Research

Ultra High Temperature Ceramics (UHTCs)

Ultra-high Temperature Ceramics (UHTCs) have gained considerable interest over the last few decades as potential candidates for hypersonic applications for which vehicles operate at speeds more than five times the speed of sound. Due to their sharp design, these vehicles may experience extremely high temperatures (exceeding 2000 ℃) and high air flow during re-entry in the atmosphere.

Material selection for such applications requires a very high melting temperature and an optimal blend of other properties such as oxidation resistance, thermal conductivity, thermal shock resistance, high-temperature mechanical stability, minimal thermal expansion, fabricability and cost.

The purpose of this research is to use a combined computational and experimental approach towards the design and development of high-performance UHTCs.

Oxidation studies on Mo-Si-B alloys

Material selection for high temperature applications requires a very high melting temperature and an optimal blend of other properties such as oxidation resistance, thermal conductivity, thermal shock resistance, high-temperature mechanical stability, minimal thermal expansion, fabricability and cost.

During oxidation, refractory metal alloys containing Si form glassy oxide layer which protects the underlying surface. The research aims at understanding the oxide stability and their protective nature at different temperatures. Diffusion through the scale plays an important role in understanding the oxidation behavior. The purpose of this research is to use a combined computational and experimental approach towards the design and development of high-performance materials.

Working at: IDEAs lab, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Department, IIT Ropar, Punjab, India

Under the guidance of: Dr. Pratik K Ray, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, IIT Ropar, Punjab, India

Hot Salt Stress Corrosion Cracking of Inconel 718

Superalloys are used for high temperature applications such as in gas turbine engine components as they exhibit excellent high temperature mechanical strength and resistance to creep at high temperatures, good surface stability, corrosion and oxidation resistance. The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) of India proposed to use Inconel 718 in turbine disc of Kaveri marine gas turbine engine.

Project included:

· Experimental investigation of SCC behavior of Inconel 718 alloy

· Slow strain rate testing and constant load testing

· Establishing effect of different salt coatings on SCC behavior of Inconel 718

· Correlating observed SCC behavior with material morphology through fractography

Work carried out at: Aqueous Corrosion Lab, IIT Bombay, Mumbai Maharashtra (2012-14).

Under the guidance of: Prof. V. S. Raja, Department of Metallurgical Engineering & Material Science, IIT Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Sponsored by: Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bangalore, India