Material Science and Medical Group
| MATERIAL SCIENCE AND MEDICAL GROUP | PARAMITA MUKHERJEE | |
| Material Science Studies Division | Paramita Mukherjee | |
| Radiation Damage Studies Section | Gayathri N. Banerjee | |
| Medical Section (Dental) | Rajib Ghosal | |
| Medical Section (General) | Achintya Bhattacharya | |
| Chairperson, CHSS Committee | Paramita Mukherjee | |
Overview
Materials Science is an interdisciplinary field of science involving the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering. While encompassing phenomena at both smaller quantum levels and larger macroscopic dimensions, this field of science mostly focuses on establishing relationships between the structures of materials—spanning atomic dimensions to the micrometer scale—and their macroscopic properties.
The Radiation Damage Studies Section (under Material Science Studies Division) of Material Science and Medical Group specializes in ion irradiation research on structural materials, particularly those used in nuclear reactor cores. By employing various ion energies and dose, systematic studies are conducted to understand and establish correlations between the microstructure and mechanical properties of these materials.
To complement the experimental work, computational methods, including Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations are used to model and analyze ion irradiation effects in terms of type of defects, defect clusters (dislocation loops, stacking faults etc.), cluster composition, etc.Radiation Damage Studies (Experiment and Analysis)
• Ion irradiation at room temperature and high temperature using various ion beams from accelerators.
• Characterization of microstructure by X-Ray diffraction, FESEM based EBSD, EDX.
• Measuring mechanical properties using Vicker’s microhardness measurements/Universal Tensile Machine
• Establishing structure-property correlation of ion irradiated material..Defect Dynamics (simulation study)
• First principle study of defect behaviour using DFT.
• Understanding the basis of radiation damage in the material by molecular dynamics simulation techniquesDevelopment of specialised irradiation target stations (in collaboration with Mechanical Engineering Group and Accelerator Technology Group of VECC)
• High temperature irradiation station up to 500 deg C
• High power (500 W) target station for the Materials Science beamline at DAE-MCFResearch
(A) Characterization of microstructure by X-Ray diffraction
X-ray diffraction line profile analysis (XRDLPA) is a powerful technique used to characterize the microstructure of materials. This method provides insights into important microstructural parameters such as crystallite size and its distribution, microstrain, dislocation density, their character and distribution etc. Several model based and ab-initio methods are used concomitantly in a synergetic approach to leverage the strengths of both techniques to achieve comprehensive insights into materials' microstructure.
(B) Characterization of microstructure by FESEM based EBSD, EDX
Microstructural characterization is also being carried out using electron back scattered diffraction technique where changes in local microstructure are addressed in terms of various parameters such as LAM, KAM, Pattern misfit etc.
Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy is also being used for compositional analysis, which is helpful to study the radiation induced segregation in alloys.
(C)Understanding the basis of radiation damage in the material
(1) Molecular dynamics simulation techniques
Molecular dynamic simulation are being carried out using LAMMPS to simulate the radiation damage in the material and to corroborate with the experimental results. Currently, we are working on successive cascade damage on nuclear structural materials like Ni, Nb, Mo, Fe-Cr-Ni alloy etc. The evolution of radiation induced defects like point defects, dislocation loops, stacking fault tetrahedron etc., are studied as a function of irradiation dose/dpa. The effect of pre-existing defects/dislocation on the evolution of microstructure are also studied. Efforts are also being carried out to study the changes in mechanical properties after irradiation using molecular dynamic simulation.(2) First principle DFT calculations
DFT calculations are being carried out using VASP software to understand the defect stability in various alloy systems. Studies on defect cluster configurations, calculation vacancy binding energies, stacking fault energies for alloys with and without defect etc. are being carried out.
