Mainak Saha

@samurai.nims.go.jp

Postdoctoral researcher, Nanostructure Analysis Group, Research Centre for Magnetic and Spintronic Materials
National Institute for Materials Science

Mainak Saha


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https://researchid.co/mainaksaha1995
I have recently completed my PhD in the Dept of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at IIT Madras. My doctoral research was primarily based on understanding the stability of different phases and correlating the same with the mechanical response of Ni-alloyed Fe-Mn-Al-C steels with high specific strength. I have previously, been an undergraduate student of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at NIT Durgapur. I am currently pursuing my postdoctoral research at Nanostructure Analysis group, Research Centre for Magnetic and Spintronic Materials, National Institute for Materials Science (Japan) since October 2023.

EDUCATION

July 2014-July 2018: B.Tech (Metallurgical and Materials Engineering NIT Durgapur)
July: 2018- July 2023: M.S. + Ph.D (Metallurgical and Materials Engineering), IIT Madras

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Metals and Alloys, Materials Chemistry
16

Scopus Publications

319

Scholar Citations

10

Scholar h-index

10

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

  • Effect of YB4 Reinforcement on the Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Behaviour of AISI 420 Composites Produced by Vacuum Induction Melting
    M. Sadhasivam, Mainak Saha, L. John Berchmans, S.P. Kumaresh Babu, SankaraRaman Sankaranarayanan
    Powders, 2026
    The influence of YB4 particle addition on the microstructure and the associated thermal and mechanical properties of AISI 420 stainless steel composites fabricated using the vacuum induction melting technique was investigated. Microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the presence of YB4 particles within the BCC-structured martensitic matrix and also along the grain boundaries across all weight fractions. In addition, YB4 addition resulted in a pronounced refinement of the martensitic matrix, as evidenced by a progressive reduction in the size of the packets, i.e., a group of martensitic laths/plates sharing the same habit plane variants with the parent austenite grain. The presence of YB4 particles induced internal stresses and microstrains, leading to peak shifting and broadening of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks corresponding to that of the martensitic matrix phase. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) decreased significantly from 13.4 × 10−6 K−1 for monolithic AISI 420 to 8.06 × 10−6 K−1 for the AISI 420/4 wt.% YB4 composite and was attributed to the excellent dimensional stability of YB4 particles. The maximum hardness (913.12 HV) and tensile strength (930 MPa) were achieved for the AISI 420/4 wt.% YB4 composite. Fractographic analysis using SEM indicated a transition from ductile to brittle fracture with increasing YB4 content, suggesting a reduction in strain-hardening capacity. The contributions of various strengthening mechanisms were quantified using the summation of strengthening and modified Clyne models, revealing that strengthening due to load bearing is dominant across all composites. Insights gained from these results are important to strategize the design of boride-based metal-matrix composites with enhanced strength–ductility synergy for structural applications.
  • Effect of severe quenching on hardness of commercially pure aluminium in correlation to structural changes
    J. Maity, A. Pal, B. Hazra, V. E. Benjamin, M. Saha, et al.
    Materialwissenschaft Und Werkstofftechnik, 2026
