Expertise:
Corrosion of Metals (in water, molten salts and at high temperatures), Metal Corrosion, High Temperature Materials (refractory metals, ceramic composites, metal composites), Biomedical Implants, Surface Modification/Coatings, Solar Thermal Energy, Advanced Titanium, Nickel, Cobalt and Iron-Based AlloysA materials scientist, Vilupanur Ravi has conducted pioneering research and development of ceramic and metal matrix composites, coated graphites, mechanical behavior of thermoelectric materials and devices, pack cementation coatings on metallic alloys, high temperature alloys and the environmental resistance of metallic materials in a variety of environments.
His work has impacted the development of metal-based composites that have are lightweight, strong and resistant to wear with applications in the automotive industry; ceramic-based materials that don’t fracture easily and are resistant to high temperatures, with applications in aerospace; and, light-weight coated structures with applications in a broad range of industries including glass handling. He has also contributed to the development of thermoelectric devices that convert heat into electrical energy, for space applications.
Ravi is currently working on projects to advance solar thermal energy conversion, materials in fuel cells, corrosion of materials for nuclear applications, and alloys for medical implants. He is also leading projects for the development of advanced protective coatings for metals.
A fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, Ravi holds 15 U.S. patents, several international patents and U.S. and international patent applications. He is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in California, a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in the UK and a European Engineer (Eur Ing). He is a former Trustee of ASM International and a past President of Alpha Sigma Mu, the international professional honor society for materials science and engineering, and immediate past President of the Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2017 – 2018).
Recent Grants and Fellowships:
- Principal Investigator, “Microstructure and hardness measurement on U-Bend tubes,” Fluor Enterprises, Inc., $10,000, 2018
- Principal Investigator, “Sulfidation and Carburization Testing,” Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend, LLC, $28,000, 2018
- Principal investigator, Co-PIs: K. Forward, L. Jallo, Y. Gan, A. Valdes; “MRI: Acquisition Scanning Electron Microscope,” National Science Foundation, $ 203,208, 2014-17
- Principal Investigator, “Sulfuric Acid Testing-Phase II,” AZZ WSI, LLC, $ 14,533, 2015-17
- Principal investigator, “Corrosion Testing in High Temperature Chloride Environments,” Fluor, Inc., $33,000, 2014-15
Selected Publications:
- With J.C. Nava and S. Kasnakjian, “Innovative and Safe Method to conduct high temperature halogenation of metallic alloys,” US Patent # 9869629 B1 (1/16/2018), 2018
- With S. Pierce, C. Lukiman and T. Shah, “Selection of Salts and Containment Materials for Solar Thermal Energy Storage,” Corrosion/2018, Paper No. C2018-11678 (Houston, TX: NACE), 2018
- With P.H. Davis, K. Robles, K. Livingston, S. Johns, E. Graugnard and M.F. Hurley, “Phase Separation in Ti-6Al-4V Alloys with Boron Additions for Biomedical Applications: Scanning Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy Investigation of Microgalvanic Couples and Corrosion Initiation,” JOM 69 (8): 1446-1454, 2017
- With J. Logier, J. Wang, O. Villalpando and A. Jalbuena, “Corrosion of Ferrous Alloys in a Molten Chloride Salt for Solar Thermal Energy Storage,” Corrosion/2017, Paper No. C2017-9562 (Houston, TX: NACE), 2017
- With O. Villalpando and J.C. Nava, “Electrochemical Characterization of Ni and Fe-Based Alloys in Simulated Biomass Environments,” Corrosion/2016, NACE, Vancouver, Paper No. C2016-0007822, 2016
Interviews:
- “Fine Fellows: DoN HBCI/MI Program Honors Winners at Distinguished Fellows Symposium,” Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (U.S. Department of Defense), July 24, 2024
- “Chemical and Materials Engineering Professor Selected as Navy Distinguished Fellow,” CPP News, March 22, 2022
- “Have government scientists solved the artificial hips corrosion problem?” Medical Design & Outsourcing, Aug. 7, 2019
- “Provost’s Awards for Excellence – 2013,” PolyCentric, Fall 2013
Education:
B.Sc., Physics, University of Madras
B.E., Metallurgy, Indian Institute for Science
M.S. and Ph.D., Metallurgical Engineering, Ohio State University
Languages:
English, Tamil