(D) Materials Studied:
Zirconium based alloys (Zircaloy-2, Zr-2.5%Nb and Zirlo), Varieties of Stainless steels and Ferritic Martenistic steels, Nb and its alloy, V and its alloy, Ti and its alloy, Al and its alloy, Ni and its alloys etc.Facilities
X-RAY DIFFRACTOMETER
Make: Bruker
Model : D8 AdvanceFeatures
• X-ray diffraction pattern in theta-theta mode, GIXRD mode.
• High temperature : Pt strip heater (upto 14000 C).
• X-ray sources: Cu ( lavg = 1.54 Å), Co (lavg = 1.79 Å).
• LynxEye detector
Application
• XRD of powder and solid samples.
• XRD measurement at low and high temperatures.
• Microstructural characterisation using XRD Line profile analysis.
FIELD EMISSION SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (FESEM)
Make : Carl Zeiss
Model : SUPRA 55
Features
• Max accelerating voltage : 30KV
• Resolution : 1nm@ 15KV
• Probe current : 4 pA to 10 nA
• In-lens SE detector
• EDX and EBSD from HKL OxfordApplication
• Microstructure of metals and non-metals
• Microtexture of metals and alloys Fractography and Composition analysisUNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE(UTM) - INSTRON
Maek: Instron
Features
• Screw driven
• Maximum load 100KN
• Wedge grip and screw gripApplication
• Determination of Tensile properties like Ultimate tensile strength, Yield strength, percentage elongation.
MICROHARDNESS
Make : Omnitech
Features
• Vickers indenter
• Load range 1 gram-force[gf] to 30 kilogram-force [kgf]
• Associated optical microscope with (25X to 400X) magnificationApplication
• Determination of Vickers micro-hardness.
OPTICAL MICROSCOPE
Make : Carl Zeiss
Features
• Inverted sample stage with Halogen illumination
• Magnification range :50X to 1000X
• Imaging modes :Bright Field, Dark Field, Polarised and Differential Interference Contrast
• Digital Imaging and Software IntegrationApplication
• Microstructural observation and analysis for quantitative microstructural parameters (such as grain size distribution etc).
SIMULTANEOUS THERMAL ANALYSER
STA 449 F1 Make :Netzsch Technologies
Features
• Simultaneous heat flow and Mass change measurement from RT to 1200 deg C
• Rapid Heating Rates – Up to 50 K/min for dynamic experiments.
• Various Sample Holders – Platinum, alumina, and other materials for different applications.
• Transformation enthalpies: analysis of peak areas, partial peak areas etc.
• High Sensitivity Balance – Microgram-level weight changes detectable.Application
• Phase transitions, thermal stability etc. (DSC)
| Article | Author | Journal/Symposium | Year |
| A Comparative study of irradiation response of indigenously developed and imported western grade reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel | A. P. Srivastava, S. Saini, N. K. Sarkar, S. Neogy, R. Tewari, C. C. Gupta, R. N. Singh, S. K. Sharma, P. K. Pujari, Harish, Vivek Shrivastav, P. K. Mishra, R. D. Babu, A. Dutta, N. Gayathri, P. Mukherjee | Technical Report (BARC Report, Internal, BARC/2021/I/021 (2021) | 2021 |
| Microstructural and mechanical property evolution of reactor pressure vessel steels under proton irradiation | Sanjay Saini, N.K. Sarkar, A.P. Srivastava, S. Neogy and R. Tewari, Satish Mishra and S. K. Ghosh, S.K. Sharma, Harish, Vivek Shrivastav and P.K. Mishra, A. Dutta, S. Dey, N. Gayathri and P. Mukherjee | Technical Report (BARC Report, Internal, BARC/2023/I/015, (2023) | 2023 |
