PhD Scholars

Radha is studying phase stability in, and mechanical properties of, low-Al AlxCoCrFeNi alloys. She has worked on the interaction of recrystallization and precipitation during post-deformation annealing of these alloys. Her study reveals issues regarding nucleation and growth of competing precipitate phases in the system which play a role on their mechanical properties. She has designed custom heat treatments and targeted welding and post-welding treatments to shed light on nucleation of precipitation and its contribution to the overall strength of these alloys. Prof. Rajesh is her co-adviser.

Shobhit is trying to simulate the behavior of memristor devices using analytical models.

Sonali is working on weld deposition of hard, intermetallics-based coatings on titanium.

Vivek recenly submitted his doctoral thesis on film-substrate reaction and diffusion induced structural patterns in immiscibile alloy (specifically, Ag-Cu) thin films. These systems exhibit interesting functional and mechanical properties, and Vivek studied how phase separation in them interacts with a film-substrate reaction. He developed an analytical model of diffusional growth of reaction prpducts formed in thin films which revealed a new scaling relation very different from the conventional Zener limit. He also did careful TEM diffraction work and diffraction simulations to explore the incommensurate/commensurate structure of copper silicide formed by the film-substrate reaction.

Athira defended her dissertation in June 2024 on welding response of precipitation strengthened superalloys. Her work brought out the critical role played by fine grain boundary precipitates on the microstructure and properties of welded and post weld heat treated Ni-base superalloys. In contrast to Ni-base alloys, she showed that the precipitation of the gamma prime phase in a recently developed Co-base superalloy happens very rapidly during weld cooling and it leads to a very different welding response. While some findings were rationalized based on thermodynamics and kinetics, some are still being worked out.

Pankaj's work established a computational methodology to study morphological evolution in binary nanoparticles (BNPs). He developed an embedded domain phase field model for studying phase separation in finite systems using FFT-based algorithms. The work highlighted a connection between BNP morphologies (e.g., core-shell, Janus, inverse core-shell) and variables such as temperature, composition, particle size and contact angle.

I was the co-adviser of Upender who worked on Nb-bearing high entropy alloys (HEAs). His work highlighted how attractive combinations of strength ductility in Co-Cr-Fe-Ni based HEAs can be achieved by combining alloy design and thermomechanical processing.

Yahea studied microstructure formation in, and wear properties of, intermetallics-based coatings on titanium-based materials produced by weld deposition of nickel. A part of this work was published in the Proceedings of ICM3 with Vivek, Prof. Suryakumar and Prof. Bharat as co-authors. Just started his doctoral work at IISc, Bangalore.

Bhuwanadithya worked on dissimilar welds between superalloys and stainless steels. Currently workin with Fourvision Instruments.

Dhakshayani worked on laser DED of PH-4 stainless less and post-deposition heat treatment. (Prof. M. Gopinath., Department of MAE, was her co-superviser)

Lakhvinder looked at the effect of welding variables on microstructure and mechanical properties of the Ni-base superalloy Haynes-282.

Worked jointly with Dr. Dheepa Srinivasan at the Pratt&Whitney R&D Center on AM of superalloy XH67.

Worked on physical metallurgy of high-alloy (Ni, Mo, Cr) steels.

Went on to complete his PhD from TMU (Japan)on additive manufacturing of superalloys. Currently a postdoc at IIT Bombay.

Jagadeesh did his project with me on weld deposition of nickel on titanium. He is working with the Nissan India group now.

Pradeep's project with me was on dissimilar metal welding. He then did his PhD from JWRI, Osaka University, and is currently working with Suzuki.