. In contrast to the film from neat PLA, softening in terms of lowering glass transition temperature occured only by adding PBS and TPS, in terms of increasing ductility only by adding PBAT. All PLA films showed nearly constant elastic modulus up to the beginning of glass transition enabling their potential application till 50 °C. Preparation of the film with TPS was problematic and the film showed the worst mechanical properties. Preparation of other films was without any problems. The most promising additive from the tested ones was PBAT which showed comparable mechanical properties as the film from HDPE.

The diploma thesis deals with the treatment of polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers. PCL fibers were subjected to the deposition of plasma amine polymers in a low pressure pulsed radiofrequency capacitively coupled discharge using cyclopropylamine monomer (CPA). Collagen as an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein was immobilized and cell proliferation on the modified nanofiber surface was monitored. Untreated PCL fibers were also subjected to the deposition of an antibacterial copper layer, and the fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX).

This thesis deals with issues of the issue lead-acid batteries and their application in mode of hybrid electric vehicle. The experiment is focused on the production of electrodes to determine the effect five types of additives in negative active mass in PsoC(Partial State of Charge) mode. This simulates conditions occurring in the mode of hybrid electric vehicles (HEV).

The main aim of this paper is to contribute to the elucidation of electrochemical processes. These processes occur in the investigated experimental lead-acid cell. For this purpose, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used. There are two methods of measurement presented. First one is used to measure impedance between electrodes. Second one is used to measure impedance of collector ribs inside positive or negative electrode. The results are represented by electrical equivalent circuits, whose elements are described in detail in the theoretical part.