Tour of Our
Department

Tour of Our Department

Message from HOD

Welcome to the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. We are one of the oldest departments of IIT Madras, established in the same year as the Institute in 1959. In the first few decades of its existence, then known as the Department of Metallurgy, the focus was more on industrial metallurgy. However, over the past few decades, the department changed to the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering to adapt to the transformations and expectations worldwide in diverse materials science and engineering areas. Several faculty members of the department in recent times have taken the lead in establishing prospective centres of excellence in the areas of advanced/correlative microscopy, materials and manufacturing for futuristic mobility that includes additive manufacturing, ceramic technologies and surface engineering along with pyrometallurgy. The department hosts state-of-the-art processing and characterization facilities, including excellent computational infrastructure. If you are interested in pursuing a career in metallurgy, materials science and engineering and excel, this is the department that you should be in.

 

Prof. Subramanya Sarma Vadlamani

Head, Dept of Metallurgical & Materials Engg., & Professor In charge of Scanning Electron Microscopy Laboratory

See our department magazine: ETCH   


News

Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

MME Department faculty research work on turning bauxite residue into resource covered in Hindu Business line.

Presently, the cement industry consumes only 2-3 per cent of the bauxite residue produced every year, leaving the bulk to be treated as hazardous waste. Bauxite residue, also known as Red Mud, contains toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, vanadium and mercury. Its high alkalinity makes it extremely corrosive and damaging to soil and life forms — it can be harmful if ingested or inhaled — posing a significant threat to the environment. Recent efforts, particularly in Europe, in comprehensive bauxite residue utilisation involve multi-stage processes that yiels multiple products. The current research from the IIT team (Prof. Ranjit Bauri’s group in MME department) not only opens up opportunities for the disposal of bauxite residue but also creates opportunities for its utilisation in the recovery of valuable materials, thereby promoting sustainability and a circular economy. Additionally, it serves as a potential alternative source of materials for energy harvesting and storage. URL: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/business-tech/turning-bauxite-residue-into-resource/article67957427.ece#:~:text=By%20converting%20bauxite%20residue%20—%20a,raw%20materials%20from%20pristine%20sources.
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MME

Our alumni bags IITM Distinguished Alumnus Award

Two of our department alumni, Prof. V. Gopalan (1989 BTech) and Dr. G. Madhusudan Reddy (PhD 1999) have been recognized by the Institute with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Prof. Gopalan is currently at Penn State Univ. (https://www.matse.psu.edu/directory/venkatraman-gopalan) and Dr. Madhusudan Reddy has served as the Director of Defence Metallurgical Research Lab (DMRL). This is indeed a very happy and proud moment for all of us.  See More
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

IIT Madras develops 3D-Printed Face Implants for patients suffering from Black Fungus along with Zoriox Innovation Labs

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) researchers have developed 3D-printed face implants for patients suffering from Black Fungus, which has been reported in COVID-19 patients as well as those with uncontrolled diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other medical conditions. Around 50 implants have already been done on patients from economically-weaker sections. The Institute has partnered with ZorioX Innovation labs, a start-up founded by Dental Surgeons in Chennai, to implement this initiative, which is based metal 3D Printing or additive manufacturing. The outbreak of black fungus disease, also known as ‘Mucormycosis’, has been a cause of great concern in India. One of the most devastating effects of this disease is the loss of facial features, which can have a profound impact on the patient’s mental and emotional well-being. Therefore, the reconstruction of faces lost due to black fungus is the need of the hour. Reports suggest that about 60,000 mucormycosis cases have been registered in India post-COVID. The fungus responsible for mucormycosis can invade the tissues of the face, causing necrosis and disfigurement. In severe cases, patients may lose their nose, eyes, or even their entire face. Furthermore, the loss of vital organs can affect a patient's ability to breathe, eat, and communicate, making it difficult to perform everyday activities. Reconstructive surgery is a viable solution for patients who have lost their facial features due to black fungus disease. These procedures involve the reconstruction of the nose, eyes, and other facial structures using a variety of techniques, such as skin grafts, tissue expansion, and microvascular surgery. These procedures can help restore the patient's appearance and function, allowing them to lead a more normal life. However, patient-specific implants and the procedures are expensive, rendering them inaccessible for people from weaker sections. Please see more details here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WroHvRLQm3A  See More
By MME admin

Our alumnus won ACM Gordon Bell Prize for the year 2023

One of our DD alumni, Vishal Subramanian (MM14B048, currently doing PhD at U.Mich Ann Arbor) is part of the team that won the ACM Gordon Bell Prize for the year 2023. It is the first time an Indian team from IISc is also part of it. It is a matter of pride for our department that our alumnus, a metallurgist, has learnt GPU computing and has gone deeper into scientific computing to win such prestigious prize at the global level.  See More

Events

30 November

2023

PhD Admission Interview and Written Exam

PhD Admission Interview and Written Exam
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8:30 am
NAC -1 Room No. 226, IIT Madras

MS Admission Interview and Written Exam

MS Admission Interview and Written Exam

8:30 am
NAC-1 Room No. 226

[Seminars] [Guest Lectures] “Precision Manufacturing of Advanced Materials driven by Atomic Scale Characterization”

Dept. of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, IIT Madras, Cordially invite you for a technical talk on

Title : Precision Manufacturing of Advanced Materials driven by Atomic Scale Characterization

Date/Time : 21-06-2023 3:00PM

Venue : NAC222, Metallurgy Seminar Hall

Speaker: Dr. Prashant Kumar

Precise interfaces at the atomic and electronic level are highly sought after for various applications such as catalysis, separations, and electronics. Single atom dopants have proven effective in boosting the catalytic activity for numerous chemical reactions, while line defects have been instrumental in altering the electronic properties of semiconductors. Additionally, disordered interfaces have shown promise in modulating the thermal conductivity of ceramics. Given the inherent thermodynamic and kinetic restrictions within a material system, the presence of multiple phases and defects is unavoidable. However, it is important to note that not all defects are inherently detrimental to a material's performance. In fact, by comprehending the structural and electronic properties of defects and actively controlling their prevalence, it is possible to create materials with enhanced performance.
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3:00 PM
NAC222, Metallurgy Seminar Hall

[Seminars] [Viva Voce]Engineering medium carbon steel weld microstructures against hydrogen embrittlement

Hydrogen embrittlement is a major concern during the welding of high-strength steels. The susceptibility of the welds to hydrogen embrittlement increases with increase in weld strength. The ever-increasing demand to increase the strength of steels necessitates the development of novel welding procedures and fillers to produce welds of high strength and with resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. Carbide-free bainite (CFB) microstructures containing a mixture of fine austenite and bainitic ferrite exhibit a good combination of strength, ductility, and toughness. The austenite phase and austenite/ferrite interphase boundaries in the CFB microstructures are reported as effective traps for hydrogen. In this work, an attempt was made to identify welding electrode compositions to achieve predominantly carbide-free bainite microstructures in multi-pass shielded metal arc weld metals. Further, the susceptibility of weld metals to hydrogen embrittlement was studied with varying volume fractions of the constituent phases.  See More

4:00PM
Online