Research
My main research interest is in effective ways to improve ways in communicating science and technology.. I have no publications in this field, neither have I received any formal training in this field.. but that is the area where most of the time I think.. and try to innovate and improve.
However if the major research areas [in conventional terms (!)] need to be defined, then
a) Fibres and
b) Fibre reinforced composites
have been and would be my key interest areas. Some of the detailed research endeavours have been outlined below
However if the major research areas [in conventional terms (!)] need to be defined, then
a) Fibres and
b) Fibre reinforced composites
have been and would be my key interest areas. Some of the detailed research endeavours have been outlined below
The world of natural fibres and reinforced composites
My major research interests revolve around natural fibres. The picture in the left shows the banana pseudostem partially "decorticated" to yield the fibres.
My post doctoral work [with Prof. Raul Fangueiro, Fibrous Material Research Group, Uminho, Portugal] was with these fibres - their modifications, and use in fibre reinforced composite materials. These bast fibres are really interesting entities and I am involved in two ongoing projects with such fibres.
I have worked with other natural fibres like sisal, coir and jute. The work involving sisal fibres was with Mr. Srikanta where the aging of sisal fibres had interesting effect on fibre and composite properties. Details of the project and some findings are available at www.linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0141391008002437
The extraction of sisal is very well demonstrated in the link http://www.herbvideos.com/rope.htm
I am also involved with Prof. A Ghosh, Centre for Polymer Science, IIT Delhi, in developing green composites.
Natural fibres are interesting materials - posing myriad challenges with their complexities and it would be my principal quest to understand them.
My post doctoral work [with Prof. Raul Fangueiro, Fibrous Material Research Group, Uminho, Portugal] was with these fibres - their modifications, and use in fibre reinforced composite materials. These bast fibres are really interesting entities and I am involved in two ongoing projects with such fibres.
I have worked with other natural fibres like sisal, coir and jute. The work involving sisal fibres was with Mr. Srikanta where the aging of sisal fibres had interesting effect on fibre and composite properties. Details of the project and some findings are available at www.linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0141391008002437
The extraction of sisal is very well demonstrated in the link http://www.herbvideos.com/rope.htm
I am also involved with Prof. A Ghosh, Centre for Polymer Science, IIT Delhi, in developing green composites.
Natural fibres are interesting materials - posing myriad challenges with their complexities and it would be my principal quest to understand them.
Regenerated fibres
Lyocell fibres - for the layman - is a type of regenerated cellulosic fibre. It was again very interesting to work with lyocell in the doctoral work of G Ramakrishnan.
I have also worked with regenerated bamboo fibres along with Dr Abhijit Majumdar [Details at www.linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1290072910001523] trying to look into the thermal properties of the fibres knitted in the form of fabric.
I have also worked with regenerated bamboo fibres along with Dr Abhijit Majumdar [Details at www.linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1290072910001523] trying to look into the thermal properties of the fibres knitted in the form of fabric.
Natural fibres in industrial applications
Fibre reinforced concrete.. This was interesting learning jointly with Prof. Bhattacharya from Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi. Natural fibres reinforced concrete had superior flexural and other mechanical properties.. Btech students Arjun and Vivek worked on this project. We have plans for furthering this project
In one of the Masters thesis [along with Prof V Babu, Civil Engineering], we explored natural fibres in different forms for concrete curing applications. Mr. Premkumar, the Masters student did a good job and the project was selected as the best Masters project in the Institute.
In another project, jointly with Dr Butola, one of the Masters students Mr. Pranith explored possibilities of a permanent Fire retardant application on jute based materials. He got encouraging results with some of the optimised conditions. The results are in the process of being communicated.
In a recent Masters level project by Mr. Rajib, the effect of short natural fibre reinforced composites were explored for vibration damping. A flexible fibre cutter was developed for cutting the coarse natural fibres to desired length for reinforcement.
In one of the Masters thesis [along with Prof V Babu, Civil Engineering], we explored natural fibres in different forms for concrete curing applications. Mr. Premkumar, the Masters student did a good job and the project was selected as the best Masters project in the Institute.
In another project, jointly with Dr Butola, one of the Masters students Mr. Pranith explored possibilities of a permanent Fire retardant application on jute based materials. He got encouraging results with some of the optimised conditions. The results are in the process of being communicated.
In a recent Masters level project by Mr. Rajib, the effect of short natural fibre reinforced composites were explored for vibration damping. A flexible fibre cutter was developed for cutting the coarse natural fibres to desired length for reinforcement.
Other areas
My PhD work was with Polypropylene filaments and single polymer composites. It was about exploring a new drawing [stretching] process for different varieties of polypropylene [as a post-spinning operation] and using the high modulus/tenacity filaments in single polymer composites.
Working on the interphase properties of fibre reinforced composites with different fibre modifications.. Two bachelor level and one Masters level work explored the importance of the interphase.
Presently collaborating with Prof. Suneet Tuli in the field of non-destructive characterisation of fibre reinforced composite materials.
Working on the interphase properties of fibre reinforced composites with different fibre modifications.. Two bachelor level and one Masters level work explored the importance of the interphase.
Presently collaborating with Prof. Suneet Tuli in the field of non-destructive characterisation of fibre reinforced composite materials.