Top-of- rail lubricants are an effective way to control adhesion, reduce contact wear and noise in rail transport. However, despite the widespread use of these lubricants, there is currently no standard defining how to test and evaluate their performance. This work aims to develop a methodology for testing top-of-rail lubricants in a laboratory environment using a tribometer in a ball-on-disk configuration. At first, important operational parameters of experiments are analyzed and experimentally tested. These are mainly wear-in and run-in, method of application, roughness and geometric parameters of contact bodies. The result of this work is a testing methodology that guarantees good repeatability and reliability of results. In the last part of this work, the methodology is verified using commercial top-of-rail lubricants.

This diploma thesis is focused on monitoring of mechanical response of long-fiber reinforced polymer composite. Main part of this thesis was preparation of long-fiber reinforced composite specimens, on which matrix was reinforced by commercially sized glass fibers. For comparison of properties were prepared specimens reinforced by unsized glass fibers. Apart from preparing specimens reinforced by long glass fibers were prepared specimens contains long carbon fibers. For evaluation of mechanical response of the prepared composite specimen were used flexural test and short beam shear test. Mechanical response was evaluated with universal testing machine ZWICK Z010 and data were processed in OriginPro 8 program. Thanks to evaluation of the mechanical response of the prepared specimens was assessed adhesion to fiber-matrix interface. By examining the mechanical response or adhesion can be assessed efficiency of commercial fiber surface treatment and so standardize measurement to compare other options of surface treatments.

Diploma thesis is focused on modification and characterization of polypropylene (PP) products surfaces by the chemical way. In theoretical part of thesis are summarized the current knowledge of this topic including characterization methods. Polypropylene surfaces were modified by acrylic monomers (acrylic acid, acrylic acid with 20 mol% content of sodium acrylate and acryl amide). Modified surfaces were characterized by infrared spectroscopy with ATR technique. The comparative parameter was carbonyl index determined from absorption peaks of functional methyl groups (2950 cm-1 ) and functional carbonyl groups (1700-1750 cm-1) of FTIR-ATR spectra. Determination of effect of initiator concentration on the modification process was done for acetophenone and benzophenone. There were determined the time dependence of carbonyl index for time from 0 to 600 s of mentioned monomers. In the same condition were modified test specimens designed for preparation of adhesive joints. Joints were bonded by cyanoacrylate adhesive that provide reaction with surface of polyacrylic acid. There were founded conditions of modification that provided strength of adhesive joints higher than strength of original PP. There were identified changes of surface roughness by using of confocal microscopy.

Presented master's thesis is focused on the experimental research of the sanding parameters in order to improve adhesion in the contact between wheel and rail. Sanding is the application of the sanding material directly in the wheel/rail contact. It is still common, most effective and traditional way how to deal with low adhesion problem, which is mainly caused by environmental contaminants. Research is important for the better understanding of the sanding process and also provides data, which are necessary for it's optimization and efficiency improvement. Newly developed twin-disc machine was used to carry out the presented experimental research. The influence of common contaminants on the adhesion is investigated, considering various operating parameters. Different amount of the applied sand is used to increase adhesion in the contaminated contact at various slip and rolling speed. Results show, that there is the amount of the sand, from which no significant adhesion increase occur. Obtained findings and the results presented in this thesis will be used to optimize sanding system, which will contribute to reduce cost associated with sanding and low adhesion.

This diploma thesis is engaged in analysis of braking process of vehicles, especially heavy utility vehicles, with regard to their instantaneous weight. This thesis features survey and division of braking systems and function of brakes including schemes and descriptions. Also there is introduce of some systems improving vehicle properties. Furthermore this work puts mind to possibilities of examination of brakes, measurement of braking distance and braking retardation namely in brake test rooms or by outdoor driving tests including descriptions of particular methods and equipment. There is also mention about legislative requirements for braking distance and braking retardation. The conclusion of this thesis compares numerically predicted braking distance and real braking distance measured for factual vehicle during outdoor driving test

This thesis presents a comparison of different methods for measuring road surface skid resistance and an assessment of whether there is a functional dependency in between measurement results of these methods. It consists of a description of the physical quantities, which are measured by these methods and equipment used for these measurements. The work includes the measurement and comparison of measurement outputs with each other. Among the measurement methods there can be seen similar development of their values, with two exceptions there is similar difference between the results of the measurement methods. When comparing the results XL Meter instrument seemed more accurate than the RaceLogic due to its higher frequency of data recording. By using numerical method of comparison between XL Meter device and multipurpose device TRT there was a constant by which the results differed from each instrument, with value of 0,35, using the method of interspacing the resulting differences of values by a line, the resulting constant by which the results differed between the devices had the value of 0,33.

This master’s thesis deals with driving maneuvers at low coefficient of adhesion, especially in winter season. It includes a list of adhesion coefficients on many surfaces, published by various authors. Figures were through the use of statistical methods divided into normal and exceeding. There are described terms having impact on adhesion. For determination of adhesion was used tests like emergency braking, circle test and slalom. The major part contains specification of used vehicles, surfaces, weather conditions, measuring devices and realized tests. In addition to using accelerometer, there was a successful attempt to use timekeeping facilities to determine deceleration of vehicle. Acquired data were processed and compared to another publications.

Diploma thesis is aimed at deposition of thin films on glass fibers using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition from tetravinylsilane as a monomer. Such surface modified glass fibers were used as reinforcements for fabrication of polymer composites with unsaturated polyester resin as a matrix. Chemical and optical properties of prepared thin films were characterized using infared spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. An influence of deposited thin films on the shear strength of composite material was observed using short-beam shear test.

This diploma thesis summarizes knowledge from the fields of synthesis, characterization and application of titanium dioxide nanotubes and its combination with silver nanoparticles for biomedical purposes. Basic protocols of working with cell cultures and bacteria are also included. Experimental part of this diploma thesis focuses mainly on the synthesis of tubular structures made of titanium dioxide via anodic oxidation of 500nm titanium layer and their subsequent decoration with silver by electrodeposition. Last section of the experimental part is devoted to testing of antibacterial properties of the new material and examining the effect of different silver concentrations on the adhesion of MG-63 cells. All results are compared to reference samples consisting of titanium dioxide nanotubes without silver.

Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films possess great mechanical properties (low friction coefficient, high hardness etc.), chemical properties (e.g. low corrosivity or chemical inertness) and good biocompatibility. This makes them perspective materials for protective coatings of medical implants and devices. As bacteria biofilms are often very resistant to antibacterial treatment, materials with anti-bacterial or at least anti-adhesive properties are needed. The interaction of NCD films with bacteria has not been properly examined yet. The aim of this thesis was to introduce and optimize the methods for routine bacterial biofilm cultivation and analysis, use them to investigate the ability of NCD films to inhibit the attachment and biofilm formation of Escherichia coli and correlate it with the NCD surface hydrophobicity. The materials used for the study were hydrogenated NCD (hydrophobic), oxidized NCD (hydrophilic) and uncoated glass. For bacterial biofilm growth, cultivation in six-well plates and continuous cultivation in CDC Bioreactor was used. Several methods were tested for quantitative biofilm detachment and analysis. The putative anti-bacterial properties of NCD material were not confirmed in this work. Higher bacterial attachment to NCD films in comparison to the uncoated glass was...