Research Activities

Research Interests

Surface engineering for improving the corrosion and wear resistance of implant materials.

Effect of LASER surface peening on the crack initiation behaviour of stainless steel and nickel base alloys

Studying the mechanism of stress and/or strain induced martensitic transformation in the surface layers of austenitic stainless steel as a result of surface working

Engineering the surface properties of stainless steel, carbon steel and nickel based alloys for improved corrosion resistance.

Areas of Expertise

Extensive hands on experience on:

Material characterisation techniques as different resolution such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), stero microscopy and optical microscopy

Electrochemical surface imaging technique such as scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in addition to conventional electrochemical testing like cyclic voltammetry andimpedance spectroscopy. In situ study of the semi conducting nature of the surface film at high temperature (300 degree C) and pressure (10 MPa) by contact electric resistance (CER)and controlled distance electrochemistry (CDE) technique.

Research and Development Activities

Established the effect of surface working operations on the stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of 304L stainless steel.

Established the effect of surface working operations on the electrochemical and oxidation behaviour (at 300 degree C, 10 MPa) of 304L stainless steel.

Established the creation of a surface layer constituting of sub-micron sized grains and martensitic transformation near the surface of 304L stainless steel as a result of surface working operations.

Designed and developed of a Pd/H2 reference electrode setup for in situ electrochemical measurements in high temperature and high pressure static autoclave.

Optimized the duration of hot conditioning of primary heat transport systems in pressurized heavy-water reactors.

Established the effect of sensitization on the fracture toughness of austenitic stainless steel.