Research Areas

Materials used in fusion reactors must withstand high temperatures, cyclic stresses, and irradiation over long service lifetimes. Time-dependent deformation (creep) plays a critical role in determining the structural integrity of these components. My research focuses on understanding creep mechanisms in spark plasma sintered (SPS) ferritic–martensitic steels and Cu-based high-conductivity alloys designed for high-heat-flux applications. Through high-temperature nanoindentation and bulk creep testing, I examine how thermally stable MX and M₂₃C₆ precipitates formed during optimized heat treatments stabilize lath boundaries and slow microstructural coarsening. These studies help reveal how microstructural design can significantly improve the creep resistance of fusion-relevant alloys, contributing to safer and more efficient reactor components. 

Ultra-high-temperature ceramics (UHTCs) such as WC-based systems are widely used in extreme environments including aerospace, cutting tools, and thermal-protection systems but their inherently low fracture toughness limits broader applications. Understanding how cracks initiate and propagate in these brittle materials is essential for improving their reliability. Through indentation fracture studies, I investigate crack opening, crack deflection, and microstructural toughening in monolithic carbides such as WC, VC and their composites (WC-SiC, VC-SiC). The addition of SiC is known to refine microstructure and enhance toughening via mechanisms such as crack bridging and grain-boundary deflection. These insights are important for designing tougher, more damage-resistant ceramics suitable for high-temperature and high-wear environments.