Prof. Abhijit

Our group aspires to be at the forefront of polymer engineering, by studying and developing cutting edge technology for materials of the future. Whilst accomplishing the same, we place special importance on the environmental impact of polymeric materials and wherever possible we strive to supplant traditionally used synthetic polymers with natural polymers, as the old adage goes “we aren’t above nature, we are an integral part of it”.

In our lab, we work primarily with polymers. Broadly we have two areas of focus: employing sophisticated experimental tools and techniques to solve real world practical problems, and secondly gaining insights about the intersection of polymer science with the biological world. The latter inspires and facilitates us to explore the field of biomimetics.

We have expertise in studying the mechanics of polymeric materials. Rheology is one such tool whereby we investigate the science of flow and deformation of a wide array of material systems, and underlying microstructural factors at play. It is also a powerful tool to synthesize novel materials whose mechanical responses may be counter-intuitive but can be harnessed in ingenious ways for practical applications. Rheological characterization of a humongous variety of complex material systems in equally complex environments is something which is second nature to our group. 

To satiate our innate curiosity about natural phenomena, we tackle a wide range of problems like the physical, chemical and biological interactions between root and rhizosphere, and the role of root derived polymers in all of this. Likewise we study seed derived polymers, in both cases the naturally occurring polymers of interest fall under a broad umbrella called mucilage, a viscoelastic gel produced by nearly all plants and whose relevance to the environment is disproportionately large considering the miniscule scale at which it is produced in nature.

The wetting dynamics and imbibition behaviour of structured fluids on porous substrates and diffusion of solvents through porous polymeric media are of practical importance especially in industrial applications. Likewise is the study of supramolecular gels for lubricating applications in vehicles. Or formulating strategies for developing moisture resistant gypsum boards.

Our work towards a green future includes among several things, a way to capture carbon using natural polymers, polymer waste recycling, development of environmentally sustainable alternative packaging, substitution of non-biodegradable plastic and synthesis of eco-friendly self-healing coatings for vehicle underbodies.

We have students working on cutting edge research like polymer 4D printing, which incorporates a fourth dimension of time. This is accomplished by using shape memory polymers that respond to external stimuli, wherein objects can change shape or properties over time.

We are also active in development of natural polymer based sensors and actuators for soft robotic applications. Development of bioinspired materials/design to reduce loss of food grains during long term storage is another topic which we are tackling in a collaborative multi-disciplinary approach.