Title: High Temperature Mechanical Deformation and Fracture Behavior of Nickel Based Super-alloys (module III).

Abstract: The CM 247 alloy is designed primarily for directionally solidified turbine blade and vane applications. Directional solidification (DS) reduces the number of grain boundaries transverse to the primary loading axis, obtaining improved creep resistance. In DS blades the [001] crystallographic orientation is the preferred orientation along the blade principal axis. During service condition, these components are exposed to severe stress conditions and temperature fluctuation. These service conditions induce low cycle fatigue, creep and creep-fatigue damage in the material. The present proposal aims at studying creep-fatigue interaction behaviour of CM 247 DS nickel base superalloys at temperatures above 750oC and 850oC and studying the microstructural changes through extensive scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

Title: Beneficiation of lepidolite bearing pegmatite/aplite for lithium minerals concentrate

Abstract: The proposed work is a part of SERB-National Post-Doctoral Fellowship to Dr. Saroj Kumar Sahoo (GAP-0293) titled “Recovery of lithium minerals concentrate from lepidolite bearing pegmatite “. Lepidolite occurs in alkaline pegmatite/aplites globally and is associated with albite, quartz and exotic minerals of trace metals (Cs, Nb, Ta, Sn etc). The ore and gangue, both being silicates with similar physical property, their separation by beneficiation has a scientific challenge. International research effort is continuing for beneficiation by flotation but is not translated to commercial scale. The proposed work explores developing/improving in beneficiation strategy. Out of the two modules, the proposed work aims at working on Module-1: Collection of lepidolite bearing pegmatite from India, their mineralogical/chemical characteristics and innovative protocol development (effect of activators, depressants, grain size etc.) for beneficiation by flotation.