    Typical non‐conventional routes of severe quenching treatment, both cyclic quenching from room temperature up to 4 cycles and single time quenching from 600 °C after short‐duration (5 min) holding using liquid nitrogen as the quenchant, has been adopted on an initially annealed commercially pure aluminium. The grain refinement effect is observed for single time quenching from 600 °C; but not for cyclic quenching from room temperature. Lattice strain is found to be accumulated up to 2 cycles followed by a decline to a consistent lower value for 3 and 4 cycles in the specimens subjected to cyclic quenching treatment. The specimen, single time quenched from higher temperature (600 °C), exhibits much higher lattice strain as compared to all cyclic quenched specimens. The accumulation of lattice strain is found to be consistent with the evolution of regions of extremely low misorientation angle in the aluminium matrix. As a result of significantly high lattice strain generation and grain refinement effects, the hardness of commercially pure aluminium is substantially enhanced to 88 HV 10 on execution of single time liquid nitrogen quenching from 600 °C after short‐duration (5 min) holding; while compared with an initial hardness of 36 HV 10 in annealed condition.
  • Segregation-induced microstructural refinement in a FeMnAlC-TiB metal matrix composite by laser powder bed fusion
    André L. Vidilli, Leonardo F. Gomes, Adriel P. Oliveira, Mainak Saha, Taisuke Sasaki, et al.
    Progress in Additive Manufacturing, 2025
  • On the Solidification and Phase Stability of Re-Bearing High-Entropy Superalloys with Hierarchical Microstructures
    Wei-Che Hsu, Takuma Saito, Mainak Saha, Hideyuki Murakami, Taisuke Sasaki, et al.
    Metals, 2025
    This study presents the design and microstructural investigation of a single-crystal (SX) Re-bearing high-entropy superalloy (HESA-X1) featuring a thermally stable γ–γ′–γ hierarchical microstructure. The alloy exhibits FCC γ nanoparticles embedded within L12-ordered γ′ precipitates, themselves distributed in a γ matrix, with the suppression of detrimental topologically close-packed (TCP) phases. To elucidate solidification behavior and phase stability, Scheil–Gulliver and TC-PRISMA simulations were conducted alongside SEM and XRD analyses. Near-atomic scale analysis in 3D using Atom Probe Tomography (APT) revealed pronounced elemental partitioning, with Re strongly segregating to the γ matrix, while Al and Ti were preferentially enriched in the γ′ phase. Notably, Re demonstrated a unique partitioning behavior compared to conventional superalloys, facilitating the formation and stabilization of γ nanoparticles during two-step aging (Ag-2). These γ nanoparticles significantly contribute to improved mechanical properties. Long-term aging (up to 200 h) at 750–850 °C confirmed exceptional phase stability, with minimal coarsening of γ′ and retention of γ nanoparticles. The coarsening rate constant K of γ′ at 750 °C was significantly lower than that of Re-free HESA, confirming the diffusion-suppressing effect of Re. These findings highlight critical roles of Re in enhancing microstructural stability by reducing atomic mobility, enabling the development of next-generation HESAs with superior thermal and mechanical properties for high-temperature applications.
  • Strain partitioning-induced anisotropy in thermomechanically processed magnesium alloys comprised of earth-abundant elements
    Jishnu J. Bhattacharyya, Seth Faberman, Aaron Sullivan, Mainak Saha, Taisuke Sasaki, et al.
    Scripta Materialia, 2025
  • Towards Establishing Best Practice in the Analysis of Hydrogen and Deuterium by Atom Probe Tomography
    Baptiste Gault, Aparna Saksena, Xavier Sauvage, P. Bagot, L. S. Aota, et al.
    Microscopy and Microanalysis, 2024
