| Professor
Balasubramaniam’s major areas of research interest are
corrosion science and engineering, materials-hydrogen interactions,
and archaeometallurgy. After graduating in metallurgical engineering
from the BHU in 1984 with a gold medal, he completed his PhD
in materials engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
USA in 1990. He has, since then, been at the Indian Institute
of Technology, Kanpur in the Department of Materials and Metallurgical
Engineering. He is the recipient of several prestigious awards
like the BHU University Gold Medal (1984), BHU Ghandhy Gold
Medal (1984), Indian Institute of Metals Vishwa Bharathi Award
(1984), INSA Young Scientist Award (1993), Humboldt Fellowship
(1996), MRSI Medal (1999), Metallurgist of the Year (1999),
Marathi Sahitya Parishad Shershtha Prize (2008) and Indian
Institute of Metals Educator of the Year (2009). The widely
published author is the author of nine books including the
popular text book Callister’s Materials Science and
Engineering (Wiley India, New Delhi, 2007, Paperback, ISBN-81-265-1076-5)
and is on the editorial board of several international journals.
His significant research work on the famous Delhi Iron Pillar
has received national and international acclaim. Some significant
scientific and professional engineering accomplishments are
summarized below.
Corrosion
Science and Engineering
Corrosion science refers to environmental degradation of engineering
materials, which occurs by aqueous corrosion at ambient temperature
and oxidation at high temperatures. The corrosion behavior
of a range of engineering materials has been addressed by
the nominee and new insights on the nature of passive films
and passivation mechanisms have been elucidated by Professor
Balasubramaniam. The engineering materials studied include
a wide range of materials like nanocrystalline materials,
iron aluminides, composite materials, phosphoric irons, corrosion-resistant
rail steel, copper in soil, couples of light metal industrial
alloys of Al and Mg and biomaterials. His research has revealed
the important role played by the passive films on the corrosion
resistance of these advanced engineering materials. The role
of alloying additions in enhancing passivation has been stressed
as the most appropriate method to prevent corrosion, in contrast
to temporary methods like surface coatings that only control
corrosion but not prevent it altogether. This idea has been
innovatively used by Professor Balasubramaniam in the development
of phosphoric irons for concrete reinforcement applications
and novel corrosion resistant rail steels. These materials
exhibit superior corrosion resistance compared to the materials
currently in use. The corrosion resistant rail steel developed
by the team headed by him has been recommended for use by
the Indian Railways. These new rail compositions have shown
good results in field tests in corrosion-prone sea coast areas.
After completion of field trials, the corrosion-resistant
rails will find service in Indian Railways. A significant
amount of monetary savings is anticipated in this application.
Professor Balasubramaniam is involved in major alloy development
initiatives in consultation with user industries and manufacturers.
The corrosion behavior of light metal couples for automotive
applications is being investigated in a major project sponsored
by General Motors, USA. He has interacted actively with Honeywell
Corportaion, USA in the development of nanostructured coatings
for corrosion mitigation of aerospace alloys and MEMS devices.
A major project is underway where coating technologies to
replace cadmium coatings in the aerospace industry is being
actively explored. This is sponsored by Boeing, USA.
As a mark of recognition for his research dealing with corrosion,
he is on the Editorial Board of several prestigious international
corrosion journals.
Materials-Hydrogen
Interactions
The issues addressed by Professor Balasubramaniam in materials-hydrogen
interactions relate to hydrogen embrittlement of materials,
hysteresis in metal-hydrogen systems and fundamental understanding
of hydrogen behaviour (like hydrogen solubility, hydrogen
diffusivity, etc.) in composite materials. He has revealed
the important role played by hydrogen (formation of brittle
hydrides) in the stress corrosion cracking of Al-Li alloys.
Novel heat treatment procedures (retrogressing and re-ageing
treatments) have been successfully evaluated for lowering
the degree of embrittlement. Hydrogen behaviour in composite
materials (especially Pd-nanooxide systems) has been addressed
in detail. The role of hydrogen trapping at reversible and
irreversible trapping sites in the material has been co-related
to several material properties. Hydrogen behaviour (like thermodynamics,
diffusivity, hydrogen-induced phase separation, etc.) has
been understood in several Pd-nanooxide composite systems.
Professor Balasubramaniam has been actively researching materials
for hydrogen energy systems. An important problem in the utilization
of hydrogen storage materials (and hence, hydrogen energy)
is the problem of hysteresis, which is the energy lost during
each cycle of hydriding and dehydriding. The topic of hysteresis
has been scientifically discussed for more than seven decades.
Professor Balasubramaniam has provided valuable new metallurgical
insights on this problem by considering the elasto-plastic
accommodation of transformation strain energies.
Archaeometallurgy
Professor Balasubramaniam has been actively involved in highlighting
the wonderful achievements of ancient Indian metallurgists
for the benefit of the academic and general community. In
this regard, he has pioneered several studies on the Metallurgical
Marvel of ancient India, namely the Delhi Iron Pillar. Professor
Balasubramaniam has proposed and validated, for the first
time, the protective passive film mechanism for the excellent
corrosion resistance of the Delhi Iron Pillar through a detailed
characterization of the pillar rust. Based on these studies,
novel phosphoric irons have been developed and their superior
corrosion resistance in concrete reinforcement conditions
has been proven, compared to conventional materials used for
this application. These phosphoric irons have been patented.
Professor Balasubramaniam has also provided new insights into
several other aspects of the Delhi Iron Pillar, like its history,
dimensional analysis, soil corrosion, analysis of the Sanskrit
inscription, lead presence in the pillar, decorative bell
capital, manufacturing methodology, astronomical significance,
corrosion resistance, and protective passive film nature.
These results have been collected and published in the form
of a book: Delhi Iron Pillar: New Insights (Indian Institute
of Advanced Studies, Shimla, and Aryan Books International,
2002, Hardbound, ISBN-81-7305-223-9.). The nominee has recently
published a economically-priced paperback book in which he
has explained the historical and technical aspects of the
pillar in a language suitable for high school students: Story
of the Delhi Iron Pillar (Cambridge University Press, New
Delhi, 2005, Paperback, ISBN-81-7596-301-8). This book has
been translated in Marathi: Prachin Bharatiya Dhattushastriye
Ashchharya: Dilli Loha Stambha (co-author: P.P. Deshpande,
Sushama Prakashan, 2007, ISBN 81-90612-20-4). Another research
book dealing with significant archaeological structures in
the Qutub Minar complex at New Delhi has also been published:
The World Heritage Complex of the Qutub, (Aryan Books International,
New Delhi, 2005, Hardbound, ISBN 81-7305-293-X). Professor
Balasubramaniam has recently highlighted the contribution
of India in the history of technology of iron and steel in
a popular book: Marvels of Indian Iron through the Ages, (Rupa
and Co, New Delhi, 2008, Hardbound ISBN 978-81-291-1184-5).
He is also the first author to write an authoritative history
of cannon technology in the Indian subcontinent, which was
published recently: The Saga of Indian Cannons, (Aryan Books
International, 2008, Hardbound, ISBN 978-81-7305-339-9). In
view of the nominee’s significant contribution in archaeometallurgical
research, he is on the editorial board (since 2003) of the
Indian Journal of History of Science, published by INSA.
Professor Balasubramaniam has vast experience in teaching
materials engineering and corrosion, and in research activities
related to corrosion, materials-hydrogen interactions and
archaeometallurgy.
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