Topic: The history and development of Cathodic Protection of Steel in Concrete

Affiliation: Managing Director – Technical Corrosion Technology Services

Abstract: Having commissioned my first cathodic protection (CP) system for reinforced concrete in 1991, I will present the history and evolution of CP for steel in concrete. The paper will highlight some of the most prestigious installations worldwide, along with the advancements made in monitoring techniques. 
One of the common concerns associated with CP in concrete is the cost of maintenance and monitoring. Having been closely involved with this technology for over 20 years, I will illustrate its cost-effectiveness with a practical example. 
Almost two decades ago, 13 bridges at Durrat Al Bahrain were protected using cathodic protection. The original design specified stainless steel reinforcement; however, by adopting CP, the client saved approximately $20 million in construction costs. This paper presents performance data from these systems since commissioning and provides an estimate of the maintenance expenditure over that period, demonstrating the long-term value of CP in reinforced concrete structures.

Biography : Worked in the field of Cathodic Protection for almost 35years Rod has worked on some of the largest and most prestigious projects worldwide. Although experienced in all aspects of CP he has always specialized in the protection of steel in concrete and has been responsible for some novel and innovative approaches to that field. Having graduated in Chemistry in 1991 he is a Fellow of the Institute of Corrosion (UK) and a NACE Corrosion Specialist. 
 
He has attended AMPP annual conference for more than 20 years and has been a regular at Corcon for more than 15 years. 
 
Rod has been Managing Director – Technical of Corrosion Technology Services (CTS) for 15 years and oversees over 200 technical staff across more than 10 countries.

Topic: Effect of phase transformation on the mechanical and corrosion behavior of laser additively manufactured Ti6Al4V alloy

Affiliation: Assistant Professor 
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering 
Indian Institute of Technology Ropar

Abstract: In this study, additively manufactured Ti6Al4V alloy containing an a/a' matrix with heterogeneously distributed nano-sized ß particles was subjected to heat treatments at temperatures below and above the ß-transus. Heat treatment reduced the heterogeneity of ß particles, primarily due to ß nucleation within a/a' laths and along their interfaces. With increasing temperature, the initially disconnected ß phase at the interfaces coalesced and thickened, developing into a rod-like morphology. Below the ß-transus, strength decreased while ductility improved with temperature, whereas above the ß-transus, both strength and ductility deteriorated. The phase constitution, lath size, and residual stress strongly influenced the electrochemical response. Specifically, heat treatment below the ß-transus enhanced corrosion resistance by relieving residual stresses, which proved decisive in improving passivity.XPS analysis further confirms the superior corrosion resistance of the heat-treated (below ß transus) sample compared to the as-printed sample.  
 
Keywords: Additive manufacturing; Ti6Al4V alloy; Electrochemical corrosion

Biography : I am currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, IIT Ropar, since December 2022. I completed my B.Tech in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from NIT Durgapur, followed by an M.Tech from IIT Kanpur. I earned my Ph.D. jointly from IIT Bombay and Monash University, Australia, specializing in powder metallurgy and high-temperature oxidation. I served as an Assistant Professor at Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh, for 4.5 years before joining IIT Ropar. During this period, I supervised four postgraduate students and served as Sub-Lieutenant (Associate NCC Officer). I was awarded the Best Faculty Award at PEC Chandigarh. Currently, I am supervising three Ph.D. students at IIT Ropar. My research focuses on the design and development of advanced materials such as high-entropy alloys, Ti6Al4V alloys, and nanocrystalline materials through powder metallurgy, additive manufacturing, and cold spray coating. I work on enhancing their corrosion resistance, high-temperature oxidation, cavitation erosion, and tribological performance under extreme conditions. Presently, I am involved as PI in several projects funded by the Naval Research Board (DRDO), the Ministry of Mines (Government of India), ANRF-PMECRG, and IIT Ropar.

Topic: Design of next generation oxidation resistant TiAl complex alloy for defense applications

Affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Materials Engineering, IIT Jodhpur

Abstract: TiAl alloys have been worked from ages considering their huge potential to perform as high temperature light-weight material in aero-engines. The major limitation for them is the sharp decrease in their yield strength beyond 700 C for which 2nd and 3rd generation TIAl alloys such as TNM and TNB alloys showing marginal increase in elevated temperature strength. Though the birth of TNM and TNB alloys tried to address the concerns of pure TiAl alloys, however at the expense of fabrication ability due to presence of boron. In order to tackle this, we developed a next generation TiAl complex alloy free of boron showing almost 1 GPa strength at both RT as well as at 900 C under compressive loading along with almost 20% formability. Moreover, the new alloy displayed limited weight gain at 900 and 1000 C upon isothermal exposure for 96 hrs displaying remarkable oxidation resistance. Thus, excellent resistance to oxidation and exceptionally high strength at 900 C makes the newly designed TiAl complex alloy a potential candidate for aero-engine applications under MAKE IN INDIA initiative.

Biography : Dr. Saurabh S. Nene is currently working as an Associate Professor at Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (MME), IIT Jodhpur from June 2023. His academic journey started at College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) where he finished his B.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering (2010) followed by completing M.Tech in Materials Science from IIT Bombay in 2012. He started his PhD immediately in 2012 under a joint venture of IIT Bombay, India and Monash University, Australia and finished it in 3.5 years (2016). He subsequently moved to Centre for Friction Stir Processing (CFSP), University of North Texas (UNT) in March 2017 as Post-Doctoral Research Associate and joined subsequently Dept. MME, IIT Jodhpur in Aug, 2020 as Assistant Professor. 
Dr. Nene has published 56 international research papers and filed 3 patents in the high entropy alloy (HEA) field within a span of last 5 years having ~ 2500 citations with an h-index of 29 to his credit. His recent invention of light-weight high entropy alloy (L-HEA) is getting scaled up by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India looking at its high potential to get used in launch vehicle application. Recently, he got listed in the top 2% scientist list in the field of Materials Science released by Elsevier based on Stanford University Database for last three consecutive years. Moreover ScholarGPS listed him among top 5 researchers in India for a theme of High Entropy Alloys.