    As hydrogen is touted as a key player in the decarbonization of modern society, it is critical to enable quantitative hydrogen (H) analysis at high spatial resolution and, if possible, at the atomic scale. H has a known deleterious impact on the mechanical properties (strength, ductility, toughness) of most materials that can hinder their use as part of the infrastructure of a hydrogen-based economy. Enabling H mapping including local hydrogen concentration analyses at specific microstructural features is essential for understanding the multiple ways that H affect the properties of materials including embrittlement mechanisms and their synergies. In addition, spatial mapping and quantification of hydrogen isotopes is essential to accurately predict tritium inventory of future fusion power plants thus ensuring their safe and efficient operation. Atom probe tomography (APT) has the intrinsic capability to detect H and deuterium (D), and in principle the capacity for performing quantitative mapping of H within a material's microstructure. Yet, the accuracy and precision of H analysis by APT remain affected by complex field evaporation behavior and the influence of residual hydrogen from the ultrahigh vacuum chamber that can obscure the signal of H from within the material. The present article reports a summary of discussions at a focused workshop held at the Max-Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials in April 2024. The workshop was organized to pave the way to establishing best practices in reporting APT data for the analysis of H. We first summarize the key aspects of the intricacies of H analysis by APT and then propose a path for better reporting of the relevant data to support interpretation of APT-based H analysis in materials.
  • Advancing the hydrogen tolerance of ultrastrong aluminum alloys via nanoprecipitate modification
    Yafei Wang, Jianwei Tang, Hiro Fujihara, Nozomu Adachi, Yoshikazu Todaka, et al.
    Corrosion Science, 2024
  • Additive manufacturing of compositionally complex alloys: Trends, challenges, and future perspectives
    Mainak Saha
    3D Printing Technologies Digital Manufacturing Artificial Intelligence Industry 4 0, 2024
  • Microstructure evolution and phase analysis of Sm60Ni40 alloy
    G. Vijayaragavan, D. Prabhu, M.B. Ponnuchamy, K.R.S. Preethi Meher, Ravi Gautam, et al.
    Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 2023
  • 3D printing of nanoceramics for biomedical applications
    Mainak Saha, Manab Mallik
    Advanced Ceramic Coatings for Biomedical Applications, 2023
  • Revealing the Localization of NiAl-Type Nano-Scale B2 Precipitates Within the BCC Phase of Ni Alloyed Low-Density FeMnAlC Steel
    Mainak Saha, M. B. Ponnuchamy, M. Sadhasivam, Chinmoy Mahata, G. Vijayaragavan, et al.
    JOM, 2022
  • On the correlative microscopy analyses of nano-twinned domains in 2 mol% zirconia alloyed yttrium tantalate thermal barrier material
    K. Gururaj, Mainak Saha, Sumit Kumar Maurya, Rajat Nama, A. Alankar, et al.
    Scripta Materialia, 2022
  • ɤ-TiAl alloy: revisiting tensile creep deformation behaviour and creep life at 832 °C
    Mainak Saha
    Advances in Materials and Processing Technologies, 2022
  • Metal-based conducive nano-inks: synthesis and characterization techniques
    Mainak Saha, Manab Mallik
    Smart Multifunctional Nano Inks Fundamentals and Emerging Applications, 2022
  • Additive manufacturing of ceramics and cermets: present status and future perspectives
    Mainak Saha, Manab Mallik
    Sadhana Academy Proceedings in Engineering Sciences, 2021
  • A brief discussion on the tensile creep deformation behaviour of wrought single-phase γ-TiAl
    Mainak Saha
    Materials Today Proceedings, 2020

