Chen Xu | Martensitic Transformation | Best Materials Engineering Award

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Chen Xu | Martensitic Transformation | Best Materials Engineering Award

Doctor at China Jiliang University | China

Dr. Chen Xu is an Assistant Research Fellow at China Jiliang University specializing in the metallurgy and materials science of magnesium, aluminum, titanium, and copper alloys. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Zhengzhou University, following an M.D. in Metallurgical Engineering from Lanzhou University of Technology and a B.A. in Metallurgical Engineering from Lanzhou College of Information Science and Technology. His research spans melting processes, microstructure, heat treatment, deformation treatment, corrosion resistance, coatings, martensitic transformations, and first-principles calculations. Dr. Xu has contributed to several national research projects, including those funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals such as Materials & Design, Journal of Magnesium and Alloys, Materials Science & Engineering A, and Journal of Alloys and Compounds. His recent works cover topics like heat treatment effects on Mg-Sc alloys, martensitic transformation behavior, micro-galvanic corrosion, and advanced aluminum-titanium-carbon master alloys. He has also published research on the optimization of aluminum alloys and collaborated on interdisciplinary studies involving carbon quantum dots for cancer therapy. With a 7 Scopus-indexed publications citation count of 67 and an h-index of 4 on Scopus, his profile is at an early stage of international recognition, supported by active involvement in national projects, editorial board membership with Modern Chemical Research, and patent applications. Chen Xu’s contributions demonstrate a clear trajectory toward impactful innovations in advanced materials engineering, combining experimental studies with computational insights to advance alloy design and performance.

Profile: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publicationns

Xu, C., Liu, S., Wang, J., & Li, H. (2023). Initial micro-galvanic corrosion behavior between Mg₂Ca and α-Mg via quasi-in situ SEM approach and first-principles calculation. Journal of Magnesium and Alloys, 11(3), 958–965. Cited by: 21

Xu, C. (2023). Martensitic transformation behavior during tensile testing at room temperature in β-type Mg-35 wt%Sc alloy. Materials Science & Engineering A, 865, 144602. Cited by: 7

Xu, C. (2023). Effect of quenching temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-35 wt%Sc alloy. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 943, 169165. Cited by: 5

Xu, C. (2019). Preparation and synthesis thermokinetics of novel Al-Ti-C-La composite master alloys. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 776, 904–911. Cited by: 43

Xu, C. (2017). Effect of Al-5Ti-0.62C-0.2Ce master alloy on the microstructure and tensile properties of commercial pure Al and hypoeutectic Al-8Si alloy. Metals, 7(6), 227. Cited by: 52

Raghukumar Bommenahalli | Mechanical Metallurgy | Best Researcher Award

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Raghukumar Bommenahalli | Mechanical Metallurgy | Best Researcher Award

Prinicipal Engineer at DEKRA Certification, Inc. | United States

Mr. Raghukumar Bommenahalli is a seasoned mechanical engineer with over two decades of industrial experience specializing in zero-emission transportation and energy infrastructure. Currently serving as Principal Engineer at DEKRA Certification Inc., he leads the Vehicle Innovation Grid Lab (ViGIL) and ADAS Data Collection Program, advancing California’s clean transportation initiatives through rigorous EV and EVSE testing, standards compliance, and interoperability validation. Prior to this, he was Program Manager for Codes and Standards at Nikola Motor Corporation, where he guided regulatory compliance and standards development for battery-electric and fuel-cell electric vehicles, including cybersecurity frameworks and ADAS integration for heavy-duty trucks. His earlier role at Cummins Inc. as Codes and Standards Compliance Leader saw him authoring 40+ validation plans across UL, CSA, IEC, and EN standards while pioneering hydrogen fuel cell and BEV compliance programs. Raghukumar has also contributed to major engineering projects in roles with TAAL Technologies, Creative Synergies Group, Toyo Denki Power Systems, and Cummins Generator Technologies. He is actively involved in global standards development as a voting member on multiple SAE task forces and as Co-Chair of the CharIN NACI Task Force. With a strong academic foundation that includes an Executive Master’s in Engineering Management from St. Cloud State University, a Master’s in Machine Design, and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, he complements his technical expertise with certifications such as PMP, DFSS, and internal auditing. In addition to his leadership in compliance, testing, and certification, he contributes as a peer reviewer for leading journals, organizes technical conferences, and holds a registered design patent in EV charging efficiency.

Pofile: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publication

Bommenahalli, R. (2025). Effect of nickel on the mechanical properties of spray-formed Al-15Si-2Cu alloy at elevated temperatures. Journal of Alloys and Compounds.

Bommenahalli, R. (2025). Computing device for enhancing charging efficiency in electric vehicle [Patent]. UK Intellectual Property Office.

Bommenahalli, R. (2025). Fuel cell Class 8 trucks: Pioneering the path to sustainable heavy transportation. Website article.

Bommenahalli, R. (2025). Navigating the future: Innovations reshaping the EV charging landscape. International Business Times.