| Effects of Cold Rolling–Induced Defects on Proton Irradiation Response in Nb-1Zr-0.1C Alloy | Argha Dutta, Apu Sarkar, N. Gayathri, Sandip Bysakh, Arpan Arora, Santu Dey, S. Srivastava, Suhrit Mula & P. Mukherjee | Nuclear Science and Engineering | 2024 |
| Influence of alloying elements on stacking fault energy in Ni and Ni-based alloy: A first–principles study | Paramita Patra, S. Dey, N. Gayathri, P. Mukherjee | Computational and Theoretical Chemistry | 2024 |
| PKA Energy dependence of defect evolution in ion irradiated Fe-15Ni-15Cr alloy – a successive cascade study using molecular dynamics simulation | Soumita Chakraborty, Argha Dutta, Santu Dey, N. Gayathri and P. Mukherjee | Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids | 2024 |
| Micro-structural analysis of oxygen irradiated V-4Cr-4Ti by X-ray and electron back scattered diffraction | Santu Dey, N. Gayathri, Argha Dutta, Chiranjib Majumder, Sandip Bysakh, Tapatee Kundu Roy, P. Mukherjee | Fusion Engineering and Design | 2023 |
| Proton irradiation, tribological and corrosion characteristics of Fe-Ni based ODS alloys | Arpan Arora, Argha Dutta, N. Gayathri, Suhrit Mula | Materials Today Communications | 2023 |
| Mechanical design of target holder for irradiation damage experiment at high power | Pranab Bhattachryya, Rahul Biswas, Arijit Dutta, Anjan Dutta Gupta, Anirban De, N. Gayathri, Paramita Mukherjee | Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A | 2023 |
| Microstructure and defect evolution in oxygen ion-irradiated pure nickel–Insights from experimental probes and molecular dynamics simulations | Uttiyoarnab Saha, Argha Dutta, Chethan Konkati, Soumita Chakraborty, Santu Dey, Ankur Chauhan, Sachin Srivastava, N Gayathri, P Mukherjee | Materials Chemistry and Physics | 2023 |
| Effect of Oxygen Ion Irradiation on Nb-1Zr-0.1 C Alloy Characterized Using X-Ray Diffraction Line Profile Analysis | Argha Dutta, Apu Sarkar, Sandip Bysakh, Uttiyoarnab Saha, N Gayathri, Santu Dey, P Mukherjee | Nuclear Science and Engineering | 2023 |
| Characterization of ion-induced microstructural changes in oxygen irradiated Ti–6Al–4V | Santu Dey, Argha Dutta, N. Gayathri, P. Mukherjee, Tapatee Kundu Roy, | Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids, | 2022 |
| Post irradiated microstructure and mechanical properties of pure V, | N.Gayathri, P.Mukherjee, Sudipta Mandal, Apu Sarkar, Uttiyoarnab Saha, S. Dey A.Dutta, T.K.Roy, Suman Neogy | Journal of Nuclear Materials | 2022 |
| A novel approach to analyse combined pre and post strain rate dependent phase transformation in uniaxially deformed AISI 304 stainless steel using XRD and EBSD | S Dey, N Gayathri, P Mukherjee, Argha Dutta, Manoj Kumar Mitra | Philosophical Magazine | 2022 |
| Influence of proton irradiation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb-1Zr-0.1C alloy, | Argha Dutta, Apu Sarkar, P.Mukherjee, N.Gayathri, Santu Dey, S.Neogy, Archna Sagdeo, | Journal of Nuclear Materials | 2021 |
| Microstructural characterisation of 160 MeV oxygen irradiated niobium | Argha Dutta, P.Mukherjee, N. Gayathri, Santu Dey, Suman Neogy & Tapatee Kundu Roy | Philosophical Magazine | 2021 |