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • On the role of elemental partitioning towards Hydrogen trapping at different microstructural features in a deformed pearlitic steel
    M Saha, Li, Zehao, R Ueji, A Shibata, T Sasaki
    TMS 2026, San Diego, U.S.A. , 2026
    2026
  • Effect of YB 4 Reinforcement on the Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Behaviour of AISI 420 Composites Produced by Vacuum Induction Melting
    M Sadhasivam, M Saha, LJ Berchmans, SPK Babu, ...
    Powders 5 (1), 9 , 2026
    2026
  • Potential and perspectives on additive manufacturing of high-entropy alloys for ballistic impact applications
    F Rab, M Saha
    2026
  • Strengthening Additively Manufactured 316L steel by Cell Boundary Composition Control
    T Sasaki, M Saha, K Cho, M Okugawa, HY Yasuda, Y Koizumi, T Nakano
    Materials Research Meeting (MRM) 2025, Yokohama, Japan , 2025
    2025
  • Segregation-induced microstructural refinement in a FeMnAlC-TiB metal matrix composite by laser powder bed fusion
    AL Vidilli, LF Gomes, AP Oliveira, M Saha, T Sasaki, LB Otani, I Okulov, ...
    Progress in Additive Manufacturing 10 (10), 8171-8178 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 5
  • Strengthening additively manufactured materials by cell boundary structure control
    T Sasaki, M Saha, T Saito, K Cho, M Okugawa, H Yasuda, T Nakano, ...
    177th Autumn Annual Meeting of Japan Institute of Metals , 2025
    2025
  • On the Solidification and Phase Stability of Re-Bearing High-Entropy Superalloys with Hierarchical Microstructures
    WC Hsu, T Saito, M Saha, H Murakami, T Sasaki, AC Yeh
    Metals 15 (8), 820 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 4
  • On the identification of strong Hydrogen-trapping sites in a deformed pearlitic steel using 3D atom probe
    M Saha, Li, Zehao, R Ueji, A Shibata, T Sasaki
    International Conference on Electron Microscopy and XLIII Annual Meeting of … , 2025
    2025
  • On the identification of strong Hydrogen-trapping sites in deformed pearlitic steels using 3D atom probe
    M Saha, Z Li, R Ueji, A Shibata, T Sasaki
    Atom Probe Tomography & Microscopy (APT&M 2025), Chennai, India , 2025
    2025
  • On the Hydrogen trapping tendencies of different microstructural features in a caliber-rolled pearlitic steel using 3D atom probe
    M Saha, R Ueji, A Shibata, T Sasaki
    International Conference on the Strength of Materials (ICSMA20), Kyoto , 2025
    2025
  • Strain partitioning-induced anisotropy in thermomechanically processed magnesium alloys comprised of earth-abundant elements
    JJ Bhattacharyya, S Faberman, A Sullivan, M Saha, T Sasaki, SR Agnew
    Scripta Materialia 262, 116659 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 11
  • Additive manufacturing of ceramics: Present status and future perspectives
    M Saha, M Mallik
    Authorea Preprints , 2025
    2025
  • ɤ-TiAl alloy: revisiting tensile creep deformation behaviour and creep life at 832 C
    M Saha
    2025
  • Towards exploring the possibility of strengthening an additively manufactured SUS316L steel through tuning of the local chemistry at cell boundaries
    M Saha, T Sasaki
    Creation of materials by superthermal fields , 2025
    2025
  • Ordered B2 phase in a disordered FCC matrix: Current state of research on the development of low-density B2-strengthened Fe-Mn-Al-Ni-C steels
    M Saha
    2024
    Citations: 1
  • Towards establishing best practice in the analysis of hydrogen and deuterium by atom probe tomography
    B Gault, A Saksena, X Sauvage, P Bagot, LS Aota, J Arlt, LT Belkacemi, ...
    Microscopy and microanalysis 30 (6), 1205-1220 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 57
  • Identification of hydrogen trapping site in pearlitic steel by atom probe tomography
    ZH Li, M Saha, R Ueji, Y Kimura, A Shibata, T Ohkubo, K Hono, T Sasaki
    ALC24, The Japan Society of Vacuum and Surface Science (JVSS) , 2024
    2024
  • Advancing the hydrogen tolerance of ultrastrong aluminum alloys via nanoprecipitate modification
    Y Wang, J Tang, H Fujihara, N Adachi, Y Todaka, Y Xu, M Saha, T Sasaki, ...
    Corrosion Science 240, 112471 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 12
  • On the Hydrogen trapping tendencies of different microstructural features in a deformed pearlitic steel using Cryogenic Atom Probe Tomography
    M Saha, R Ueji, A Shibata, T Sasaki
    Japan Institute of Metals Autumn Meeting 2024 , 2024
    2024
  • Combinatorial alloy design: Renaissance in the accelerated development of high-entropy alloys
    M Sadhasivam, SP Kumar, M Saha, C Mahata, KG Pradeep
    Transactions of the Indian National Academy of Engineering 9 (3), 611-620 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 3