Khadijeh Esmati | Binder Jetting | Best Researcher Award

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Mrs. Khadijeh Esmati | Binder Jetting | Best Researcher Award

Polytechnique Montréal | Canada

Khadijeh Esmati is an accomplished researcher and engineer specializing in stainless steel additive manufacturing, powder metallurgy, welding, and metallurgical process optimization. Currently pursuing her Ph.D. at Polytechnique Montreal, she focuses on the sintering behavior and mechanical properties of stainless steels fabricated by powder bed binder jetting. Her professional journey spans diverse research and engineering roles in Canada and Iran, including significant contributions to Polytechnique Montreal, Amirkabir University of Technology, MANGAN Manufacturing, and TurboTEC. She has developed expertise in heat treatment, mechanical testing, metallography, failure analysis, and nondestructive testing, contributing to industrial and academic advancements. Khadijeh has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as Journal of Materials Research and Technology, Materials Today Communications, and Materials & Design. Her career reflects a strong integration of experimental research, industrial design, and technical leadership, positioning her as a rising figure in materials science and engineering.

Professional Profile

Scopus | Google Scholar

Education

Khadijeh Esmati’s academic background demonstrates a strong foundation in materials engineering and advanced manufacturing. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Sahand University of Technology, where she studied corrosion and materials behavior in petrochemical applications. She went on to pursue a Master of Science degree in Materials Engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, focusing on welding and brazing of copper-beryllium alloys, where she gained extensive experience in microstructural analysis and mechanical evaluation of diffusion-brazed joints. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Polytechnique Montreal under the supervision of Dr. Étienne Martin. Her doctoral research focuses on additive manufacturing by binder jetting, with a specialization in sintering optimization, anisotropy shrinkage studies, and mechanical property evaluation of stainless steel alloys. Her educational journey has given her a comprehensive understanding of materials characterization, advanced processing, and sustainable metallurgical techniques.

Experience

With extensive research and industrial experience, Khadijeh Esmati has contributed to multiple facets of metallurgical engineering. At Polytechnique Montreal, she has served as a research engineer and doctoral researcher, investigating sintering processes of AlSi10Mg alloys and stainless steels in additive manufacturing. Prior to this, she worked at Amirkabir University of Technology on projects ranging from dual-phase steels and welded structures to turbine blade coatings and corrosion studies. Her industry experience includes her role as Principal Design Engineer at MANGAN Manufacturing, where she oversaw material selection for impellers, steel casting processes, and preparation of welding procedures. At TurboTEC, she contributed to evaluating and improving repair welding for gas turbine components, further expanding her expertise in high-temperature alloys and failure analysis. Across her career, Khadijeh has combined hands-on experimental research with engineering practice, demonstrating her ability to bridge academic innovation with practical industrial applications in metallurgy and materials science.

Awards and Honors

Khadijeh Esmati has been recognized for her academic excellence and contributions to research in welding, powder metallurgy, and additive manufacturing. Her scholarly work has been published in high-quality journals, including Journal of Materials Research and Technology, Materials Today Communications, and Materials & Design. Her early career research on diffusion brazing of copper-beryllium alloys was well received, leading to conference presentations such as the 5th International Conference on Brazing in Nevada. She has also received professional certifications in ultrasonic testing, welding procedure specification, and procedure qualification record preparation, which highlight her technical credibility in both academic and industrial settings. In her doctoral research at Polytechnique Montreal, she has been commended for advancing binder jetting technologies, with her publications reflecting international recognition in additive manufacturing. These achievements, combined with her technical certifications, have positioned her as a rising professional bridging applied research, advanced characterization, and metallurgical engineering innovation.

Research Focus

Khadijeh Esmati’s research focuses on advanced materials processing and characterization, with a particular emphasis on additive manufacturing, binder jetting, and powder metallurgy. Her doctoral work investigates the sintering behavior, anisotropic shrinkage, and mechanical performance of stainless steels fabricated by binder jetting, using advanced characterization tools such as SEM, TEM, EBSD, and dilatometry. She is also engaged in optimizing heat treatment parameters for binder jetted alloys, particularly 17-4 PH stainless steel, to enhance strength, density, and microstructural integrity. Beyond additive manufacturing, her research interests extend to welding metallurgy, diffusion brazing, mechanical testing, and corrosion studies. She has contributed to understanding material failure mechanisms in welded structures, turbine blades, and coatings, providing valuable insights for industrial applications. Her overall research philosophy integrates innovation in material synthesis and processing with detailed structural and mechanical evaluation, aiming to advance sustainable manufacturing practices in metallurgy and mechanical engineering.

Publication top Notes

Study on the microstructure and mechanical properties of diffusion brazing joint of C17200 Copper Beryllium alloy
Year: 2014
Citations: 28

Evaluation of different sintering agents for binder jetting of aluminum alloy
Year: 2023
Citations: 18

Mitigating inherent micro-cracking in laser additively manufactured RENÉ 108 thin-wall components
Year: 2023
Citations: 16

Anisotropic sintering behavior of stainless steel 316L printed by binder jetting additive manufacturing
Year: 2024
Citations: 6

Influence of Temperature and Print Orientation on Anisotropic Sintering in Binder Jet SS316L
Year: 2024
Citations: 2

Conclusion

Khadijeh Esmati is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to her deep expertise in additive manufacturing, welding, and advanced materials characterization, along with her demonstrated ability to integrate academic research with industrial applications. Her diverse professional experience across both academia and industry highlights her as a resourceful and impactful researcher. With additional focus on sustainability, collaboration, and leadership, she has the potential to emerge as a leading figure in materials engineering. Based on her achievements, she is well-suited for recognition under this award.