| Microstructural evolution of proton irradiated Fe-2.25Cr–1Mo characterized using synchrotron XRD (SXRD) | Argha Dutta, Santu Dey, N.Gayathri, P.Mukherjee, Tapatee Kundu Roy, Archna Sagdeo, S.Neogy, | Radiation Physics and Chemistry | 2021 |
| Characterization of ion induced damage as a function of depth in proton irradiated pure Ti and Ti–6Al–4V | Santu Dey, Argha Dutta, P.Mukherjee, N.Gayathri, Anjan Dutta Gupta and Tapatee Kundu Roy | Journal of Alloys and Compounds | 2020 |
| Synchrotron GIXRD and slow positron beam characterisation of Ar ion irradiated pure V and V-4Cr-4Ti alloy: Candidate structural material for Fusion reactor application. | Sudipta Mandal, S.K.Sharma, N.Gayathri, K.Sudarshan, P.Mukherjee, P.K.Pujari, Ranjini Menon, P.Y.Nabhiraj, Archna Sagdeo | Fusion Engineering and Design | 2020 |
| An approach in the analysis of microstructure of proton irradiated T91 through XRDLPA using synchrotron and laboratory source | ArghaDutta, N.Gayathri, P.Mukherjee, Santu Dey, Sudipta Mandal, Tapatee Kundu Roy, Apu Sarkar, S.Neogy, Archna Sagdeo | Journal of Nuclear Materials | 2019 |
| Effect of ion and neutron irradiation on oxide of PHWR fuel tube material | Gargi Choudhuri, Prerna Mishra, S.Basu, N.Gayathri, P.Mukherjee, V.Kain, D.Mukherjee, D.Srivastava, G.K.Dey | Journal of Nuclear Materials | 2019 |
| Microstructural investigation of irradiation damage behavior of proton irradiated Zr-1 wt.% Nb fuel cladding alloy | S.Saini, N.Gayathri, S.K.Sharma, Aruna Devi, A.P. Srivastava, S.Neogy, P.Mukherjee, P.K.Pujari | Journal of Nuclear Materials | 2019 |
| Proton irradiation of Ni–Cr alloy: Understanding the evolution of the damage microstructure | A.P.Srivastava, N.Gayathri, S.Saini, Priya Maheshwari, S.Neogy, S.K.Sharma, P.S.Ghosh, P.Mukherjee, P.K.Pujari | Journal of Alloys and Compounds | 2019 |
| Observation of radiation enhanced phase formation and subsequent dissolution at very high doses in Ar9+ ion irradiated Ti-modified stainless steel | N.Gayathri, Kalipada Das, P.Mukherjee, Ranjini Menon and P.Y.Nabhiraj | Radiation Physics and Chemistry | 2019 |
| Positron Annihilation Study of Zr-2.5 wt.% Nb alloy Irradiated by Ar9+ heavy ions | Aruna Devi , Ranjini Menon, Priya Maheswari, S.Neogy, P. Mukherjee,P.Y. Nabhiraj, P.K.Pujari, D. Srivastava and G.K. Dey | Journal of Physics | 2018 |
| Depth profiling of ion-induced damage in D9 alloy using X-ray diffraction | S. Dey, N. Gayathri & P. Mukherjee | Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids | 2018 |
| Microstructural characterisation of proton irradiated niobium using X-ray diffraction technique | Argha Dutta, N. Gayathri, S. Neogy & P.Mukherjee | Philosophical Magazine | 2018 |
| Effect of Ar9+ irradiation on Zr-1Nb-1Sn-0.1Fe alloy characterized by Grazing Incidence X-ray diffraction technique | Argha Dutta, Kalipada Das, N. Gayathri, Ranjini Menon, P.Y. Nabhiraj, Paramita Mukherjee | Radiation Physics and Chemistry | 2018 |
| Effect of heavy ion irradiation and α+β phase heat treatment on Oxide of Zr-2.5Nb pressure tube material | Gargi Choudhuri, P. Mukherjee, N. Gayathri, V. Kain, M. Kiran Kumar, D. Srivastava, S. Basu, D. Mukherjee, G.K. Dey | Journal of Nuclear Materials | 2017 |
