A cutting-edge study led by Prof. Kulkarni (MSE Dept, India) has made waves in the materials science community, earning the Editor’s Choice Award 2024 from Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A and a nomination for the Henry Marion Howe Medal 2025 by ASM International! 

What’s the breakthrough?
This research deciphers how Platinum and Aluminum strongly influence Nickel diffusion in the β-(Ni,Pt)Al system—used as bond coats to protect nickel-based superalloys in aircraft engines.

Key Insight:
Through precise cross-interdiffusion coefficient measurements, the team found a significant case of uphill diffusion—where Nickel is driven against its own concentration gradient!

Why it matters:
These findings explain how Platinum addition suppresses harmful nickel oxide formation in the thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer, leading to more durable and oxidation-resistant coatings in aerospace applications.

Team behind the innovation:

Prof. Kulkarni (Principal Investigator)

Dr. Biswarupa Samantaray (PhD Scholar, MSE)

Dr. Zafir Alam (DMRL)

Dr. Dipak Das (Retd. DMRL)

Funded by: GTMAP program, AR&DB–DRDO

Innovation rooted in fundamental science, pushing the boundaries of materials engineering for national defense and aerospace.