Rakesh K. Sahoo

Synthesis of low carbon boron carbide powder using a minimal time processing route: Thermal plasma

Abstract Boron carbide powder was synthesized by thermal plasma reduction of boric acid in presence of graphite with a very minimal processing time. Subsequently, the as-synthesized products were leached to minimize the impurities content. Based on the results of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, the effect of leaching on phase purity and crystallinity was studied. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was performed to identify the chemical composition which highlighted the absence of the B–O bonding in the deconvoluted B 1s core-level spectrum. Finally, the temperature dependent thermal conductivity behavior of the leached materials was analyzed and presented.

A Study on Variation of Microstructural Parameters in Titanium Alloys during near Superplastic Regime of Deformation

Deformation of Titanium alloys close to optimal superplastic condition i.e. near superplastic regime of deformation leads to significant change in microstructures.VT-9 titanium alloy was used in order to find out those parameters of microstructure which are varying significantly during near superplastic regime of deformation. Tensile tests were carried out at 930°C up to fracture with a constant strain rate of 5*10-4 s-1 and a jump wise varying strain rate of 1*10-4 s-1 & 5*10-4 s-1 .The microstructural parameters of both air-cooled and water quenched portion i.e. size of alpha phase, percentages of alpha phase and parameter of non-uniaxiality of alpha phase were found to change significantly during near superplastic regime of deformation. It has been found that in the near superplastic regime of deformation percentage of α-phase decreased from 90% to 13%. As the β-transus temperature of this alloy is 970°C, this significant change in percentage of α-phase is attributed to deformation induced phase transformation. Optical microscopes, micro Vickers hardness test, XRD, FESEM have been used to characterize the microstructure of the material.

Synergetic Surface and Chemical Durability Study of the Aesthetically Enhanced Natural Quartz by Heat Treatment

The change in surface behavior of natural quartz stone before and after heat treatment with metal oxides such as: cobalt oxide (Co3O4) and copper oxide (Cu2O) under vacuum and open atmosphere has been investigated. The surface feature, bulk density and hardness value of quartz changed after heat treatment, converting to a high value product. Difference in crystallinity of quartz, pre- and post-heat treatment was obtained through X-ray diffraction (XRD) study. The electron probe microanalysis results clearly explicated the diffusion of metal ion in quartz matrix exposed under vacuum atmosphere but as coating on the surface under open atmosphere. The structural transformation of quartz after heat treatment has been observed from the XRD data and well corroborated with the nanoindentation results. Durability of such quartz to chemical hazardous environment was observed. Thus, this communication demonstrates the change in physical and chemical characteristics of natural quartz stone after heat treatment under different atmosphere.