Dr. K. Suresh
Dr. K. Suresh is a materials scientist specializing in advanced structural and microstructural characterization of high-performance structural materials (steels and aluminum alloys) and functional materials (NdFeB and SmCo magnets) across multiple length scales—from atomic dimensions to sub-millimeter microstructures. He earned his Ph.D. from the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) in collaboration with Osmania University. He subsequently pursued postdoctoral research at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan, working with Dr. K. Hono, a pioneer in atom probe tomography and nanoscale materials science. At NIMS, he also worked with Dr. Masato Ohnuma, a leading expert in neutron and X-ray scattering, further strengthening his expertise in synchrotron and scattering-based characterization techniques. Dr. Suresh’s research integrates laboratory and synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction (XRD), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/USAXS), high-temperature XRD, SEM, TEM, and atom probe tomography (APT) to establish robust process–structure–property correlations. He designed and established a multi-functional dual-energy laboratory Mo–Cr SAXS system at ARCI (https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600576715018804), particularly aimed at steels and high-Z materials, enabling advanced nanoscale characterization from large probe volumes. His work spans rare-earth permanent magnets, ODS steels, additively manufactured 15-5 PH steels and IN718 superalloys, aerospace-grade aluminum alloys, and high-entropy materials. Notably, he reported one of the highest coercivity values among ribbon and bulk SmCo magnets, achieving ~52.7 kOe with a squareness ratio of 0.54 at room temperature (https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4926600). His key strength lies in multiscale characterization, linking atomic-scale chemistry to mesoscale microstructures and macroscopic performance, contributing to next-generation materials for aerospace, energy, magnetics, and advanced manufacturing.
Research Areas
1. Advanced Structural and Microstructural Characterization: In-depth structural and microstructural investigation of high-performance structural alloys and advanced functional materials using state-of-the-art techniques, including laboratory and synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction (XRD), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/USAXS), electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), and atom probe tomography (APT), to probe features across multiple length scales. 2. Process–Structure–Property Correlations in Advanced Materials: Establishing fundamental correlations between processing routes, microstructural evolution, and resultant properties in high-performance materials systems, including rare-earth high-energy permanent magnets (SmCo₅, Sm₂Co₁₇, bulk and thin-film Nd₂Fe₁₄B), oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) steels, additively manufactured 15-5 PH stainless steel, aerospace-grade cold-sprayed aluminum alloys, AM nickel-based IN718 superalloys, and multicomponent/high-entropy alloys. Expertise in Advanced Processing and Characterization Techniques: Specialized experience in the experimentation, optimization, and troubleshooting of sophisticated processing and analytical techniques such as DC and RF magnetron sputtering, spark plasma sintering, melt-spinning, high-flux and micro-XRD, synchrotron-based XRD/SAXS/USAXS, TEM, APT, and advanced magnetic characterization tools including SQUID and VSM.
Highest Qualification
M.Sc (Physics), and Ph.DAwards and Honours
* Project Assistant Fellowship 1998, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, India * Junior Research Fellowship 2000, Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, India * Senior Research Fellowship 2002, Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, India * Visiting Student Fellowship 2004, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan (To carry out part of Ph.D work) * Young Scientist Fellowship 2005-2006, Andhra Pradesh Council for Scientist and Technology (APCOST), Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, India * Best Oral Presentation (second prize) award for paper entitled “Microstructure and micro-texture of Pulsed Electro-Deposited Ni; International Conference on Electron Microscopy and XXXV Annual Meeting of Electron Microscopy Society of India (EMSI), July 9-11, 2014, Univ. of Delhi, New Delhi, India
Professional Affiliations
1 Life member of Magnetic Society of India (MSI), Hyderabad, India (No LM174) 2 Life member of Indian Neutron Scattering Society (INSS), Mumbai, India ( No LM101) 3 Life member of Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), Kolkata, India (No 49599) 4 Life member of Electron Microscopy Society of India, New Delhi, India (No LM836) 5 Life member of Materials Research Society of India, Bangalore, India (No LMB1785) 6 Life member of Powder Metallurgy Association of India, Mumbai, India (No L01131)