Nitesh Raj Jaladurgam

I hold a Masters degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India. During my masters' thesis, I have worked on dynamic recrystallization and microstructure evolution in a Ni-base superalloy, accounting for crystallographic texture and morphology changes at various deformation conditions. I also worked on modeling of hot working by generating processing maps and using constitutive equations to estimate the apparent hot working activation energy.

My project in SwedNess is aimed at understanding the behavior of high-temperature structural materials during processing and service. High-temperature materials, such as Ni-base superalloys, are essential in many applications, including thermal energy processes and aerospace propulsion. The drive towards more sustainable processes continuously increases the operating temperature of turbines in order to facilitate higher efficiencies and reduced emission levels. This, in turn, requires new or improved materials with better temperature capability. However, more heat resistant materials also mean that they become more difficult to process during manufacturing. Resolving these issues requires a deep understanding of the structure-process-property relationships in materials with very complex and variable microstructures. By using in-situ neutron scattering during service- or processing-like conditions (combinations of temperatures up to around 1000 °C with simultaneous plastic deformation) we hope to provide further insights into these relationships, and ultimately to contribute to more efficient and sustainable operation of e.g. aero engines and industrial gas turbines.