Dr. T. Dharini

Assistant Professor (Research)

Mobile: +91-9789110293
Email ID (Personal) : dharini2110@gmail.com
Email ID (Official)   : dharini.t.irc@sathyabama.ac.in

Educational Information

Research Interests

• Advanced Materials for Extreme Environments - Focus on developing compositionally graded Ni/Cr/YSZ nanocomposites and C/C-ZrC ultra high-temperature ceramics tailored for harsh nuclear environments involving high corrosion, wear, and thermal loads.
• Surface Engineering and Coating Technologies - Emphasis on the synthesis and optimization of corrosion- and wear-resistant coatings (e.g., Ni/Cr/YSZ on Inconel substrates) for nuclear vitrification applications.
• Nanocomposites and Ceramic Matrix Composites - Design and fabrication of nanostructured materials and ceramic matrix composites with tailored microstructures for enhanced mechanical and thermal performance.
• High-Temperature Materials for Aerospace and Nuclear Applications - Development of ultra high-temperature ceramics (UHTCs) like C/C-ZrC for use in nuclear thermal propulsion, with focus on thermal stability, oxidation resistance, and structural integrity at extreme temperatures.
• Process Optimization and Materials Design - Optimization of synthesis techniques (e.g., arc melting) and process parameters to control stoichiometry, microstructure, and functional properties of advanced materials.
• Materials Characterization and Structure-Property Relationships - Extensive use of characterization techniques such as XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FESEM to understand microstructural evolution, phase formation, and property correlations in complex material systems. Also Ball on disc tribometer to understand the tribological and adhesion behaviour of Ni/Cr/YSZ compositionally graded coatings.

Research Projects

Publications

1. T.Dharini, P. Kuppusami, D. Dinesh Kumar, A. M Kamalan Kirubaharan, S. Ajith Kumar, “Interdiffusion Effects and Tribological Behaviour of Electron Beam Evaporated Ni-YSZ Nanocomposite coatings subjected to diffusion annealing with Borosilicate glass for Nuclear Applications” Ceramics International  48 (9) (2022) 13319-13330. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.01.211
2. T.Dharini, P. Kuppusami, N. Kumar, D. Dinesh Kumar, A. M Kamalan Kirubaharan, “Tribological Properties of YSZ and YSZ/ Ni-YSZ Nanocomposite Coatings Prepared by Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition” Ceramics International 47 (18) (2021) 26010-26018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.06.006
3. T.Dharini, P. Kuppusami, Padmalochan Panda, R. Ramaseshan and A. M. Kamalan Kirubaharan, “Nanomechanical Behaviour of Ni–YSZ Nanocomposite Coatings on Superalloy 690 as Diffusion Barrier Coatings for Nuclear Applications” Ceramics International, 46 (15) (2020) 24183-24193.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.06.198
4. Anandh Jesuraj Selvaraj, Kuppusami Parasuraman, T. Dharini, Padmalochan Panda, Deepa Devapal, “Effect of substrate temperature on the microstructure and nanomechanical properties of Gd2Zr2O7 coatings prepared by EBPVD technique” Ceramics International, 44(15) (2018) 18164-18172.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.07.024
5. A.M. Kamalan Kirubaharan, P. Kuppusami, T. Dharini, “Thermal Expansion Studies of Electron Beam Evaporated Yttria Films on Inconel-718 Substrates” Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 354 (2018) 297-305. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2018.09.034
6. Gobi Saravanan Kaliaraj, Vinita Vishwakarma, Kamalan Kirubaharan, T. Dharini, D. Ramachandran, BavanilathaMuthaiah. “Corrosion and Biocompatibility Behaviour of Zirconia Coating by EBPVD for Biomedical Applications”, Surface and Coatings Technology, 334(2018) 336-343. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2017.11.047
7. Gobi Saravanan Kaliaraj, M. Bavanilathamuthiah, Kamalan Kirubaharan, D. Ramachandran, T. Dharini, K. Viswanathan, Vinita Vishwakarma. “Bio-inspired YSZ coated titanium by EB-PVD for biomedical applications”, Surface and Coatings Technology, 307(2016) 227-235. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2016.08.039

National Journals & Conference Proceedings

1. T. Dharini, P. Kuppusami, D. Dinesh Kumar, A.M. Kamalan Kirubaharan, S. Ajith Kumar, “Improvement in Wear Resistance and Tribological Behaviour of Ni-YSZ Compositionally Graded Coating Subjected to Diffusion Annealing for Nuclear Applications”, ICAMMC 2021 Conference Proceedings, SRMIST, Chennai, ISBN: 9789355770264 (2021).
2. P. Kuppusami, T. Dharini, Ajith Kumar Soman, A.M. Kamalan Kirubaharan, Arul Maximus Rabel. “A Comparative Study on Sintering Behaviour of Low- and High-Density Pellets of Ni-YSZ by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy” Internatl. Conf. on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology for Energy Applications (EAPP-2016), Nano hybrids and Composites 17 (2017) 237-245. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/NHC.17.237
3. T. Dharini, Kuppusami, A.M. Kamalan Kirubaharan, R. Ramaseshan, Arul Maximus Rabel, S. Dash. "Influence of Substrate Temperature on the Adhesion Property of YSZ Coatings on Inconel 718 Prepared By EBPVD” Internatl. Conf. on Recent Advances in Nano-Science and Technology (RAINSAT-2015), July 8-10, 2015, Sathyabama University, AML 7(10). DOI: http://www.dx.doi.org/10.5185/amlett.2016.6248
4. A.M. Kamalan Kirubaharan, P. Kuppusami, Akash Singh, T. Dharini, D. Ramachandran, E. Mohandas. Structural and Optical Properties of Electron Beam Evaporated Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Thin Films. 59TH DAE-Solid State Physics symposium 2015. 1665, 080052. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4917956

Book Chapters

1. T. Dharini, P. Kuppusami, A.M. Kamalan Kirubaharan, “Nanocomposite Ceramic Diffusion Barrier Coatings for Nuclear Vitrification Furnace Components”, Handbook of Advanced Ceramics Coatings (2023). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99659-4.00020-6
2. T. Dharini, Anand Krishnamoorthy, P. Kuppusami, “Silicone Based Coatings for High Temperature Applications”, Coatings for High Temperature Environments (2023). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-45534-6_14

Awards & Honors

1.  “Colonel Dr. Jeppiaar Best Thesis Award” by Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai (2023).

Social Media

• GooleScholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=W8T8-ZkAAAAJ&hl=en
• ResearchGate Link : https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dharini-Thirumal-2

Additional Information

Instruments Handling:

• Micro–Raman Spectrophotometer
• Electron Beam Physical Vapour Deposition
• Cutting machine
• Polishing Machine
• Ball milling
• Pelletizer
• High Temperature Furnace

Project Student:
Mr. YOGESHWARAN. N, Junior Research Fellow under the project “Corrosion and Wear Resistant Behavior of Compositionally Graded Ni/Cr/YSZ Nanocomposite Coatings for Nuclear Waste Processing Applications” funded by CSIR-ASPIRE.