Koratkar Will Develop New Nanostructured Vibration Reduction Materials

Troy, N.Y. - Nikhil Koratkar, assistant professor of mechanical, aerospace and nuclear engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been awarded a Faculty Early Career Development Award (CAREER) from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Koratkar will use the $400,000 grant to develop a new class of nanostructured materials used to reduce vibrations in mechanical equipment and electronic devices.

Koratkar adds carbon nanotube fillers to traditional vibration reduction materials to enhance their energy dissipation capability and improve their ability to operate at high temperatures. These newly developed systems reduce and control vibrations within structures such as manufacturing tools or household electronics, improving performance and prolonging product life.

"Professor Koratkar has created nanoscale building blocks with both micro and macro applications," said Arthur Sanderson, vice president of research at Rensselaer. "The outcome of his research will benefit the performance, cost, safety, and reliability of future manufacturing equipment, hand-held tools, sensitive laboratory equipment, and everyday electronic devices."

Koratkar's research findings will be integrated into the classroom at Rensselaer through a combination of new course materials, laboratory demonstration experiments, and interactive learning modules.

The CAREER Award is given to faculty members at the beginning of their careers and is one of the NSF's most competitive and prestigious awards, placing emphasis on high-quality research and novel education initiatives.

Koratkar joined the Rensselaer faculty in 2001. He is a collaborator on nanotechnology research associated with Rensselaer's Center for Directed Assembly of Nanostructures, one of only six NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers in the United States. In 2001, Koratkar was honored with the Institute's Curriculum Innovation Award, Office of Undergraduate Education.

Koratkar earned a doctorate in aerospace engineering in 2000 and a master's in aerospace engineering in 1998, both from University of Maryland at College Park. He earned a bachelor's in aerospace engineering in 1995 from Indian Institute of Technology.

Contact: Mary Cimo
Phone: (518) 687-7174
E-mail: cimom@rpi.edu