| Proton irradiation studies on pure Ti and Ti-6Al-4V | A. Dutta Gupta, P. Mukherjee, N. Gayathri, P. Bhattacharyya, M. Bhattacharya, Apu Sarkar, S. Sen, M.K. Mitra | Nuclear Inst. and Methods in Physics Research B | 2016 |
| Proton irradiation of Zr–1 wt.% Nb cladding material: A depth-wise assessment of inhomogeneous microstructural damage using X-ray diffraction line profile analyses | S. Neogy, P. Mukherjee, A.P. Srivastava, M.N. Singh, N. Gayathri, A.K. Sinha, D. Srivastava, G.K. Dey | Journal of alloys and Compounds | 2015 |
| Microstructural investigation of Zirconium alloys subjected to oxygen ions irradiations, In Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids: Incorporating Plasma Science and Plasma Technology | R. Tewari, G. Sanyal, B. Viswanath, P. Mukherjee, P. Barat, A. P. Srivastava, S. Saha, K. Muraleedharan & G. K. Dey | R. Tewari, G. Sanyal, B. Viswanath, P. Mukherjee, P. Barat, A. P. Srivastava, S. Saha, K. Muraleedharan & G. K. Dey | 2013 |
| Study of alpha irradiation on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of nanocrystalline Ni | Garima Sharma, P. Mukherjee, A. Chatterjee, N. Gayathri, A. Sarkar, J.K. Chakraborthy | Acta Materialia | 2013 |
| Investigation of Portevin-le chatelier effect in Al-2.5 pct Mg alloy with different microstructure. | A. Sarkar, P. Barat, P. Mukherjee | Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A | 2013 |
| "Microstructural Characterisation of Structural Materials of Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor" | "P. Mukherjee, P. Barat, A. Sarkar, M. Bhattacharya, N. Gayathri, “Nuclear Materials”, Michael P. Hemsworth (Ed.)" | Nova Science Publishers | 2011 |
| Surface effects on the velocity of dislocations at the nanoscale. | "M. Bhattacharya, A. Dutta, P. Mukherjee, N. Gayathri, G. C. Das, P. Barat" | Int. J. of Nanoscience | 2011 |
| Temperature Dependence of the Dynamics of Portevin-Le Chatelier Effect in Al-2.5%Mg Alloy. | A. Chatterjee, K.L.Murthy, N. Gayathri, P. Mukherjee, P. Barat | Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A | 2011 |
| In situ Studies of Evolution of Microstructure with Temperature in Heavily Deformed Ti-modified Austenitic Stainless Steel by X-ray Diffraction Technique. | "P.S.Chowdhury, N. Gayathri, P. Mukherjee, M. Bhattacharya, A. Chatterjee, A. Dutta, P. Barat" | Materials Science & Engineering A | 2011 |
| Oxygen Ion Irradiation Effect on Corrosion Brhaviour of CP-Ti in Nitric Acid Medium. | S. Ningshen, U. Kamachi, P. Mukherjee, P. Barat, Baldev Raj | Journal of Nuclear Materials | 2011 |
| Post irradiated microstructural characterization of Zr-1Nb alloy by X-ray diffraction technique and positron annihilation spectroscopy. | P.S.Chowdhury, P. Mukherjee, N. Gayathri, M. Bhattacharya, A. Chatterjee, P. Barat, P.M.G. Nambissan | Bulletin of Materials Science | 2011 |
| Name | Contact Number | Member Details | |
| Shankar Kumar | +91 33 23182404 | shankar.k@vecc.gov.in | Details |
| Sanjoy Mazumder | +91 33 23182409 | sanjoym@vecc.gov.in | Details |
| Soumita Chakraborty | +91 33 23182305 | soumita.c@vecc.gov.in | Details |
| Santu Dey | +91-33-23182412 | santu@vecc.gov.in | Details |
| Paramita Mukherjee | +91 33 23182220 | paramita@vecc.gov.in | Details |
| Gayathri N. Banerjee | +91 33 23182316 | gayathri@vecc.gov.in | Details |
| Argha Dutta | +91-33-23182411 | a.dutta@vecc.gov.in | Details |