Education

Ph.D. Metallurgical Engineering, Bhanarus Hindu University, 2002

B.E. Metallurgical Engineering, 1986

Experience

• Professor, School of Engineering Sciences and Technology, University of Hyderabad, 2023

• Scientist B to Scientist H at Defense Metallurgical Research Laboratory, 1987-2023

  • Positions & Contributions at DRDO-DMRL

    • Outstanding Scientist & Associate Director

    • Head, Powder Processing Group of DMRL for about 14 years 

    • He was Project Director for a number of prestigious projects. He made outstanding contributions in establishment of structure property correlations in a wide-range of advanced high temperature materials processed through P/M route involving Cold Isostatic Pressing (CIP) and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) techniques. The sustained R&D efforts of Prof. Rao have been translated into the establishment of indigenous technologies for manufacture of critical components for application in Defence, Space, Atomic Energy and other Strategic Sectors. The following are some of the significant technological achievements of Prof. Appa Rao:

    • Establishment of the state-of-the-art CIP-Technology for the first-time in the country to manufacture high quality ceramic radar-radomes for missiles that contributes to self reliance in missile defence systems. The CIP technology for silica radomes has been successfully transferred to industries for bulk production.

    •  Innovation driven R&D has been carried out and established a novel CIP + sintering technology for consolidation of silicon nitride powder to realize desired combination of properties  in relation to manufacture of high-performance radar-domes for high Mach missile application.

    •  Indigenous P/M (HIP) technology has been developed for manufacture of monolithic (stainless steel) and dual-material (Ni-base superalloys) integral turbine rotors for missiles and space vehicles respectively.

    •  A special concept in HIP-diffusion bonding of INRAFM steel has been stablished and successfully demonstrated the fabrication of scale-down version of Test Blanket Modules with excellent bond integrity and channel configuration for ITER application.

    • The most sophisticated and cost-effective HIP-technology has been established for defect-healing of Aluminum, Nickel and Ti-alloy castings for improvement of quality and reliability for critical applications.

    • Established high quality powder production center to realize different class of superalloy powders amenable to manufacture of net or near-net shaped components by HIPing and Additive Manufacturing (AM) methods.

    • Established the Center of Excellence for Isostatic Processing of Ceramic Materials for Radomes. The center has the unique facilities and first-of its kind in the country for processing of advanced materials.

    • Recently, completed an S&T project on indigenous development of Powder Metallurgy Ni-base superalloy aeroengine turbine discs and successfully demonstrated realization of sub-size discs with targeted metallurgical properties.    

Memberships, Awards & Recognition

• Fellow of Telangana Academy of Sciences

• Fellow of Indian Institute of Metals. 

• Life Member 

  1. Powder Metallurgy Association of India

  2. Indian Institute of Metals

  3. Magnetic Society of India

• Expert Member of AR&DB (MM Panel) 

• Editor of Transactions of Indian Institute of Metals

• National Technology Day Award-2023, Gold Medal 

• DRDO Scientist of the year Award 2018

• Technology Group Awards-2018 and 2005

• Laboratory Scientist of the year Award 2007

• Prof. GS.Tendulkar Best Paper Award 2010

• DMRL- Best Technical Paper Awards 2022 and 2006

• The best P/M product awards from PMAI during 2005, 1998 and 1992.