Scanning Probe microscopies- advances STM and AFM for material characterization, X-ray diffraction (XRD); Indexing of XRD patterns, lattice parameter determination, determination of particle size and micro/macro strains, reciprocal lattice, electron diffraction, energy loss spectroscopy, SAXS, XRF.

Introduction to Rubbers and elastomers; Manufacture, structure, properties and applications of Natural Rubber, Synthetic rubbers like SBR, Butyl rubber, EPDM, Hypalon, nitrile rubber etc; Chemistry and technology of rubber vulcanization; Rubber compounding, additives used in rubber compounding; General compound design, kinetics of vulcanization; Assessment of curing; Compression, transfer, extrusion, calendering and injection moulding of rubbers; Manufacturing,  testing and recycling of rubber products.

Detailed Version

Review of structure and bonding in materials; Elastic, plastic and visco-elastic behavior; Yield criteria, failure, ductile to brittle transition; Linear elastic fracture mechanics; Elastic-plastic fracture mechanics- strengthening mechanisms, fatigue, creep; Super plasticity- tests of plastic behavior, embrittlement of materials

Detailed version

Surface modification techniques, Surface modification of ferrous and nonferrous metals, Surface engineering by energy beams, Film deposition techniques- Physical method of film deposition, chemical method of film deposition, Other deposition techniques, Inter-diffusion, reactions and transformations in thin films, Properties and characterization of thin films, Surface engineering of nanomaterials microencapsulation, nanostuctured coatings.

Detailed version

Classification of chemical propellants; Liquid propellants- mono propellants and bi propellants, Oxidizers and fuels; Liquid engines and solid motors, Selection criteria for oxidizers and fuels, Solid Propellants- Ingredients of composite propellants, Oxidizers and cross-linked binders, Green propellants, Advanced and futuristic Propellants; Propellant processing, Ballistic properties, Characterization of solid propellant, Solid motor subsystems; Space ordnance systems- introduction to explosives

Detailed version

Specialty synthesis-ring opening polymerization, metathesis polymerization, ATRP, RAFT; heteroatomic polymers; electrically active polymers-conducting polymers, piezoelectric, pyrroelectric and ferroelectric polymers, polymers for FET, electrical and electronic applications; photoactive polymers- photoresists, light emitting polymers, non-linear optical properties; ionic polymers- ionomers, polyelectrolytes; magnetically active polymers; Shape memory polymers; high performance polymers-polymer concrete, high modulus fibers, polymer explosives.

Fundamentals of chemistry of soft materials; Basic concepts of soft materials, Various interactions, Photoresponsive molecules and self-assembly, Micelles, Vesicles, Toroids, Colloids, Rods, Examples of molecules forming soft materials, Instrumental techniques for morphology studies of soft materials, Liquid crystals, Different class of gels- low molecular weight organo gels, hydrogels, basics, classifications, behaviour of soft materials under zero gravity.

Detailed version

Basic concepts, General mechanisms of polymerization reactions- synthesis, kinetics, techniques, Structure- property relationships of polymers.Copolymerization-mechanism-kinetics.Thermodynamics of polymer solutions, Crystal morphologies-Thermal transitions in polymers--Characterization and Testing-Molecular weight determination- Spectroscopy techniques, Thermal properties. Polymer degradation. Production, properties and applications of industrial polymers and general purpose rubbers.  Applications of polymers in materials processing(ceramic, semiconductors and metals).

phase II of Experimental work, Data analysis and Dissertation, Viva-voce