K. Prasad Rao

Bio: K. Prasad Rao is an academic researcher from Indian Institute of Technology Madras. The author has contributed to research in topics: Welding & Heat-affected zone. The author has an hindex of 13, co-authored 20 publications receiving 1079 citations. Previous affiliations of K. Prasad Rao include Indian Institutes of Technology & University of Utah.

Antibacterial nanosized silver substituted hydroxyapatite: synthesis and characterization.

Abstract: The silver (0.5–3 at %) substituted nanosize hydroxyapatites (AgHAs) were synthesized by microwave processing. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks are very broad, indicating that the AgHAs were of nanosize (30 nm). Transmission electron microscopy analysis shows needle-like morphology of AgHA, having length 60–70 nm and width 15–20 nm. The AgHA phase was stable up to 700°C without any secondary phases. The antibacterial effect of AgHA against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was observed by spread plate method, even for low concentration of silver ions (0.5%) with 1 × 105 cells/mL of respective bacterial culture, after a 48 h incubation period. However, some colonies of E. coli were seen with a high dose of 1 × 108 cells/mL after 24 h. The zone of inhibition by disc diffusion test method was found to vary with the amount of silver in the sintered AgHA pellets, for both the bacteria, after 24 h of inoculation. Osteoblast cell attachment in varying density was noticed on AgHA samples with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% silver substitution. However, osteoblast spreading was significantly greater on 0.5% AgHA compared to 1.0 or 1.5% substituted AgHA samples. Thus, the low amount of AgHA has a potential of minimizing the risk of bacterial contamination, without compromising the bioactivity, and is expected to display greater biological efficacy in terms of osseointegration. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007

Effect of cryo-rolling and annealing on microstructure and properties of commercially pure aluminium

Abstract: Influence of cryo-rolling reduction and annealing of commercially pure (CP) Al is evaluated in four aspects: microstructure, mechanical properties, electrical conductivity and general corrosion. It is shown that by selecting optimal cryo-rolling reduction and subsequent annealing condition result in ultrafine grains in CP Al with good combination of high strength and ductility. Electrical conductivity of the cryo-rolled samples decreased due to increased number of the electron scattering centers (lattice defects and grain boundary area). However, optimization of cryo-rolling and annealing treatment could restore the conductivity coupled with high strength in CP Al. Corrosion behaviour of cryo-rolled CP Al improved after annealing treatment. High dissolution rate and low thermal stability of the ultrafine grain structure could override the anticipated advantage of uniform corrosion in ultrafine grain CP Al.

Weld microstructure refinement in a 1441 grade aluminium-lithium alloy

Abstract: Clad 2 mm thick sheets of Russian 1441 grade Al-Li alloys were welded using a gas tungsten arc welding process (GTAW). Comparisons were made between the weld beads obtained under (i) continuous current (CC), (ii) pulsed current (PC), and (iii) arc oscillation (AO) conditions for their macro- and microstructural details. In the case of CC GTAW, sound welds could be produced only under a narrow range of welding parameters. Centre line cracks, which occurred in CC GTAW welds under certain conditions, were halted by switching to PC or AO conditions while the welding was in progress. Microstructural refinement was significant in the case of PC and AO GTA welding.

Improvement of mechanical properties of Inconel 718 electron beam welds—influence of welding techniques and postweld heat treatment

Abstract: Effects of electron beam oscillation techniques (sinusoidal, square, triangular, ramp, circle, and elliptical) in controlling Nb segregation, Laves formation, and tensile behavior of Inconel 718 electron beam welds were studied. Effects of various postweld heat treatments on tensile behavior were compared. Elliptical beam oscillation technique resulted in less Nb segregation and discontinuous finer Laves in the interdendritic regions compared to that of unoscillated beam weld. Response to aging was better for welds made with elliptical oscillated beam compared with welds made with unoscillated beam. Oscillated beam welds exhibited better mechanical properties than unoscillated beam welds in both solution-treated and aged and directly aged conditions.