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Towards establishing best practice in the analysis of hydrogen and deuterium by atom probe tomography
    B Gault, A Saksena, X Sauvage, P Bagot, LS Aota, J Arlt, LT Belkacemi, ...
    Microscopy and microanalysis 30 (6), 1205-1220 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 57
  • Additive manufacturing of ceramics and cermets: present status and future perspectives
    M Saha, M Mallik
    Sādhanā 46 (3), 162 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 51
  • Carbon-based nanocomposites: processing, electronic properties and applications
    M Mallik, M Saha
    Carbon nanomaterial electronics: devices and applications, 97-122 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 21
  • Revealing the Localization of NiAl-Type Nano-Scale B2 Precipitates Within the BCC Phase of Ni Alloyed Low-Density FeMnAlC Steel
    M Saha, MB Ponnuchamy, M Sadhasivam, C Mahata, G Vijayaragavan, ...
    Jom 74 (8), 3181-3190 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 17
  • On the correlative microscopy analyses of nano-twinned domains in 2 mol% zirconia alloyed yttrium tantalate thermal barrier material
    K Gururaj, M Saha, SK Maurya, R Nama, A Alankar, MB Ponnuchamy, ...
    Scripta Materialia 212, 114584 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 17
  • Fly ash composites: A review
    M Saha
    arXiv preprint arXiv:2202.11167 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 13
  • New frontiers in characterising ZrB -MoSi ultra-high temperature ceramics
    M Saha
    arXiv preprint arXiv:2202.11162 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 13
  • Advancing the hydrogen tolerance of ultrastrong aluminum alloys via nanoprecipitate modification
    Y Wang, J Tang, H Fujihara, N Adachi, Y Todaka, Y Xu, M Saha, T Sasaki, ...
    Corrosion Science 240, 112471 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 12
  • Strain partitioning-induced anisotropy in thermomechanically processed magnesium alloys comprised of earth-abundant elements
    JJ Bhattacharyya, S Faberman, A Sullivan, M Saha, T Sasaki, SR Agnew
    Scripta Materialia 262, 116659 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 11
  • Grain boundary segregation in steels: Towards engineering the design of internal interfaces
    M Saha
    arXiv preprint arXiv:2202.12971 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 11
  • A brief discussion on the tensile creep deformation behaviour of wrought single-phase γ-TiAl
    M Saha
    Materials Today: Proceedings 46, 3187-3192 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 9
  • Metal-based conducive nano-inks: synthesis and characterization techniques
    M Saha, M Mallik
    Smart Multifunctional Nano-Inks, 27-52 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 8
  • ɤ-TiAl alloy: revisiting tensile creep deformation behaviour and creep life at 832 C
    M Saha
    Advances in Materials and Processing Technologies 8 (sup3), 1317-1327 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 8
  • An Insight Into Cyclic Oxidation behavior of ZrB2-20 Vol.% MoSi2 Based Ultrahigh Temperature Ceramic Matrix Composite
    M Saha, S Pramanik, R Banik, P Maurya, S Singh, SV Raj, DP Madhur, ...
    Modern Manufacturing Systems, 149-163 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 8
  • On the advanced microstructural characterisation of additively manufactured alumina-zirconia based eutectic ceramics: Overview and outlook
    M Saha
    2023
    Citations: 7
  • 3D printing of nanoceramics: Present status and future perspectives
    M Saha
    arXiv preprint arXiv:2210.06948 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 7
  • An Insight Into Cyclic Oxidation behavior of ZrB2-20 Vol.% MoSi2 Based Ultrahigh Temperature Ceramic Matrix Composite
    M Saha, S Pramanik, R Banik, P Maurya, S Singh, SV Raj, DP Madhur, ...
    Modern Manufacturing Systems, 149-163 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 6
  • An Insight Into Cyclic Oxidation behavior of ZrB2-20 Vol.% MoSi2 Based Ultrahigh Temperature Ceramic Matrix Composite
    M Saha, S Pramanik, R Banik, P Maurya, S Singh, SV Raj, DP Madhur, ...
    Modern Manufacturing Systems, 149-163 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 6
  • Understanding the role of Al2O3 formed during isothermal oxidation in a dual phase AlCoCrFeNi2. 1 Eutectic High-Entropy Alloy
    M Saha
    Materials NanoScience 7 (2), 68-72 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 6
  • Segregation-induced microstructural refinement in a FeMnAlC-TiB metal matrix composite by laser powder bed fusion
    AL Vidilli, LF Gomes, AP Oliveira, M Saha, T Sasaki, LB Otani, I Okulov, ...
    Progress in Additive Manufacturing 10 (10), 8171-8178 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 5